DIEHARD Southend United fan Terry Alderton says it’s a shame he won’t be able to get his beloved Blues on screen as he prepares for a role in EastEnders.

The comedian and former Blues goalkeeper will be appearing in the hit BBC soap as Bianca Butcher’s love interest.

Terry will play cab driver Terry Spraggan in the soap and joins a long line of south Essex actors who have picked up parts in the show.

However, Terry made it clear he wouldn’t be supporting Walford’s local West Ham football team in the soap, despite playing a cockney cabbie.

Terry said: “I made it quite clear from the start that my character wouldn’t be supporting West Ham.

“He’ll be supporting a team which I’m not allowed to say, but I can pretend to support them fine. It’s just a shame I can’t get the Shrimpers on the screen!”

Terry will be introduced to EastEnders fans in the autumn when Bianca Butcher, played by Patsy Palmer, returns to Albert Square from a trip to Manchester with him.

As part of his role, he’s promised there will be some great onscreen banter between him and friend Shane Richie, who plays Alfie Moon in the show.

Terry, 42, who was born in Rochford and now lives in Chigwell, said: “At first I was unsure as I’m a comic, but I came out of a meeting with Julia Cramspie, the casting director, and thought it sounded quite good.

“I’m good mates with Shane Richie and asked him what it’s all about and he said my life is about to change. I don’t want to be famous, so this seems a bit silly!

“That’s a worry for me at the moment as I’m going to be in the show for at least a year.”

He added: “I’ve spoken to Patsy about it and she’s really looking forward to it as well. I know quite a few of the guys on the programme already, so it won’t be like a first day at school.”

As well as EastEnders, Terry is also hosting the popular BBC show Live at the Apollo. He added: “How much Terry do people want!”

Terry has recently returned from a successful month at the Edinburgh Festival where he was part of the production of the Shawshank Redemption at the legendary Assembly Rooms.

Of his month in Scotland, Terry said: “Edinburgh was really good.

The show went really well and it’s a festival where you get really good peer respect. Everyone comes out to see you and congratulate you on the show. The size of it is just immense.”

Although he is now a soap actor, Terry has promised fans it won’t be the end of his comic career.

He said: “I’ll be hanging up my microphone for a little while, but I’ll still go to events like the comedy club. Comedy is the one for me. It’s taken a long time to build up my character.”

Terry will start filming in the coming weeks and his first episodes can be seen on BBC One this autumn.