Ricky Butcher’s EastEnders return thwarted after actor Sid Owen ‘demands more money than BBC willing to pay’
Ricky Butcher’s return to EastEnders has reportedly been thwarted after actor Sid Owen demanded more money than the BBC is willing to pay.
The actor, 49, who first appeared on the soap in 1988, was believed to be heading back to Albert Square to join his character’s sister, Janine, played by Charlie Brooks.
After being in talks with the show bosses earlier this year, all negotiations are said to have fallen through after Sid’s expectations of his fee were out of the bosses price range.
Hopes shattered: Ricky Butcher’s return to EastEnders has reportedly been thwarted after actor Sid Owen (pictured) demanded more money than the BBC willing to pay
A source told The Sun: ‘Bosses thought it was an ideal time for him to go back to Walford as his on-screen sister Janine has been written back in.
‘Obviously Sid jumped at the chance but when they started talking about cash things hit a rut. Sid’s expectations for pay were well out of sync with what the BBC were willing to give him.’
It comes after his co-star Charlie Brooks revealed last week that her villainous character Janine would be returning to The Square again.
MailOnline has contacted EastEnders’s and Sid’s representatives for comment.
Iconic The actor, 49, who first appeared on the soap in 1988, was believed to be heading back to Albert Square (pictured with on-screen wife Bianca – played by Patsy Palmer in 1995)
Siblings: It comes after his co-star Charlie Brooks revealed last week that her villainous character Janine would be returning to The Square again (pictured together in 2011)
EastEnders icon Sid has returned to the show several times previously since he joined in 1988, with his last appearance in 2012 when his character decided to open a restaurant in France but the possibility of his return was left open.
Sid delighted fans back in October when he appeared on Loose Women alongside Patsy Palmer for a joint interview.
The former co-stars, who portrayed of the show’s most memorable couples Ricky and Bianca, reminisced about their early days on the soap.
With Patsy having joined the BBC soap at the age of 21, the pair shared how they constantly got into trouble during their time together on the show – often getting sent to the office.
Return: Sid delighted fans back in October when he appeared on Loose Women alongside Patsy Palmer for a joint interview
Happy days: Sid is seen out with his new love interest Victoria Mills earlier this month
But when the subject was raised of Ricky and Bianca reuniting onscreen at some point in the future, Patsy revealed that an attempt to return to EastEnders earlier this year was scuppered by the pandemic.
She said: ‘I would like to work with Sid again, but I don’t know – I haven’t watched EastEnders so I don’t know how they are doing it now.
‘I mean, I was there just before lockdown and I had to leave. There was a little bit I was going to do but I didn’t end up doing it and I don’t know how they’re doing it now because I haven’t seen it.’
With travel between the US and UK remaining restricted, she was forced to fly home before the borders were closed.
Out and about: Sid is said to have moved into Victoria’s home
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