Busted star Matt Willis to play Stacey's boyfriend in EastEnders

(Image credit: PA Archive/Press Association Ima)

Pop star and TV presenter Matt Willis is adding another string to his bow - actor - as he prepares to star in EastEnders.

Matt (pictured with wife Emma) will soon start filming a short-term role as Stacey Branning's boyfriend Luke and will appear in EastEnders in early 2014.

Speaking about joining EastEnders Matt Willis said: "I am so thrilled to be a part of such an iconic show. I grew up watching EastEnders so this is really exciting for me."

The EastEnders press office says that Luke is an ambitious young man who is deeply in love and devoted to his girlfriend. Currently working hard in the City, Luke is determined to build a secure life for him and his family, but as drama always seems to follow Stacey wherever she goes, things will not be plain sailing for the duo...

EastEnders Executive Producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins added: “I’ve always loved Matt and it will be a real treat for viewers to watch him and Lacey together on screen as part of her return to the Square. Luke gives as good as he gets, so is a great foil to Stacey. Pity she’s been lying to him since the day she met him!”

Best known for being part of the award winning band, Busted, who have now merged with McFly to form McBusted, Matt also won I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2009 and has appeared on TV and in theatre in Wicked, Footloose, Miss Marple and, soon, Birds of a Feather.

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.