David Witts who plays Joey Branning in BBC soap accepts NTA award

6:30pm Sunday 27th January 2013 in Local News By Emma Thomas

David Witts at the National Television Awards David Witts at the National Television Awards

THE former drama teacher of EastEnders star David Witts has spoken of his pride after he won a prestigious award.

The Southend-based actor, who plays Joey Branning in the BBC soap, won the newcomer award at the National Television Awards.

Mark Valencia, head of drama at Southend High School for Boys, was chuffed to get a special mention in the young actor’s acceptance speech - and told how his talent was evident from a very young age.

The schoolboy starred in many school productions including Chess and The Hired Man as well as playing Jean Valjean in Les Miserables aged just 15. 

Southend High School for Boy’s performance of Les Miserables won Best Musical of 2007 and Best Overall Production at the National Operatic and Dramatic Association awards for south Essex.

David, now 22, joined EastEnders last year and was has also voted Sexiest Male at the Inside Soap Awards.

Mr Valencia, 59, revealed David had kept in touch with his school, and had even dropped in recently.

And Mr Valencia revealed the soap star has a hidden talent unlikely to see the light of day in Albert Square.He added: “He is an extremely strong musical theatre singer as well as an actor. That is probably, one day, where his career will go.”

Comments (5)

10:58pm Sun 27 Jan 13

gangsta_len says...

i was taught by mr valencia at southend and he was the best teacher there by a mile. Thanks Mr V!
i was taught by mr valencia at southend and he was the best teacher there by a mile. Thanks Mr V! gangsta_len

11:11am Mon 28 Jan 13

badgerlemerre says...

There really was only one MEV! Single handedly responsible for turning the Year 8 Paris trip into the stuff of legends!
There really was only one MEV! Single handedly responsible for turning the Year 8 Paris trip into the stuff of legends! badgerlemerre

11:43am Mon 28 Jan 13

Blind Haze says...

badgerlemerre wrote:
There really was only one MEV! Single handedly responsible for turning the Year 8 Paris trip into the stuff of legends!
I got b0llocked by Mr Bellingham on that trip for breaking the table tennis table in the hostel basement.

I have to disagree that Valencia was the best teacher (nothing to do with the fact that he gave me my one and only detention for trying to climb out one of the ground floor windows in East block), I think Mr Sutherland was a cut above. I heard the poor guy had a stroke a few years back but making a recovery and hoping to get back to teaching soon.
[quote][p][bold]badgerlemerre[/bold] wrote: There really was only one MEV! Single handedly responsible for turning the Year 8 Paris trip into the stuff of legends![/p][/quote]I got b0llocked by Mr Bellingham on that trip for breaking the table tennis table in the hostel basement. I have to disagree that Valencia was the best teacher (nothing to do with the fact that he gave me my one and only detention for trying to climb out one of the ground floor windows in East block), I think Mr Sutherland was a cut above. I heard the poor guy had a stroke a few years back but making a recovery and hoping to get back to teaching soon. Blind Haze

3:11pm Mon 28 Jan 13

badgerlemerre says...

Blind Haze wrote:
badgerlemerre wrote:
There really was only one MEV! Single handedly responsible for turning the Year 8 Paris trip into the stuff of legends!
I got b0llocked by Mr Bellingham on that trip for breaking the table tennis table in the hostel basement.

I have to disagree that Valencia was the best teacher (nothing to do with the fact that he gave me my one and only detention for trying to climb out one of the ground floor windows in East block), I think Mr Sutherland was a cut above. I heard the poor guy had a stroke a few years back but making a recovery and hoping to get back to teaching soon.
I never said that he was the best teacher - just a legendary one.

I agree about Mr Sutherland though and you are correct - he did suffer a nasty stroke a few years ago. I vaguely remember an incident involving some ground floor windows in the East End block!
[quote][p][bold]Blind Haze[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]badgerlemerre[/bold] wrote: There really was only one MEV! Single handedly responsible for turning the Year 8 Paris trip into the stuff of legends![/p][/quote]I got b0llocked by Mr Bellingham on that trip for breaking the table tennis table in the hostel basement. I have to disagree that Valencia was the best teacher (nothing to do with the fact that he gave me my one and only detention for trying to climb out one of the ground floor windows in East block), I think Mr Sutherland was a cut above. I heard the poor guy had a stroke a few years back but making a recovery and hoping to get back to teaching soon.[/p][/quote]I never said that he was the best teacher - just a legendary one. I agree about Mr Sutherland though and you are correct - he did suffer a nasty stroke a few years ago. I vaguely remember an incident involving some ground floor windows in the East End block! badgerlemerre

3:59pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Blind Haze says...

badgerlemerre wrote:
Blind Haze wrote:
badgerlemerre wrote:
There really was only one MEV! Single handedly responsible for turning the Year 8 Paris trip into the stuff of legends!
I got b0llocked by Mr Bellingham on that trip for breaking the table tennis table in the hostel basement.

I have to disagree that Valencia was the best teacher (nothing to do with the fact that he gave me my one and only detention for trying to climb out one of the ground floor windows in East block), I think Mr Sutherland was a cut above. I heard the poor guy had a stroke a few years back but making a recovery and hoping to get back to teaching soon.
I never said that he was the best teacher - just a legendary one.

I agree about Mr Sutherland though and you are correct - he did suffer a nasty stroke a few years ago. I vaguely remember an incident involving some ground floor windows in the East End block!
Yep, you're right - gangsta_len thinks he's the best teacher.

I remember a few incidents by the technology block where we were made to play hockey a few times during PE. Massive windows and a hockey ball.... You can guess the rest. Thankfully they've updated that block now, I went there a few months ago as my son is vying for a place there (hopefully as a Trojan!).
[quote][p][bold]badgerlemerre[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Blind Haze[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]badgerlemerre[/bold] wrote: There really was only one MEV! Single handedly responsible for turning the Year 8 Paris trip into the stuff of legends![/p][/quote]I got b0llocked by Mr Bellingham on that trip for breaking the table tennis table in the hostel basement. I have to disagree that Valencia was the best teacher (nothing to do with the fact that he gave me my one and only detention for trying to climb out one of the ground floor windows in East block), I think Mr Sutherland was a cut above. I heard the poor guy had a stroke a few years back but making a recovery and hoping to get back to teaching soon.[/p][/quote]I never said that he was the best teacher - just a legendary one. I agree about Mr Sutherland though and you are correct - he did suffer a nasty stroke a few years ago. I vaguely remember an incident involving some ground floor windows in the East End block![/p][/quote]Yep, you're right - gangsta_len thinks he's the best teacher. I remember a few incidents by the technology block where we were made to play hockey a few times during PE. Massive windows and a hockey ball.... You can guess the rest. Thankfully they've updated that block now, I went there a few months ago as my son is vying for a place there (hopefully as a Trojan!). Blind Haze

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