UPDATE: |Joe Swash reveals ‘devastating’ moment he was told EastEnders ‘didn’t want him’ News

Fans of the show were left devastated when Mickey Miller left in 2008

Joe Swash has revealed the ‘devastating’ moment he was told that EastEnders ‘didn’t want him’ on the programme.

The beloved TV personality was introduced to viewers on the BBC soap back in 2003, playing the role of Mickey Miller.

Known for his hilarious sense of humour and kind heart, Joe departed Albert Square in 2008 to the disappointment of fans.

Tuesday night (April 22) saw the fourth episode of the BBC’s new documentary Stacey & Joe air, which follows his marriage to Stacey Soloman.

The episode followed Joe as he went back to EastEnders for two episodes, in scenes which aired in December last year‌.

Speaking about his time on the show, Joe told Stacey: “A duff duff, at the end of an episode is most important scene, the cliffhanger. At the end of the scene you get the duff duff, that’s quite important.

“I did actually have one duff duff when I was on EastEnders, I was doing a scene with Wendy Richard. On the scene it was meant to be me getting the duff duff, for some reason Wendy was standing next to me and the camera zoomed in on Wendy and she got my duff duff.

“Not only did I not get to share my duff duff, they took it off me when it was meant to be my duff duff.”

With the cameras following him around the set, Joe was delighted to be back on the set that helped make him a star.

“It’s so nice because there’s so many faces that were here when I was here 20 years ago. The lady at the reception who greets all the actors is still the same lady.

There’s something really comforting about that. I love that place and know it so well… Before EastEnders I was a kid who couldn’t get into a nightclub, who couldn’t get a girl to look at him twice.

“Suddenly I could get into these night clubs and girls were paying me attention. I was never kidded by it. I knew why that was happening,” he said.

In a shocking admission, Joe said it wasn’t his decision to leave the show and he would still be on it if he had his way.

He explained: “I played Mickey Miller until the day came where they told me they didn’t want me no more and it was time to go. It was devastating because I loved it.

“I wanted to be like Ian Beale. I was a lifer and in it for life if they wanted me.”

Joe continued: “If it wasn’t for EastEnders, I wouldn’t have done the jungle. I wouldn’t have met Stacey. I wouldn’t have had my lids. It’s like that sliding doors moment.”