10 Facts About… Scott Maslen (Eastenders’ Jack)
1 Scott Alexander Maslen was born on 25 June 1971 in Woolwich, South
London. He spent much of his childhood attending the Bromley Marine Cadets, before signing up for the Royal Marines with two of his school friends at the age of 16. He later sustained an injury, so he changed career path – first becoming a model, then an actor. He came on to our radar in 2002, when he took on the regular role of DS Phil Hunter in The Bill, staying on the show for five years. And in an Eastenders connection, DS Hunter’s mum was played by Anita Dobson – aka Walford’s Angie Watts!
2 The BBC poached Scott from rival drama The Bill, and he made his Eastenders debut as ex-copper Jack Branning in 2007. Introduced as the youngest child of Jim and Reenie Branning (brother to Derek, April, Carol, Suzy and Max), Jack has become the Square’s resident Romeo! Over the years, he’s enjoyed flings with Tanya Branning, Chelsea Fox and Mel Owen, as well as Sam, Sharon and Roxy Mitchell – but his longest relationship was with Ronnie Mitchell, who he first wed in 2010, separated from in 2012, and then remarried on New Year’s Day 2017. Tragically, Jack was widowed on the same day, when Ronnie and sister Roxy drowned in a swimming pool.
3 In real life, Scott has been a lot luckier in love! He met his long-term partner Estelle in Primrose
Hill in August 1999 – during the solar eclipse! After romancing her for almost a decade, the couple married in 2008, and have a son together called Zak, born in 2001.
4 Scott’s missus has admitted that it was extremely odd for her to see her hubby lock lips with
Ronnie Mitchell on screen, as in real life they’re best friends with actress Samantha
Womack! “It was so weird, because they’re just like brother and sister,” commented Estelle. Scott has known Sam since the pair were teenagers, and they’re such close pals that he’s godfather to her two children.
5 Scott left Eastenders for two years in October 2013, during which time he appeared in US soap opera The Royals, starring Liz Hurley. In the drama, Scott played married politician James Holloway, the lover of King Cyrus, played by Jake Maskall (aka ex-eastender Danny Moon!).
6 Scott proved to be a fantastic mover and groover when he participated in the 2010 series of Strictly Come Dancing. While he and partner Natalie Lowe were knocked out in the semi-final, they greatly impressed the judging panel, scoring 39 points out of 40 for both their Viennese waltz and their jive. However, despite often topping the judges’ leaderboard,
Scott was ultimately pipped to the post by fellow Eastender
Kara Tointon (Dawn
Swann), who ended up waltzing away with the trophy!
7 He was also a gallant loser five years later when he competed in Celebrity Masterchef. Once again, he fell at the last hurdle, being knocked out of the competition one show before the grand final. But while his menu of panseared halibut, tomato salsa, followed by chocolate puff-pastry crisps with orange cream and cherries failed to win over the judges, it looked delicious to us!
8 Despite the fact that star Scott has been a strict vegetarian since the age of 18, he is a keen carp
fisherman. The actor spent his most recent New Year break at Orchid Lakes in Oxfordshire, where he managed to catch a gigantic carp that weighed in at a massive 33lb 8oz! “I take a photo with them, give them a kiss, and put them back in the water!” admits Scott. Well, we’re just glad that he doesn’t make a meal of it!
9 When he’s not been busy playing Walford’s Jack, Scott has taken to the stage to perform in Christmas pantomimes. A couple of years ago he tackled the role of villain Abanazar in Aladdin
– but admitted he ended up completely embarrassing his teenage son with his over-thetop performance! Looking at his fabulous costume, we really can’t imagine why…
10 Like his alter ego’s pal Mick, Scott supports West Ham – and once played a bit of football himself. Back in 2006, he took part in a charity Soccer Six tournament alongside his colleagues from The Bill, playing on the Hammers’ home turf at Upton Park – but alas, Scott and his chums were, er, hammered by the team from Hollyoaks! Better luck at the next Inside Soap Awards, Scott!