WHEN he quit his role as EastEnders’ landlord Mick Carter after nine years, Danny Dyer had one aim: finding that one, career-defining role.

Eighteen months on he has confessed he’s no closer to that goal… but not for the lack of trying.

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Danny Dyer as alpha male Lee in Sky Original sitcom Mr BigstuffCredit: © Sky UK Limited

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EastEnders’ Danny in Paddy Power adCredit: Paddy Power
Since handing in his notice in January 2022, Danny has taken on at least ten new jobs as he’s graced game shows, a gritty drama, a documentary and even risked a soggy bottom on the Great British Bake Off.

There’s one show he has turned down every single year, though.

Danny, 46, said: “The obvious role I’d love to play is James Bond, you know, a cockney Bond.

“Or I would like to maybe have a go at Doctor Who, something that’s been played by many different actors before and put my own spin on it, my own take on it.

“I get offered to do Strictly every year, and it’s not for me. I’ve got no desire to be mincing around in sequins.

“Ultimately, I’m still searching for what that ultimate role would be.”

What is clear is Danny is up for anything and everything as he hunts for his magnum opus.

Recent credits have included Channel 4’s Scared of the Dark, factual title How To Be A Man and even a run of adverts for Paddy Power.

He’s also filmed for Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s bonkbuster Rivals and returned to his role in a sequel of Football Factory.

This weekend the dad-of-three even tried his hand at pop stardom as he joined Robbie Williams on stage at BST Hyde Park festival in London to lend his East End tones to a rendition of Blur’s Parklife.

Watch the moment Robbie Williams shocks fans as he invites EastEnders legend Danny Dyer onto the stage for duet at BST Hyde Park gig
He mused: “EastEnders, it’s all quite dark and depressing and heavy stuff, so as much as I love acting and going to work, you know, that sort of stuff can really start playing on your brain.

“I felt that I’d done the job and I’d done it for nine years and done the best I possibly could.

“I was always ambitious to try other stuff so I’ve rolled the dice.”

In the meantime, it sounds like Danny has found a sweet spot in new Sky Max comedy Mr Bigstuff.

He plays Lee, an alpha male with a prescription drug addiction who turns his estranged brother Glen’s dull, suburban life upside down.

‘Different energy’

It comes from the man behind Brassic, Ryan Sampson, who also stars opposite Danny.

Despite Lee’s past being murkier than the most dismal of EastEnders’ plotlines, the antics will still tickle viewers’ funny bones.

And just being on set has been a delight for Walford-hardened Danny.

Danny said: “This came along, and I thought, oh wow, this is totally different from the character of Mick, and something that people have never really seen me do before.

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Danny filming Football Factory 2Credit: Click News and Media

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Danny, 46, with daughter Dani for their Channel 4 travel show in ItalyCredit: Channel 4

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Danny has turned down Strictly every single year, above our mock-up of what the tar might look like on the dance show
“This is a joy. To be on a set where everyone’s laughing, it’s a different kind of energy.

“I would love to push it further, this comedy thing, if I get an opportunity.”

The duo first met when Danny had a cameo in ITV2’s irreverent comedy Plebs in 2013 and Ryan remained intent on one day casting him in another comedy.

Danny then joined EastEnders, though, as Queen Vic landlord Mick – a role he would not leave until 2022- when finally Ryan was able to offer him a part.

It’s no wonder Danny made such an impression on Ryan, as the writer recalls one particularly boozy night out on the Plebs shoot.

He went on: “Danny arrived, and we were all sat on this patio area, and I swear to God, in about four seconds he stood up and went, ‘Limoncellos!’

“This woman was suddenly there with masses of limoncellos for everyone.

“After that night, I woke up the next morning with my face on the cold marble tile of the bathroom – it was that big a night, I fell asleep in the bathroom. My face frozen to the floor.”

A decade on, it sounds like Danny is just as good fun on set.

Other high jinks include a turn dancing with spoons and a nude fight in a sunbed shop.

Veteran actor Geoff Bell was cast in Mr Bigstuff as Lee’s nemesis Steve Diamond.

They last worked together in The Business in 2003 – and they remain just as close.

I’m still searching for what that ultimate role would be

Danny Dyer

Danny said: “One of the highlights for me was working with Geoff, whose somebody I’ve been making films with for many years.

“We’ve got this one scene. I go see him in a sunbed shop – Steve Diamond he plays – and we have this big fight scene where he’s naked.

“It was great because I love the man, and it’s been too long. For me and him to have this big four, five-page scene where he f***ing hates me – well, he hates me in most things that we do actually.

“It was a hard scene, you know, where he’s rolling around on the floor with his c*** out.

“It wasn’t Geoff’s winkle by the way – we did have a man come in especially to get his tiny winkle out, which is very honourable of him I must say.

“It’s so surreal. But just great to be around the man.

“I’d love Ray Winstone in it if we do another series. He’s a friend of mine.

“I think if we’ve already got this in the can, he watches it and we go, ‘Here, watch that, do you fancy being a part of it?’ I think he’d be a great addition.”

Sky Original comedy Mr Bigstuff starts on Sky Max and NOW from July 17.

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Danny in Eighties-set bonkbuster Rivals alongside Lisa McGrillis