Former EastEnders actor Charlie Clements has made a return to the stage after taking on jobs as a chef and a gardener during the pandemic. The 34-year-old, best known for playing Bradley Branning on the BBC soap, is now performing in Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap in London's West End.
Speaking on ITV's Loose Women, Clements revealed that when acting work dried up during the first lockdown, he started working as a chef but was soon furloughed. He then took a job at a garden centre during the second lockdown, describing himself as a plant enthusiast.
“I’ve always loved plants and working there has increased my knowledge of everything plant related,” he said. “It was all a case of the acting stopped for everybody. It was just a way of me supporting my family.”
Clements, who is married with children, said he prioritised his family during the crisis. “Acting is my first love and career choice but at the end of the day I’m a jobbing actor, I've got bills to pay and a family to support like everyone else.”
The Mousetrap, which reopened on 17 May, features two separate casts due to Covid-19 precautions. Clements said the production is “going well” and he is delighted to be back on stage.
