Talking Shop: John Altman

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Actor John Altman is best known for playing nasty Nick Cotton in BBC One soap EastEnders.

Since his first appearance in 1985, he has turned up in the show on numerous occasions - upsetting his mother Dot each time.

The 56-year-old is set to make an explosive return to Albert Square over Christmas, and talks about always playing the bad guy.

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How do members of the public react to you when you are in EastEnders? Some people treat me like I'm Nick and I say to them, 'Actually my real name is John'. And they say, 'I know that, Nick'.

That sums it all up really.

But the public aren't too bad. I think there's an advantage to playing a bad guy, as people tend to stay away. If I played a nice doctor from Holby City, they'd be telling me all their ailments and showing me their scars, so luckily I can avoid all that.Nick Cotton spells nothing but trouble for his mother Dot

I don't go to places where problems could arise. I don't live the life of recluse, but I don't tend to go to clubs any more.

When will viewers see you on screen?

It will be at some point on Christmas Day. Hopefully it won't ruin people's Christmas lunch. I'm part of one of the big Christmas storylines.

How different is the show since when you joined the cast in 1985?

I think it's a lot busier. I settled back in because I know where everything is studio wise. But from the size of the programme, it has changed.

I could go up there for maybe three months and maybe not see some of the cast, because there are so many of us working on it now.

They've four or five teams filming at the same time sometimes. It feels bigger. Because there were only three episodes last time I was there, it's gone up to four now since I left.

What is your relationship like with June Brown, who plays Dot Branning?

She's almost like my second mother really. I'm her fictitious son. I saw her the other day, we were celebrating her MBE.

I get on really well with her and I know her family really well. We thoroughly enjoy working together.

In the short space of time we have to put all these scenes together we'll spend a little extra time, maybe changing a few words here and there to make it a bit more like Nick and Dot.

We have a great working relationship.

If they offered a you the role full time is it something you would like to do?

That would be something to think about wouldn't it?

It might lose some of the power of the character if I did it, but if they offered me a couple of years then I probably would, but it's doubtful it would happen with Nick.John Altman joined the cast in 1985

His character would start to soften a bit - that's what sometimes happens I think.

Has there ever been a time they asked you back and you didn't want to?

There was one time a couple of years ago they offered me about four days work. I hadn't been in the show for about three years, and I thought it wasn't really worth that short amount of time in the end.

It wouldn't have been worth the effort getting all Nick's gear out for three or four days.

If I was going to come back, just like this time, it had to be for a few months to make it worthwhile for myself and the public.

You are playing pantomime villain King Rat in Dick Whittington at Reading this year. Do you get fed up with being the bad guy?

It would be nice to perhaps do some comedy or play a family guy or a costume drama.

When I was a kid I played Noah Claypole in Oliver, the one who locks Oliver in a coffin, so even from an early age I was playing the bad guy.

It must be the way I look. If I had blonde hair and blue eyes it would be a different matter.

<i>John Altman was talking to BBC News entertainment reporter Fiona Pryor.</i>