I'm A Celebrity star has secret soap past in EastEnders and Doctor Who

I'm A Celeb former contestant Babatunde Aleshe has appeared in a number of hit TV shows and soaps, and viewers were left stunned when he popped up in Albert Square in 2011

featured-image

I'm A Celebrity's Babatunde Aleshe is renowned for his hilarious stand-up routines, but fans may be taken aback to discover he's also an actor with roles in EastEnders , Doctor Who and Law and Order: UK to his name. The Celebrity Gogglebox star boasts a lengthy list of acting credits prior to his jungle escapade. Babatunde has also graced the screens of soap operas .

Since 2009, the comedian has embraced a range of roles, reports OK! . According to IMDB, Babatunde has starred in short films, as well as TV shows like New Tricks, Frankie, The Stand Up Sketch Show and Waking the Dead. In 2010, he portrayed a character named Sean in BBC's Doctor Who, sharing screen time with Karen Gillan, Matt Smith and James Corden.



In the episode titled The Lodger, Babatunde played a footballer who teamed up with the Doctor. A year later, he appeared in EastEnders as a nurse named Sam, who assisted Tanya Branning during her chemotherapy treatment following her cancer diagnosis. Nurse Sam reappeared a few weeks later to deliver the heart-breaking news of a friend's death to Tanya, and also shared a scene with Lauren Branning.

Eagle-eyed fans were quick to recognise Babatunde taking on a nurse role in EastEnders back in 2011, swarming then-Twitter to express their surprise. One bewildered viewer posted: "No but really is that babatunde on #Eastenders. If so GWANN !" Another shocked fan tweeted: "BABATUNDE IS ON EASTENDERS SICK!" A third added: "The shock of my life I received at work when I saw Babatunde on Eastenders the one time I watch it lool", while a fourth shared: "Was so jokes to see Babatunde Comedian on #Eastenders! ! Random but he did well!" When not under the spotlight, Babatunde is quite the "family man" wed to wife Leonie in September 2015 and father to son Judah.

Leonie, presenting herself as "Travel Business Coach" on Instagram , delights followers with stunning vacation images and UK getaways. In 2022, the jocular talent jetted off to Australia , becoming the fifth celeb evicted from the series. The 38 year old confided in The Mirror about seeking Australian adventure, despite his reluctance for camp life.

Moreover, the entertainer has tickled funny bones as a stand-up comic, supporting Mo Gilligan in 2021, and in 2022 hitting the road with his own comedic show. As a past victor of Best Newcomer at the Black Entertainment Comedy Awards, Babatunde also boasts appearances on quiz shows like Richard Osman's House of Games and The Weakest Link..