10 October 2023 , 15:54
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EastEnders actor William Ellis has paid an emotional tribute to his late son Dash who sadly passed away six years ago.
The actor, 43, who plays the role of a stalker Theo Hawthorne, took to his social media to share with fans how important he felt it was to "keep his memory alive" - as it is also Baby Loss Awareness Week. William first joined the BBC soap in April this year and his character has kept viewers glued to their screens as he systematically tried to unnerve Stacey Slater. The star shared a black and white image that showed his wife Alice cradling the couple's newborn son while still in hospital.
William Ellis with his wife Alice and their baby son who sadly passed away (williamellisactor/Instagram)He captioned the post saying: "This week is Baby Loss Awareness week, and ends with a Wave of Light on Sunday 15th when we - as a family - light a candle in memory of our wee boy, Dash, who we lost in 2017. It’s important for us to keep his memory alive and in doing so wear our grief visibly at times, for that allows us to remember it mattered. Sending love and light to everyone affected by this type of loss."
And his fans wasted no time in sending messages of support for the grieving actor and his family. One person penned: "Lots of love William and to your wife." While a second wrote: "Lots of love from one angel family to another. Never forgotten." This was quickly followed by another who said: "Thinking of you both."
William Ellis plays Theo Hawthorne in EastEnders (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)William's character on the soap joined the Slater family as a teacher, who offered his support to Stacey's pregnant daughter Lily. The teen was struggling to keep up with her studies being pregnant and at school. But unbeknown to Stacey, he had been secretly stalking her and was using Lily as a means to gain access to the burger van vendor's life.
EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness
Speaking of how his role has had an impact on his life off-screen, William recently said that reaction from the public had been difficult to endure at times. In an interview with The Sun, the actor explained: "I was on a flight to Ibiza six weeks ago when the storyline kicked in as Theo might be grooming Lillia (who plays Lily Slater) and I was flying on my own. In very good humour, I was called a 'nonce' by various stag parties and hen parties behind me."
But according to the star, instead of being left upset, he decided to take it in his stride. William first met his wife Alice Hobden when they both rented a flat together in 2011. Alice had been working as a camera assistant which was the reason why she did not want to date actors - due to seeing them at their worst behind-the -scenes.
However she soon changed her mind and the couple tied the knot in a west London ceremony in 2021 after rescheduling the dates due to Covid. Prior to their wedding both William and Alice were over the moon when they first found out that they were expecting their first child but tragedy struck as Dash was born prematurely at just 25 weeks - and died just one week after his birth.
But Alice then fell pregnant again and welcomed a baby boy named Odie, who arrived on the same date Dash had sadly passed away. And according to Alice, this prompted the pair to tie the knot. Alice told The Times: "We were stronger and closer than we ever have been. That was the absolute certainty for me that this is exactly what I want. We wanted more joy in our lives. We'd had a miserable two years. We just wanted something with all our family and friends and it just suddenly was the right time."
If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at childbereavementuk.org or you can call them on 0800 02 888 40.