I was one of the biggest soap characters on TV – now I’m a chef and I love it
FORMER EastEnders star Charlie Clements has swapped his life in front of the cameras for a life in the kitchen.
Charlie, 35, played Bradley Branning on Albert Square for four years before he was killed off on the show’s 25th anniversary.
However, after leaving the soap, Charlie now works as a chef and has big plans to open a pizza restaurant.
Sharing a photo of a wood fired pizza oven, Charlie added the caption: “I’m thinking a @netflixuk documentary that follows me from start to finish of opening a pizza restaurant!!” he wrote.
Friends and fans rushed to support his vision, with one suggesting that they would help him to taste the pizzas.
“I’m reeeeeeally good at testing pizza,” one wrote, while another added: “Yes! Credits to being your first customers (albeit not paying ones)”
An established pizza restaurant offered some words of wisdom and said: “It’s hard work! pizza looks (clapping emoji and ok sign emoji)”
Charlie has also shared snaps of his baking skills including a coconut tray bake and lemon meringue cupcakes.
Although he still dips his toe in acting, he also works as a sushi chef.
He was previously working as a chef in a garden centre close to his home, and during lockdown he ended up tending to the plants when the restaurant closed.
Speaking about his career switch, Bradley previously told the Sun: “It was just a way of me supporting the family. At the end of the day the kids and the family come first. I’ve never been afraid of work and never been work shy.”
He added: “Acting is always my first love and will always be my career choice but at the end of the day I’ve got bills to pay and a family to support like everyone else.”
Charlie played lovable Bradley in the soap from January 2006 to February 2010, before he was tragically killed off.
He won the ‘Best Exit’ prizes at the British Soap and Inside Soap awards following his dramatic roof fall in his final EastEnders scene.
Charlie has since gone on to star as Jake O’Reilly in Casualty in 2013, before starring as Charlie Brackenreid in Murdoch Mysteries.
He’s also played a part in drama Elizabeth And Her Enemies.
Charlie previously insisted he’d never make a return to the BBC soap, and told The Sun: “I can’t say I’ve watched EastEnders since I left. I don’t miss it because if I hadn’t left I wouldn’t be doing other shows which I prefer doing.
“They resurrect characters sometimes but even if they wanted Bradley back as a ghost I wouldn’t take up that offer.”
He added: “I didn’t let them kill me off but before I started on the show I always said that I wanted to do four years and that was it. It was my decision to leave.”