Iconic EastEnder who met Krays

EASTENDERS actor Derek Martin’s life off-screen was just as colourful as the roles he took during a 50 year career.

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The actor, best known as cabbie Charlie Slater in the BBC soap, once carried guns for the Kray twins and stood trial at the Old Bailey on a theft charge.

Born Derek Rapp in Bow, east London, to Bill, a docker, and Christina, who worked in a laundry, Derek was a proper East Ender. Home was a two-up, two-down with an outside loo and tin bath.

Before acting, young Derek worked as a professional gambler, bouncer, meat-market porter, debt collector. He also raced motors.