06 November 2023 , 08:00
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Eastenders Michael French has a very different and quiet life after he left Albert Square for the last time in 2014. The villain, who played David Wicks, made his bombshell debut in the famous soap back in 1993 turning up at his dad Pete Beale's funeral and was one of the most famous faces of the 1990s as he played Walford's resident love rat.
Over the years in the square Michael was a part of many dramatic storylines, one of his most famous was when Carol Jackson, an old fling, returned to the square with Bianca, her daughter. David had found himself starting to like Bianca, only to find out later that she was actually his daughter!
After Michael joined the soap in 1993, he then stayed until leaving three years later in 1996 after sleeping with Cindy Beale, his half brother's wife. It was more than a decade later that Michael returned to the soap in 21012 when he visited Albert Square when his mum Pat was battling with cancer, but left for America after failing to show up to his wedding with Carol.
David Wicks caused chaos when he slept with Cindy Beale (BBC)Away from the square and behind the scenes this couldn't be further from the truth for Michael, 60, who seems to live a quiet life in the countryside of Essex. Earlier this year he was spotted taking his dog French bulldog for a walk in a greenery wearing blue shorts, a short white shirt and a grey cap.
Since leaving the show, Michael has appeared in Holby City and Casualty as Nick Jordan from 1998 to 2013, as a Cardiothoracic surgical registrar. Holby City ended their series last year after ratings started to decline, due to the original cast leaving the hospital.
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Michael went on to star in Holby City (BBC)BBC had made a statement about the show's ending: "We sometimes have to make difficult decisions to make room for new opportunities and as part of the BBC's commitment to make more programmes across the UK, we have taken the difficult decision to bring the show to a close in order to reshape the BBC's drama slate to better reflect, represent and serve all parts of the country."
Famous cast members included Lisa Faulkner, Angela Griffin, Nicola Stephenson and George Irving, who was one of the longest-standing members, staying in the show until 2002. The actor had revealed when he left the show that his character was interfering with his personal life and would never plan to return as he doesn't want his character's memory to be tarnished.