Soap stars who quit fame for normal jobs including barmaid & B&M security guard

Fame is fleeting, or so the saying goes, so it’s no surprise that many celebrities have had to leave the world of showbiz to take on normal jobs.

Many soap stars have quit the world of TV for work outside the industry.

Ex EastEnders star Hetti Bywater now works as a barmaid, while among her former co-stars Charlie Clements is a chef, Katie Jarvis worked as a B&M security guard and Tony Discipline is a fireman.

Former Corrie regular Adam Thomas is now a delivery driver, and among his fellow ex-Weatherfield residents Sean Wilson is a cheesemaker and Kevin Kennedy runs an addiction charity.

Here we look at all the soap stars who swapped the telly for normal jobs.

Hetti Bywater

Hetti was at the centre of one of EastEnders’ biggest storylines in recent years playing Lucy Beale.

Viewers were left guessing for months as they tried to work out who murdered Lucy.

The 26-year-old left the BBC One soap in 2015 when her character was killed off and since then she has starred in Death in Paradise and Sky One series Delicious.

In 2017, onlookers snapped pictures of her working as a barmaid in a pub in Islington in London.

She was seen pulling pints and collecting glasses while she worked behind the bar.

Ryan Thomas

Ryan played Jason Grimshaw in Coronation Street for 16 years before leaving in 2016.

Since leaving the show he has starred in Neighbours and Celebrity Big Brother.

The 37-year-old recently revealed that he is working for a deliver driver for his brother Adam’s restaurant The Spinn in Manchester.

He said on Instagram : “I came in for a burger now I’m doing deliveries.”

Ryan added: “I’m just waiting outside The Spinn to pick up my next delivery. Make the call, you know you want to.

“I might be coming to a home near you.”

Charlie Clements

Charlie is best known for playing EastEnders’ Bradley Branning, who died in 2010 after falling off the roof of the Queen Vic.

Since leaving the soap, he has starred in Holby City and as Henry VIII in a Channel 5 drama series.

Earlier this year, the 34-year-old revealed that he had been working as a chef in lockdown to make ends meet.

He posted a picture of himself in a restaurant kitchen while wearing his uniform, revealing that it was his last day before returning to acting.

Writing on Instagram, Charlie said: “Last day as a chef today!! On to rehearsals next week… #actorslife #actor #acting #work #theatre.”

Tony Discipline

Tony played Tyler Moon, the cousin of Alfie Moon, on EastEnders from 2011 until he was written out in 2013.

Last year it was revealed that he is working as a fireman.

The 32-year-old has shared several photos of himself proudly posing in his firefighter uniform in front of a fire engine on Instagram.

Tony, who previously dated Jacqueline Jossa, appeared in short movie Birds and Dogs and appeared in mini-series Murder in the Carpark before leaving acting.

Katie Jarvis

Katie starred as Hayley Slater in EastEnders between 2018 and 2019.

After leaving the soap, Katie worked as a security guard at B&M to support her family between acting jobs.

She told the Daily Star: “I’ve taken a step back from acting. I’ve got a job and I’m looking after my kids.”

The actress, 29, said she felt “job-shamed” for taking on normal work after appearing on the soap.

Katie told Grazia: “It’s the nature of being an actor; gigs come and go, and after my contract with EastEnders ended in February, I found a new job as soon as I could.”

Sean Wilson

Sean was in Coronation Street as Martin Platt from 1985 until 2005.

After leaving the ITV soap, Sean began dating actress Susie Fenwick and the couple set up a cheese-making business, Saddleworth Cheese Company.

The business has been a success and it won three gongs at the British Cheese Awards.

He released The Great Northern Cookbook in 2013, which was accompanied by a four-part Channel 5 TV series of the same name.

Sean announced in 2018 that he was returning to Reaseheath College to become a lecturer in cheese.

He said at the time: “I’ll be returning to the class where it all started 10 years ago, as the lecturer.”

Kevin Kennedy

Kevin played Corrie’s iconic character Curly Watts for 20 years, before he quit acting in 2003.

He set up the Kennedy Street Foundation, an addiction recovery charity, after battling an addiction to alcohol himself for 22 years.

The former actor told Manchester Evening News in August last year: “The Kennedy Street Foundation is my passion; all we want to do is help people who find themselves in the desperate situation I was in 22 years ago.

“Our national recovery helpline is receiving calls every day and we really need to raise as much money as possible in order to be able to help each and every one start their own Road2Recovery.”

Alfie Browne-Sykes

Alfie starred as Jason Roscoe in Hollyoaks for three years.

He is still looking for acting roles, but has worked as a roofer during lockdown to make ends meet.

The actor has admitted that he struggled with anxiety and panic attacks as he felt the pressure of trying to land another acting job after leaving the Channel 4 soap in 2016.

Speaking on Joseph James’s Just Real podcast, Alfie said “Going to work every day, working on people’s roofs and them recognising you from Hollyoaks is a hard thing to deal with at first – especially when they make comments and don’t realise what they are saying to you.”

He added: “I’m just trying to crack on with my acting, trying to pursue that career.

“It’s a lot tougher than people think. It’s a lot of waiting for the right opportunities to pop, especially with all the sh*t at the minute.”

Samantha Giles

Samantha, who has had several stints in Emmerdale as Bernice Blackstock, has undergone perhaps the most surprising career change.

The TV star is now a witch and sells £18 spells online to raise money after quitting the soap.

This year she launched a new website selling a range of spells and charms, including an £18 Magic Kit, a £16.99 Phoenix Spell, which claims to help people get over “cruel comments”, a £15.99 sell your house spell and a £6.99 Safe Pregnancy Charm.

She said on her website: “I believe that magic is all around us; from the beauty of the setting sun to the power of our own thoughts which can create our reality.

“I write and put together handmade charms and spells which enable YOU to harness the power of natural white magic and make it work for you to improve your life!”

Adam Rickitt

Adam starred as Nick Tilsley in Corrie from 1997 until 1999 and Hollyoaks from 2017 to 2020.

After leaving acting, he set up a gin bar called Dexter and Jones in Knutsford.

He runs the bar with his wife, Good Morning Britain reporter Katy Fawcett.

They bought the bar in 2019 but it was forced to close during the first lockdown, so they offered takeaway and delivery services.

Adam Thomas

Adam left Emmerdale in 2018 after seven years on the soap playing Adam Barton.

After leaving the show, he began working as an estate agent in Manchester.

He took on a job at Kamani Property and featured as a “property executive” on their website.

The actor said on Instagram at the time: “I haven’t, nor will I ever, turn my back on acting but I have a family to support and will carry on doing so… whether it be acting or otherwise.”