EastEnders legend Nicholas Ball died broke and left nothing to his wife, legal documents show.

The actor passed away aged 78 last year following a short battle with illness.

He played Terry Bates in the BBC soap and also had roles in Footballers’ Wives and Hazell.

But records show Ball, of Porchester Square, London, left no will and nothing in his estate.

A High Court document shows administration of the estate was granted to his wife Ayda.

It reads: ‘The application has stated that the gross value of the estate in the United Kingdom amounts to £0 and the net value amounts to £0.’

The couple married in 2019 after they had been together for more than 20 years, as reported by NeedToKnow.

She revealed his death in June last year saying: ‘It is with the heaviest and broken of hearts, that I share the loss of my beloved Nicky-Nicholas Ball.’

Ball had been married to actress and psychologist Pamela Stephenson from 1978 to 1984.

She left him for comedian Billy Connolly.

Ball had a long acting career but reportedly struggled for parts after private eye series Hazell ended.

He had played a number of supporting roles in various television series including Z-Cars, Softly Softly: Task Force, The Young Ones, Bergerac, Tales of the Unexpected, Casualty, and Holby City.

Director Keith English paid tribute to him after his death, saying: ‘Fabulous as star of hit TV show ‘Hazell’ in the 1980s, Nick was a terrific actor – kind and generous.

‘He starred in our short film ‘Top Dog’ in 2001 in which he was great and we became life-long friends with him and his wife, Ayda Kay.

‘Indeed, we were honoured when the pair of them asked if they could be married in our garden in 2019.

‘A fabulous affair.

‘One of our fondest memories was going to see Jerry Goldsmith play The Royal Albert Hall with him and his great friend Mel Smith.

‘Mel had hired a box for the show.

‘Both men were known hell-raisers and, sure enough, when the four of us rolled up they were both fairly merry and proceeded to football-chant ‘There’s only one Jerry Goldsmith!’ between musical pieces to an uneven response from the rest of the auditorium.

‘Nick was a loving husband, friend and a wonderful actor.

‘We enjoyed every minute of his company.

‘Farewell and bon voyage.’