Sid Owen has mentioned he’s ‘proud to nonetheless be alive’ after battling drug habit and boozing throughout his EastEnders days.
The actor, 49, who performed Ricky Butcher within the BBC One cleaning soap on and off from 1988 till 2012, revealed he turned to substance abuse due to a troubled childhood.
In an interview with The Sun, Sid admitted he used to snort cocaine whereas studying his strains, spending as much as £200-per-night.

Candid: EastEnders star Sid Owen, 49, has mentioned he’s ‘proud to nonetheless be alive’ after battling drug habit and boozing throughout his cleaning soap days in a brand new interview (pictured in 2019)
Talking about his cocaine troubles, Sid mentioned: ‘It is leisure then unexpectedly it is like, ‘Hold on, I’ve received to get by means of pages of scripts, after which go to work’.
‘You suppose you are able to do it and get away with it. I assumed I may juggle the 2, however I quickly realised it was a foolish concept…
‘I’m proud I’m nonetheless alive.’
The actor continued that through the 90s he may spend as a lot as £200 an evening on his behavior and as soon as drove to the TV studios ‘coked as much as my eyeballs’.

Throwback: The actor performed Ricky Butcher within the BBC One cleaning soap from 1988 till 2012, together with his character marrying Patsy Palmer’s Bianca twice through the years (pictured at their 1997 nuptials)
He managed to place medicine behind him after a rehab stint and in addition credited specializing in his health as a solution to keep wholesome, revealing he additionally does not drink a lot anymore.
Sid, who’s releasing an autobiography referred to as From Rags to Ricky, additionally mirrored on his raunchy intercourse life and admitted that he ‘lapped’ up consideration from ladies when he was single, including that he does not have any regrets ‘even intercourse in Tesco’.
Elsewhere within the interview, Sid mentioned his childhood in North London the place he was the youngest of 4 boys and would assist his brothers commit burglaries and began smoking on the age of 4.
The star defined how his father, Porky, who he had no contact with after the age of six when his father or mother was jailed, might be violent when he returned from the pub.

Dependancy: Sid admitted he used to snort cocaine whereas studying his strains for the cleaning soap and would spend as much as £200-per-night (pictured on the BBC present in 2000)

Household: Sid additionally mentioned his childhood in North London, reflecting on his father who was a drunk and his mom Joan who handed away when he was seven (pictured in 2016)
In 1979 when Sid was seven, his mom Joan, who he is devoted his ebook too, died from cervical most cancers and Sid was raised by his aunt Carol and her husband Michael.
After his mum’s dying, Sid candidly revealed he felt ‘annoyed’, rebelling together with his behaviour and even being arrested earlier than discovering his expertise for appearing.
Sid credited his casting in EastEnders in 1988 as what helped him change his life and admitted he was ‘in awe’ of Nick Berry, who performed Simon Wicks, with them later changing into shut friends.
On the cleaning soap, Sid shortly turned a fan favorite and his title has gone down in EastEnders historical past for Patsy Palmer’s notorious screams of ‘Rickaaaaaay’.

Iconic: Sid shortly turned a fan favorite and his title has gone down in EastEnders historical past for Patsy Palmer’s notorious screams of ‘Rickaaaaaay’ (pictured L-R Patsy as Bianca, Samantha Womack as Ronnie Mitchell, Scott Maslen as Jack Branning and Sid as RIcky)

Giving it one other go: Characters Ricky and Bianca married once more in 2009 after her affair along with her mom Carol’s boyfriend Dan (pictured at their second nuptials on the cleaning soap)

Grateful: Sid mentioned he does not thoughts individuals calling him Ricky on the street and revealed he’d be up for one more return to the present (pictured with Patsy in 2008)
Patsy performed Bianca Jackson and the duo’s characters married in 1997, with them later marriage ceremony once more in 2009 after her affair along with her mom Carol’s boyfriend Dan.
And though he was final seen on the sq. in 2012, Sid informed The Solar that he does not thoughts individuals calling him Ricky on the street.
He additionally praised the present for giving him a ‘privileged life’ and even teased that he’d be eager to return for one more stint within the cleaning soap.
In his personal love life, Sid beforehand dated EastEnders co-star Nick’s sister Amanda and has been engaged twice. He first proposed in 2000 to dancer Carty Hubbard, 41, after which popped the query to TV presenter Polly Parsons, 37.
They have been collectively for six years, with Polly now married to former Arsenal footballer Thomas Vermaelen. Whereas Sid has discovered love with restaurant employee Victoria.

Optimistic: Sid managed to place medicine behind him after a rehab stint and in addition credited specializing in his health as a solution to keep wholesome (pictured in 2009)
Source link