Jake set to stay in Walford

EastEnders bosses have decided not to scrap Albert Square hunk Jake Moon thanks to a petition by cast and fans of the soap.

11:59 04 May 2005

EastEnders bosses have decided not to scrap Albert Square hunk Jake Moon thanks to a petition by cast and fans of the soap.

The troublemaker, played by Joel Beckett, was due to exit Walford this summer along with his brother Danny, played by Jake Maskall.

BBC bosses axed the characters because it was felt that there were too many gangsters in the soap, what with old stars such as the Mitchell brothers being brought back.

But it seems a campaign initiated by Shane Richie, who plays the brothers' onscreen cousin Alfie Moon, and backed by fans, has saved at least Jake from the chop.

"This is a great victory for our fans who were shocked when it was decided to dispense with Jake and his brother Danny," an insider told the Daily Star.

Sadly his return in the autumn will not include brother Danny - although actor Joel revealed that fans would understand why the pair had to split.

"I'm thrilled that the producers have decided to keep me on the show," said Joel, who joined the soap at Christmas after a previous stint in hit comedy The Office.

He added: "There'll be a good reason for Jake to leave Dan behind, even though he has never abandoned his brother before."