EastEnders’ Bradley Branning made a dramatic exit from the BBC soap when he plunged to his death from the Queen Vic roof in 2010 – now he’s up to something completely new
Charlie Clements, who played Bradley Branning in EastEnders, is now almost unrecognisable with glasses and beard, a far cry from his look on the soap. The actor, who left an indelible mark on EastEnders when he first appeared as Bradley Branning in 2006 and stayed for four years before leaving in 2010, has now swapped acting for a career on the golf course, reports OK!.
More than a decade after his EastEnders stint, Charlie decided to hang up his acting boots – confessing that he needs to “pay his bills” just like everyone else. In May, he informed his Instagram followers: “Aware that some may be less interested in my golf related activities! But for those who are go follow me at @charlieclementsgolf.”
His dedicated golf page showcases his new life as a greenkeeper and pictures of him perfecting his swing. In a recent post shared with his fans, the ex-soap star revealed: “In my career as an actor I’ve had some incredible opportunities and moments..”
“But since starting out as a Greenkeeper a year ago, this is up there with the best of them… Touching the hallowed turf of Centre! ” Charlie’s dramatic departure from EastEnders occurred in a live episode marking the show’s 25th anniversary when his character tragically fell from the roof of the Queen Vic while being chased by the police.
Bradley had sworn to safeguard his wife Stacey after she killed her rapist Archie Mitchell, and the pair had hatched a plan to abscond together. However, their escape plan went disastrously awry when Bradley tried to climb The Vic in an attempt to evade the police.
His rash escape bid ended up being less than successful when he tragically fell to his death, leaving his wife a widow and sending shockwaves through Walford. The groundbreaking episode held nearly 20 million viewers spellbound, marking EastEnders’ first-ever live broadcast. Charlie was acknowledged for his work on the show, bagging the Most Popular Newcomer award at the 2006 National Television Awards.
After his dramatic exit from EastEnders, Charlie continued to leave his imprint in the entertainment world. He portrayed Jake O’Reilly in Casualty and in 2017, he featured in the documentary Elizabeth and Her Enemies, playing the Earl of Essex.
Away from the camera, Charlie tied the knot with his long-term girlfriend, Rebecca Clatworthy, in 2018 and the couple have three children. Besides his acting skills, Charlie has a sharp eye for photography, often posting pictures of landscapes and nature on his Instagram page.
However, like many during the pandemic, Charlie faced the need to adjust. During the lockdowns, he temporarily paused his acting career to support his family. He worked in a restaurant during the initial lockdown and later at a gardening centre during the second.
Speaking on Loose Women, he was open about his choice, sharing: “Acting is my first love and career choice, but at the end of the day, I’m a jobbing actor. I’ve got bills to pay and a family to support like everyone else.”
However, it seems Charlie has since taken a swing towards golf. His Instagram is now filled with snaps from the driving range, and in August last year, he announced his intention to pursue it as his main gig. The unsung heroes of the golf course, greenkeepers are essential for maintaining the pristine condition of the links, taking care of everything from raking bunkers and positioning tee markers to trimming trees and bushes that could obstruct the game.
“Swapped chef whites for the greens,” he captioned a photo on his Instagram, proudly sporting a fresh turquoise Greenkeeper outfit.
