Richard Blackwood joins the cast of Eastenders

Eastenders have announced that actor and presenter Richard Blackwood would be joining the cast of the show as its latest villain.

Blackwood's arrival on the show will coincide with the soap's thirtieth anniversary celebrations and will see him star in one of the first live scenes in that week's episodes.

Blackwood said of the news, "EastEnders is a show I've grown up watching, so to film on Albert Square is something I'll never get used to! To know my first-ever scene will be a live one hopefully means the team believe in me and I won't let them down!"

Eastenders' executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins added, "Richard Blackwood has always been on our EastEnders wish list - and now the perfect part has come along. Richard's an authentic Londoner and a terrific actor, bringing with him warmth, humour and energy which will add so many layers to this 21st century EastEnders villain. The status quo in the Square is about to be well and truly shaken…"

Blackwood has appeared on stage in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Shrek: The Musical, hosted the UK version of Singled Out and had a top 3 single in 2000 with 'Mama Used to Say'