'Angry' EastEnders star Sid Owen blaming ex-owners for £30k boat sinking
EastEnders alum Sid Owen's £30,000 pre-owned boat sank after it crashed into an "overhanging tree", and now he has claimed that a "dodgy fan belt" caused the incident and thinks the previous owners are responsible.
EastEnders legend Sid Owen is blaming the previous owners of his now semi-submerged boat for its crash into an "overhanging tree".
The star alleged a "dodgy fan belt" caused the crash and tore a hole in the hull, through which water gushed and flooded the lower deck and engines of pre-owned Rolling on the River, days after he and his pal bought it for £30,000.
It has left Sid's business venture to rent out the 33ft vessel for "VIP tours", hosted by the soap star, scuppered, and he and his friend are reportedly rowing with the watercraft's previous owners over who should take responsibility for the incident.
Sid, 54, told The Sun newspaper that he is "so angry about it" and thinks he and his business partner should be reimbursed now Rolling on the River is a "write-off".
On Tuesday (19.05.26), the outlet reported that the entertainer abandoned the boat - worth £115,000 new - after he got in trouble on the River Thames and fled the scene near Sunbury Lock, Walton, Surrey, when an onlooker claimed he looked drunk.
But it is understood that Sid "wasn’t drunk" despite having had a pub lunch with pals in Surbiton earlier that day.
A source told The Sun: "Sid is insisting that the boat broke down due to a dodgy fan belt before drifting into the riverbank.
"He says he only fled the scene because his friend is elderly and he wanted to get him off the boat as quickly as possible.
"He’s trying to blame the previous owner for what’s gone on, but it appears there may be more to this than he is trying to suggest.
"It isn’t fully submerged yet, but it will keep filling with water. There’s really no way to salvage it now. It’s a write-off. The engine is completely flooded.
"Here’s hoping there’s some insurance in place. It’s a great shame. They obviously had big plans for it."
As the dispute rumbles on, it is not known who will have to fork out a big chunk of cash to remove Rolling on the River from the water before the Environment Agency dishes out potential hefty fines.
Sid joined EastEnders in 1998 as Ricky Butcher, who married Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) in April 1997.
The iconic couple divorced in 1999 after Bianca had an affair with Dan Sullivan (Craig Fairbass).
However, Bianca and Ricky remarried in February 2010 as part of the BBC soap's 25th anniversary celebrations.
But the pair split for good on New Year's Day 2012 after she discovered that Ricky had a one-night stand with Mandy Salter (Nicola Stapleton).
Sid quit EastEnders that year, but he returned in 2022 and 2023 for guest stints.
