Brian Conley feared he would catch fire in front of Queen Camilla on EastEnders set
Brian Conley was worried that his nylon Union Jack outfit would catch fire when he shook hands with Queen Camilla during the royal and her husband King Charles' special visit to the EastEnders set in 2022.
Brian Conley warned Queen Camilla that he could "burst into flames" when she and King Charles visited the EastEnders set.
The 64-year-old star played the character of Rocky Cotton on the BBC soap and revealed that he told the royal – who was known as the Duchess of Cornwall at the time – that his Union Jack suit was a potential fire hazard when they greeted each other.
Recalling Charles and Camilla's guest appearance in Walford for a special episode to mark the late Queen Elizabeth's platinum jubilee in 2022, Brian told Inside Soap magazine: "All of us cast were told to be in character, and the royals were just treating it like a normal garden party.
"I was supposed to shout, 'Oi! You're late!', like Rocky was annoyed at them as he thought they were the lookalikes he'd booked. But I mimed it and we added it on later, rather than me shouting at them when they had no idea what I was going on about!
"I was wearing this nylon Union Jack suit, so when I met Camilla I said, 'Don't shake my hand too hard, I could go up in flames!'"
Brian left EastEnders in 2023 after being jailed for burning down wife Kathy Beale's (Gillian Taylforth) cafe in an insurance scam but relished getting to play his charismatic alter ego – even making a brief return earlier this year as part of Sonia Fowler's (Natalie Cassidy) exit from the show.
The actor said: "He was such a great character to play because you were never sure whether he was telling the truth or lying.
"For example, he said that he knew Harry Redknapp, then Harry Redknapp really did turn up! But Rocky was a compulsive liar. You'd be shouting at the telly, 'Just tell them the truth!'
Even though his character is languishing in prison, Brian is open to an Albert Square return in the future.
He said: "Rocky's supposed to be in prison for 10 years, but you never know, he might escape.
"Never say never!"
Brian is now playing the role of Doc Brown in the West End's Back to the Future: The Musical and was delighted to land the part as he loves the iconic 1980s movie.
He said: "It's a real honour for me as I'm a huge fan of the film.
"I had to audition for the American producers who didn't really know my work, so I was chuffed when they said yes.
"The fact that Doc is a mad professor means I've got the opportunity to do funny stuff, plus I get to sing four songs and drive a DeLorean every night!
"Although one night my boot got trapped in the pedals and I couldn't get out, which everyone on stage found very amusing!"
