EastEnders’ Harvey Monroe actor Ross Boatman revealed he took two months away from the BBC soap for health reasons, not filming for the show for a while but he’s since returned

One EastEnders star has revealed his character won’t be onscreen much for a while 

One EastEnders star has revealed his character won’t be onscreen much for a while, after a health issue led to him undergoing an operation. Ross Boatman took a break from filming for the operation and to recover, and was away from set for two months.

Appearing on the latest episode of Matthew Rolland’s Isolation Interviews YouTube series, Harvey Monroe actor Ross revealed he had to undergo knee replacement surgery. He’s now back on set and has teased new scenes for his character and two other Walford residents.

Ross revealed: “I won’t be on it for a while,” amid his character dumping Jean Slater for new flame Kathy Beale. But with Kathy actress Gillian now also taking a break for a holiday, he teased fans may have to wait a while to see Kathy and Harvey onscreen together again.

The break came just around the time Harvey struck up a romance with Kathy after their affair was rumbled. He said: “I haven’t had a chance to shoot loads with Gilly yet because I’ve just been off for two months.

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EastEnders’ Harvey Monroe actor Ross Boatman revealed he took two months away from the BBC soap for health reasons 

“I had knee replacement surgery, so I haven’t been there. And now she’s on holiday, so I’m hoping we’ve got some stuff to shoot coming up soon, which will come out, maybe, towards the end of the year. Fingers crossed.”

Ross then confirmed he was back on set filming this week, with scenes ahead for his character and Ian Beale and Ross Marshall. He hinted there was more ahead for this trio, with him thrilled to work with co-stars Adam Woodyatt and Walkinshaw.

Ross also confessed despite his scenes with Gillian, he still gets starstruck working alongside Kathy. He’s hoping to stay on the BBC soap too, confessing he’s loving his time there.

He shared: “I don’t wanna leave in a body bag, I don’t wanna leave in a taxi or leave in any way just yet. I love where I am at. I love the show.” While he’s keen to work with pal and co-star Steve McFadden, who plays Phil Mitchell, he joked Steve warned him to steer clear if he wanted to remain on the show.

Ross also revealed fans would see a difference in Harvey in his stuff with Kathy compared to the scenes they would have seen with the Slaters(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Ross also revealed fans would see a difference in Harvey in his scenes with Kathy as well as Ian and Ross, compared to the scenes they would have seen with Jean and the Slaters. That said, Ross misses filming with the family, praising his co-stars Lacey Turner and Gillian Wright.

On the change in filming after leaving the Slaters behind, Ross shared: “I felt quite sad with it because these stories are not within your control, and so I felt sad to be leaving the Slaters. They are amazing.

“Sometimes I felt lost because it feels like they’ve got this ready-made dynamic. It feels very real when you’re on set with them. They’re so natural. It was sad to leave.”