Wannabe Walforders audition for EastEnders spin-off in Waterford

Call it the Curse of Walford’s Albert Square.

All week the sunny south-east had been living up to its name, but as soon as there’s a whiff of EastEnders in the air — a show not noted for its sunny disposition — things turn gloomy.

Pity those hundreds of soap hopefuls who turned out yesterday afternoon in Dunmore East to queue in the rain. Not even a sighting of Jesse Wallace or Shane Richie to lighten the atmosphere.