EastEnders legend John Altman has left fans gobsmacked after he his true age was confirmed during last night’s instalment of The Real Marigold Hotel.
John, who found fame as Nasty Nick Cotton on the BBC soap, is one of the eight celebrities who have travelled to the coastal Indian city of Puducherry to see whether they could have a more fulfilling retirement than they could in the UK.
The soap icon is appearing on the travel documentary, which airs on BBC One on Thursdays at 9pm, alongside the likes of TV icon Paul Chuckle, fashion designer Sandra Rhodes and Dragon Den’s Duncan Bannatyne.
Viewers couldn’t believe it when it was revealed that actor John is 67 years ago.
Taking to Twitter, one fan penned:”Eastenders Nasty Nick is 67. Mind blown.”
John Altman found fame as Nasty Nick Cotton in EastEnders (Image: BBC)
Another added: “So the guy who played Nick Cotton, John Altman, is 67, that’s unbelievable – what’s his tipple, embalming fluid?”
A third posted: “Can’t believe John Altman is a pensioner.”
A fourth gushed: “Nasty Nick looks amazing for 67.”
John, who turned 68 in March, was among the very first cast members of EastEasters, making his debut as Dot Cotton’s tearaway son in the first episode in 1985, and appeared as a recurring character for decades.
The Real Marigold Hotel viewers were left gobsmacked when it was John’s true age was revealed (Image: BBC/Twofour)
His character was finally given the boot in the 30th anniversary episode of the show which aired in February 2015.
Nick was defined on the show for his evil, scheming nature, even trying to poison his saintly mum Dot in a bid to bag himself a fortune and was involved in the murders of Reg Cox and Eddie Royle.
Having overdosed on the drugs supplied by his mother, Nick slipped into unconsciousness and as Dot cradled her fading son he admitted to having killed Reg 30 years earlier.
John made his debut as Dot Cotton’s tearaway son Nick in the first episode of EastEnders in October 1985 (Image: Getty Images)
Realising there was no hope for her villainous offspring, Dot let him die in her arms in the same spot where Reg himself was found dead in EastEnders’ very first episode back in 1985.
Nick’s daughter Dotty Cotton (Milly Zero) is now the one causing havoc in Albert Square and is currently blackmailing Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) over his involvement in Denny Rickman’s death.
EastEnders is currently airing fewer episodes a week due to the coronavirus pandemic in a bid to keep the serial drama on our screens for as long as possible during the crisis.
It was revealed in March that production on EastEnders had shut down amid the Coronavirus outbreak and weekly transmissions were reduced from four to two.
EastEnders continues on BBC One on Monday at 8pm
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
