Star Buys: Patsy Palmer

When the Powers That Be at Albert Square get bored with Walford they head “darn to Brighton”. And so too do the cast. Over the years Brighton has been home to a crazy number of the BBC soap’s company. Right now, Patsy Palmer is in Kemp Town, but for how long? Rumour has it she is on the move. Sid Owen – Palmer’s on-screen husband – has also had homes here on the South Coast. (On a not so glamorous note, Sid’s brother was arrested in Newhaven on drug smuggling charges earlier this year.) June Brown can often be found in Brighton as could her early ‘Enders cohorts Ethel Skinner (the late Gretchen Franklin) and Lou Beale (Anna Wing).

Victoria Gould, who played journo Polly Becker, lives in Kemp Town with actor and partner Dermot Keaney – an ex-‘Ender drug dealing low-life who went on to find fame as a hammer-headed shark in Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.

Victoria and Dermot, together with Emma Kilbey (also an ‘Ender – she once playing a swimming instructor), Marcus Hulton and Carol Sloman, form the company Radio City Theatre and perform live radio-style productions, comedy and drama. Originally appearing at The Brunswick, this autumn they take their unique stage event to Brighton’s Theatre Royal (24 October), a massive leap forward and one that has to be seen, or is that heard?

Corrie killer Richard Hillman, real name Brian Capron, lives in Hove and was recently seen treading the famous boards at the Theatre Royal in the play Stepping Out. Coronation Street has fewer local residents, but when bored in Weatherfield, they too decamp to our lovely city. It’s enough to start a locally based soap opera...