How did you land the role of Frank Butcher?
I was doing a series called Big Deal written by Geoff McQueen. It was a light-hearted drama series about a small-time London gambler and his long-suffering family.

Geoff, who was a friend of mine, wrote a small cameo role for me. Little did I know I actually had to go and read for the part in front of the producer and director! I'm a terrible sight reader, really awful, and I ended up making a hash of it. But the director decided to use me anyway, as Geoff insisted I got the part. Someone must have liked what I did because that cameo turned out to be a major part in the whole series.

That's where Julia Smith, who was the co-creator of EastEnders, spotted me and offered the part of Frank Butcher. I fell on my feet at the right place at the right time.

But you didn't take the part of Frank straight away...?
No, there was a major problem as I was unable to sign an exclusive contact. Being a cabaret artist I had other commitments. Initially Julia was reluctant to sign me up because of this. In the end she gave in and I became the first cast member to have a non exclusive contract for the show, allowing me to do other things.

Frank was originally only supposed to be in a week's worth of episodes, but to my surprise my contract got extended to a whole year. Little did I know at the time that it would turn into 10 years...

So what did you think of Frank Butcher? Loveable rogue or slimy toad?
I liked him. Frank was easy peasy to do. With any long time soap role, a lot of yourself comes through in the character. You can't help it as you spend so much time with the script writers and directors that they get to know you personally.

Do you have a lot in common with Frank then?
The main similarity is that we're both as silly as a box of plums. Frank was a ducker and diver and so was I, as a younger man. But, of course, there are some big differences. For example Frank liked to chop and change his women whereas I've been with the same one for the past 47 years.

So what did you really think of your fellow Albert Square cast members?
Most of them I loved and got on really well with. You have to make an effort with the people you work with as you end up spending more time with them than your own family or friends. It's so important to make an effort to get on and everybody did - apart from one actor who'll remain nameless. I miss them now, but still talk to a lot of them

What's your all-time most memorable moment from EastEnders?
After 10 years on the show I decided to leave. They threw me a huge party and every member of the cast past and present was there. They gave me plaques of lovely accolades which I've still got in a certain room in my house. It was really touching, they really pulled through for me. I was absolutely gobsmacked as I didn't know it was happening. It was lovely.

Another memorable moment was my first scene which was with Pam St Clement - whom I'd never met before. My opening line to her was "Give us a kiss then!" - and she did, smack bang on the lips. The way she puckered up reminded me of a lizard. And from that day to this I call her Lizard Lips.

Were there ever any behind-the-scenes mishaps?
I say no, but the answer has got to be yes, I just can't remember them. The pace of EastEnders was so fast. It's like an express train, it never ever stops, just keeps going and going. You haven't got time to stop and think because as soon as one scene is over the next one starts. You'll be in conversation with someone, then they're called to a scene and that's it, you won't see them again for the rest of the day. It's a mad flurry.

EastEnders Secrets and Lies kicks off with scandals - what's your favourite scandal from the show?
The whole story around Frank faking his own death and escaping to Spain, only to be found by Peggy Mitchell - it was brilliant! I really enjoyed the camaraderie of it all. The producers approached me after I left the show asking me to do a few more episodes, straight away I said no way. They then said they would bring a film unit out to me in Spain where I was living, so I gave in and agreed to do it.

It was such a happy time, being with the old cast and crew again, in a location I loved - I even got to go to work on my golf buggy.

The fantasy-reality divide is very tenuous for some obsessive soap fans - do you still get mistaken for Frank? How do you cope with being so strongly associated with one character?
I'm just very grateful that people still remember me! Frank was on the box for so long, I was in everyone's living rooms four times a week and people don't seem to have forgotten him. There have been a few scary moments though - not everybody liked Frank, and some people wanted to knock him out. But I learnt very quickly just to walk away from situations like that.