Former EastEnders actor Shaun Williamson has revealed the downside of his fame, claiming that he is often the target of jealous boyfriends down the pub.

The 54-year-old played lovable loser Barry Evans on the BBC soap from 1994 to 2004, when his character was brutally killed off after being pushed over a cliff by wife Janine.

Speaking to the Daily Star, Williamson admitted: "Nobody should ever get their violins out for me, but no-one should under­estimate what it's like to lose your anonymity.

"You go into a pub for a very quiet pint and a woman starts making a fuss over you and then her boyfriend wants to knock you out, all that crap. You've done nothing wrong. You're just trying to be nice.

"The first time someone recognises you you're floating on air all day. Then it becomes a sort of pleasant thing and then it suddenly switches to something you feel quite uncomfortable with."

After leaving the show Williamson had a role on Ricky Gervais comedy Extras and has also carved out a career as a DJ with a show called 'Barry-oke'.