Danny Dyer has found himself in a right old two-and-eight after an ambitious new game show fronted by the Cockney actor was axed by Netflix.
The Newham born star, famed for his love of rhyming slang, had been drafted in to host Cheat, in which contestants can scam their way to a lucrative cash prize, alongside actress Ellie Taylor.
Dyer, 46, had agreed to take part shortly after ending his nine-year association with BBC soap EastEnders, where he earned a wider fanbase thanks to his role as beleaguered pub landlord Mick Carter.
But Netflix has moved to drop the show after just one series following a lacklustre response from subscribers.
A source told The Sun: ‘Danny was great as host, as was Ellie, but Netflix thought one series was just about right.
‘It didn’t pick up a big following and will hardly go down in game show folklore. He enjoyed making the series, especially banking the pay cheque.’
Contestants – frequently referred to as ‘rascals’ and ‘wrong ‘uns’ by Dyer – were given the opportunity to win £50,000 on Cheat, but only if they lied and cheated their way through the contest.
The actor has increasingly tried his hand at reality TV since leaving Albert Square, with Dyer also appearing on Scared Of The Dark and travel show Absolutely Dyer: Danny & Dani Do Italy – in which he features alongside his daughter.
Dyer previously admitted he felt the standards drop towards the latter part of his time on EastEnders.
Speaking at a fan Q&A in September, he said: ‘The first few years we f***ing smashed it. It was powerful s**t. The viewer listened to us more than these f***ing c* politicians.
‘I was blessed with some amazing storylines, some s**te ones as well.
‘They f***ed it up towards the end. It’s a shame it had to come to an end, but I’d f***ing had enough.’
The actor also lashed out a his former co-stars,, adding: ‘I’ve worked with a lot of actors that are c***s, very selfish, it’s all about them.
‘You need to look after your other actors. It’s about teamwork and looking after each other.’
Meanwhile, Dyer admitted that being cast as Mick Carter saved his career following some bad films.
He said: ‘I had made too many bad films and I was reduced to going to nightclubs and waving off the balcony in places like Kidderminster.
‘I couldn’t put the kids through school anymore. I had f***ed it and then I get a call from Dominic Treadwell Collins, who asked me to come down and meet him at The Langham hotel and I had just about enough petrol to get there! It changed my life and it changed my f***ing career as well.’
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
