John Bardon is said to be struggling financially after being out of work for almost one year.

John, who played Jim Branning on Eastenders suffered a stroke last June and his wife has revealed that they have had no money coming in ever since.

“People think the BBC pay you when you’re not working due to ill health, but that’s not so,” John’s wife Enda told The People. “Actors only get paid for the work they do. There is no animosity between us and the BBC because they don’t owe John anything. But there is not much money coming in.”

She added: “Thankfully, medical insurance has paid for his physiotherapy twice a week. We are not destitute but if you haven’t got money coming in, one day there could be nothing.”

The BBC have planned a one off return to the soap for Bardon inext month alongside June Brown, who plays his on-screen wife Dot. He may then make more regular appearances to prepare him for a permanent comeback.

“John’s speech comes out as gobbledygook,” Enda said. “But he can swear! June Brown stays here. She has been wonderful. I hope being with his colleagues will get more out of him.”