EastEnders cast members were reportedly shocked as an extra was arrested on set for ‘indecent assault’.
It’s claimed that an unnamed man in his fifties tried to forcibly kiss another female cast member without her consent.
The woman complained about the incident, causing cameras to stop rolling.
It was then that security intervened, which caused a scene as the man fought back.
The extra, whose exact role on the show is unknown, was later removed from the set and detained by police in Hertfordshire.
A source told The Sun on Sunday: ‘In all the years of filming EastEnders, nothing this dramatic has happened—with police turning up at the studios.
‘Everyone was quite shaken up by it all. No one could quite believe what was happening.
‘The main focus was the woman’s welfare, as she was clearly very distressed.’
They added that matters became ‘very heated when the man squared up to the security staff as they tried to calm things.’
‘Eventually, he was questioned and taken away by police.’
While the incident is said to have taken place earlier in spring, it is common knowledge that soaps such as EastEnders film months in advance, meaning the scenes involving the accused extra could have already aired. However, this is not known, nor is it known if he will feature at all.
As per the publication, the woman involved received attention from BBC staff while filming was halted for a while. Shooting then continued.
‘Everyone involved in the production, including the cast and crew, acted very responsibly in an extremely difficult situation,’ explained the insider.
Crew members were also said to be thankful for how bosses handled the issue with ‘professionalism and understanding’.
It’s believed that the man accused was arrested on suspicion of indecent assault and common assault, both against two separate people. The latter is thought to refer to his altercation with security when he was escorted away.
The individual is currently on bail as an investigation takes place.
In a statement, Hertfordshire Police said: ‘We can confirm we did receive a report of an incident that took place in Eldon Avenue, Borehamwood, on Wednesday, May 7.
‘The suspect, a man aged in his fifties, was arrested on suspicion of common assault and sexual assault in relation to two victims.
‘He is on police bail whilst enquiries continue.’
Additionally, the BBC said in a statement to Metro this weekend: ‘While we would never comment on individuals, EastEnders has on-site security and well-established procedures in place to safeguard the safety and welfare of everyone who works on the show.’
At the time, the likes of Adam Woodyatt, who plays Ian Beale and has done so since the soap first aired in 1985, were on set and allegedly witnessed the arrest.
Other actors were also present when filming was happening, just a short distance from the iconic Queen Vic pub.
It is understood that cameras did not capture the alleged indecent assault itself.
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