Buzzin Soap Stars

John Partridge, 36-years-old, landed a role in Eastenders after working in theatre for 20 years and never having considered television until producers approached him according to reports.

John plays Jane Beale’s gay brother Christian Clarke, who on Friday evening was seen kissing confused teenager, Stephen Beale.

Mr Partridge’s life has similarities to the life of the young lad portrayed in the film ‘Billy Elliot’.  He was raised in Bury in Lancashire, but at 10-years-old, landed a place at the Royal Ballet School in London.  He comes from an extremely working class background in a paper-mill town and said that everyone was behind him and they were very supportive.

When he left school at 16, he went straight into ‘Cats’, the musical, which he did on and off for eight years.  His father died when he was just 17-years-old and he said that it was incredibly sad although as his father was 51-years-old when he was born they were never that close.  His father dying opened the door for him to be able to talk to his mother and tell her that he was gay.

John lives with his partner Jon Tsouras, who is a 26-year-old, Greek Canadian, and they have been together now for four years.  Mr Tsouras is also an actor and at the moment is appearing in the Lord Of The Rings musical.

Mr Partridge said he was doing a theatre show when he was spotted for the role in Eastenders and said that when his agent told him he had got the part, he felt sick, “I thought it must have been a fluke and now I am actually going to have to come up with the goods.  I was terrified.  Everything kicked in.  I am just getting over it now.”

On the kiss with Stephen Beale he said that when Stephen lunged at Christian for a kiss it was probably the first time the character had been lost for words.  Christian correctly guessed that Stephen is a virgin but when the lad made a move and tried to kiss him there was a bit of a scuffle.  Stephen tries to pretend nothing has happened by dating Stacey Slater but Christian’s not really interested in him sexually and just wants to be mates.