Shane Richie live on Breakfast

A new face at the Queen Vic: Shane Richie

Anyone with even a passing interest in the goings-on in Albert Square will know that Peggy Mitchell's desperately in search of a new bar manager.

Well, tonight, it seems, she's finally found her man.

The new face behind the bar is Alfie Moon - played by none other than Shane Richie.

Shane's EastEnders role was written just for him

He came in to the studio this morning to give us a sneak preview of the show - and to explain why he's joining the residents of London's most turbulant square.

"My character's a real chancer," he told Dermot and Natasha this morning.

"He blags his way round the Square even before he gets to the pub.

"Peggy thinks I am Chris Wright, her new bar manager.

"You'll see as the week goes on how he keeps this up - he moves his whole family in - but he's constantly juggling.

"I've enjoyed this. The best thing is when you read the scripts and you go 'no - he's not going to get away with that - but he does.'"

Shane's already a household name for his work as a singer and comedian, but he admits candidly that it was time to reinvent himself.

After an improvisation workshop at Elstree, where EastEnders is filmed, the writers created a part specially for him.

"The show is bigger than anyone - and that feels like a weight off my shoulders," he told Dermot and Natasha.

click here to watch Breakfast's interview in full with Shane Richie

Shane Richie makes his debut on EastEnders on BBC One tonight at 7.30pm