BBC EastEnders’ Sid Owen announces on-screen to shine light on personal struggles
The 52-year-old – most famous for playing Ricky Butcher on Eastenders – is the latest in a string of celebs who have agreed to appear in A Day With An Eating Disorder.
Sid said the film – written by film-maker and author Lynn Crilly – was a great project and that he was delighted to be involved.
He said: “Mental health and eating disorders affect lots and lots of people. “I know someone who has gone through an eating disorder and it’s really tough.
So it’s great to be able to take part in a project which looks to break down stigma and help people.”
Sid, who became a dad two years at the age of 50, said he was loving life as a dad to two-year-old Skye.
“It’s great,” he said. “Tiring, but I’m loving every minute of it.”
Meanwhile, Sid, who has appeared on Albert Square four times, said although there are no immediate plans for a return to the soap he wouldn’t rule it out.
“Never say never,” he said. “It would be my fifth time but there’s no plans right now. I stay in touch with everyone there so you never know what might happen in the future.”
Sid is among a number of celebs who have agreed to appear in the new film for free.
Also taking part is the actress and reality TV star Jessica Impiazzi; Missing actor Paul Cooper, the dad of This Is England star Daisy-May; comedy legend Bobby Davro, and the former Hollyoaks star Mikayla Dodd.
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A Day With An Eating Disorder is being produced by filmmaker Lynn Crilly, an author and counsellor who specialises in supporting those living with conditionsincluding anorexia and bulimia.
Her daughter Samanta will star in the film and comes 20 years after Sam was diagnosed with an eating disorder and OCD. Lynn, author of Hope With Eating Disorders, says the film is needed to provide a voice to those suffering and their carers.
