EastEnders’ Danny Dyer emotionally admits wife was ‘right to throw him out’

Danny Dyer looking serious in front of a faux hedge at the Rivals screening after party
Danny Dyer reveals all in his ‘most open and honest’ interview ever (Picture: Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Disney+)

EastEnders star Danny Dyer has admitted that his wife was ‘right to throw him out’ in a new candid interview which he dubbed ‘a moving experience’.

The Mick Carter star is one of a number of celebrities set to appear in new ITV show The Assembly.

The series will see well-known stars, including David Tennant and Gary Lineker face questions from a group of interviewers who are autistic, neurodivergent and learning disabled.

While tackling the group’s burning questions in the episode, Danny delves deep into his tough childhood and drug-fuelled escapades in ‘the most open and honest interview that he’s ever given’.

During the grilling, interviewee Chardonnay encourages Danny to elaborate on the events that led to his wife, Jo, taking control of his bank accounts.

‘She controls everything now,’ he reveals, before elaborating: ‘She did kick me out because I was a p****. And she deserved better.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Anthony Harvey/REX/Shutterstock (14025792y) Danny Dyer and Joanne Mas #TheMikeGala, Stormzy's 30th Birthday, London, UK - 28 Jul 2023
Danny says wife Jo was ‘right to throw him out’ (Picture: Anthony Harvey/REX/Shutterstock)
ROCKERDALE STUDIOS FOR ITV1 AND ITVX THE ASSEMBLY EPISODE 1 Pictured: THE ASSEMBLY INTERVIEW DANNY DYER.. This photograph is (C) ROCKERDALE STUDIOS productions and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms For further information please contact: patrick.smith@itv.com
Danny faces tough questions on The Assembly (Picture: ROCKERDALE STUDIOS FOR ITV1 AND ITVX)

‘Sometimes I would go out and get off my head, take drugs, and I wouldn’t come home for three days. I had issues – I never wanted the party to end. She had every right to throw me out.’

The actor, who has also starred in Rivals and Marching Powder in recent months, also opens up about losing numerous male role models, and how therapy has helped him to overcome his unhealthy coping mechanisms.

‘I needed to learn what was wrong with me because I was acting, I was earning money – I had everything going for me, but I still wasn’t happy,’ he admits, after being asked if therapy has helped him in his life. ‘I learned that it was every strong male role model I had either left me or died.

He continued: ‘My dad left when I was nine. Then I got really close to my grandad but he got cancer and died within six months. Then I got close to a very famous playwright called Harold Pinter who was somebody who took me under his wing and I loved him very much and then he got cancer, and he died.

ROCKERDALE STUDIOS FOR ITV1 AND ITVX THE ASSEMBLY EPISODE 1 Pictured: THE ASSEMBLY INTERVIEW DANNY DYER.. This photograph is (C) ROCKERDALE STUDIOS productions and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms For further information please contact: patrick.smith@itv.com
Danny gets candid about his past (Picture: ROCKERDALE STUDIOS FOR ITV1 AND ITVX)

‘Whenever I got close to somebody who I loved and I looked up to I’d press the “f*** it” button before they could die. I thought “I’ll beat you to it” which is a weird way of thinking. I needed to learn some tools, so [therapy] was good for me.’

Delving further into his relationship with his dad after a question from Essin, who was also raised by a single mum, Danny gets emotional, recalling: ‘My dad wasn’t a very good dad, he didn’t know how to do it.

‘I don’t understand how men, including your father, put their head on the pillow knowing they have children out there that they don’t want to have a relationship with.’

ROCKERDALE STUDIOS FOR ITV1 AND ITVX THE ASSEMBLY EPISODE 1 Pictured: THE ASSEMBLY INTERVIEW DANNY DYER.. This photograph is (C) ROCKERDALE STUDIOS productions and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms For further information please contact: patrick.smith@itv.com
The interviewers don’t hold back with their questions (Picture: ROCKERDALE STUDIOS FOR ITV1 AND ITVX)

Reflecting on his relationship with his own children, he admits that he has been trying to be a better parent.

‘I caused quite a lot of pain to my children, the stuff I was getting up to, just being vacant, not engaging, not being available. It’s not about money, you can live in a cardboard box. Children need stability and affection and to feel like they’re loved. That’s it. When you haven’t got that, it’s a really tough thing.’

He goes on to talk about how he discovered his dad had a secret family, but that they are now back in touch as Danny believed he deserved ‘another shot’.

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