Eastender Barry is voted most stressed soap star

EastEnders actor Shaun Williamson was today enjoying a short break in Scotland after his character was voted the stressed out TV soap star most in need of a holiday.

Williamson plays troubled Barry Evans, who topped the poll organised by Dumfries and Galloway Tourist Board.

The board is promoting its spring campaign – Nothing but Calm – which is designed to encourage more visitors to take short breaks and holidays in the region.

As part of the campaign, 1,000 British adults were asked to nominate the TV soap character most in need of a “getaway from it all” break in the area.

The results showed that the fictional citizens of Walford are believed to be the most strung out as three EastEnders characters polled nearly three-quarters of the votes.

Williamson, whose character has suffered a breakdown after his unfaithful wife Natalie walked out on him and his beloved father Roy died suddenly of a heart attack, topped the survey with 34% of the votes.

The stepmother he despises, Pat Evans, took second place with 28%.

Coronation Street’s Ashley Peacock, who has been left to bring up his son Joshua alone after his wife Maxine was murdered, came third.

In fourth place was Coronation Street’s barmaid Shelley Unwin with 15% of the vote while EastEnders’ hardman Phil Mitchell came in fifth with 12%.

The survey results were announced at Threave Gardens near Castle Douglas today as 37-year-old Williamson enjoyed a break in the area.

His character, minicab boss Barry, has seen some rocky times recently after his wife Natalie embarked on an affair with Ricky Butcher.

Williamson himself quit the series earlier this year following a row over a panto contract.

The actor will leave the BBC soap in November after being told he could not take time off to perform in a Christmas pantomime.

Williamson, who has been in EastEnders for nine years and earns around £180,000 (€262,000) a year, signed the pantomime contract without consulting his soap bosses.

Having seen other high-profile cast members such as Barbara Windsor and Steve McFadden leave on sabbaticals, it is thought he believed he could do the same.

But EastEnders bosses said they could not renew his contract further than November after he accepted the panto engagement.

Today, Williamson was putting his and Barry’s troubles aside as he took in the scenery around Castle Douglas and spent a relaxing night at a luxury B&B.

He said: “Being in the public eye does make a relaxing break a little more difficult for me.

“While I’m glad I don’t have the problems of my character, Barry, I can see reasons why we’d both head to Dumfries & Galloway for a break.”

Research for the tourist board’s poll was carried out by NOP Omnibus between April 11 and 13 this year when 1,000 adults aged 15 and over were asked for nominations for the most stressed out characters from television’s four major soaps EastEnders, Coronation Street, Brookside and Emmerdale.