Who is John Partridge? EastEnders star and Celebrity Masterchef finalist

If you watch Celebrity Masterchef, you know that we’re set for an all-male finale, with Spencer Matthews, Martin Bayfield and John Partridge taking on the show’s last challenge.

The last woman competitor Paralympian Stef Reid left the show on Thursday, leaving the men to fight it out.

Partridge is a familiar face on British television as an actor, as well as a pretty good cook.

Who is John Partridge?

Fans of the TV soap EastEnders will be no stranger to Partridge, who played Christian Clarke on the show from 2008 to 2012. Clark was Jane Beale’s brother and Roxy Mitchell’s best friend.

A short description of the character by the BBC reads: “Christian ‘kiss-my-guns’ Clarke has the biceps of a god, and an innate inability to live a quiet life. It’s no surprise that he’s Roxy Mitchell’s best mate, then. His put-downs are legendary, but Christian’s brash exterior is very much that. “

John Partrige is one of the three contestants to make it to the final of Celebrity Masterchef 2018. (BBC)

“The Christian that his friends and family know is sensitive, generous and fiercely loyal. If you’re feeling down, he’ll take you out for the best night of your life and provide a shoulder to cry on in the taxi home.”

Christian and Syed

On EastEnders, Clarke was gay and proud and this was a theme that was explored throughout his time on the show. His storyline included a steamy love story with Syed Masood, who Clarke eventually married. The couple departed for America to start a new life after Syed’s family disapproved of the relationship.

Partridge stated he left the show in 2012 to care for his mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2010.

Partridge has reprised his role as Clarke a few times since then, returning to the show for two episodes in May 2014, then four episodes in February 2015 and again in May 2016.

The man behind Christian

Just like his character, Partridge is gay, out and proud. He’s been in a civil partnership with Jon Tsouras since September 2011 and the couple have been together for 16 years.

The stage loves him, too. Before his run as Christian Clarke, Partridge was a West End staple.

The trained dancer and actor dropped out of school at 16 to join the cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats. In 1998, he played Rum Tum Tugger, the picky, never satisfied feline in the TV movie of the musical.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywFbpDjpZno]

Partridge has played Prince Charming in Cinderella pantomimes, Zach in the West End revival of A Chorus Lin, and Billy Flynn in a 2016 UK tour of Chicago.

He was also a judge on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s TV show Over the Rainbow, which set out to cast a new Dorothy for the producer’s revival of Wizard of Oz.

He’s been both a presenter and contestant on several reality shows since then.

John Partridge is one of the three contestants to make it to the Celebrity Masterchef 2018’s finale. (BBC)

Battle with cancer

In March 2018, Partridge appeared on Good Morning Britain and revealed he had a battle with testicular cancer.

“I was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2004 while waiting for a hernia operation,” he told the show.

The actor did not make his health public at the time because he felt it would be detrimental to his career as a musical actor.

By his own account, having sex “saved [his] life.”

“I had a hernia operation, as I have danced all my whole life,” Partridge told the hosts. “I was told I can’t have sexual activity for six weeks.

“But I disobeyed my doctor and it saved my life. There was complication with the surgery which took me back to hospital where they found my tumour.”

As part of his cancer treatment, one of Partrige’s testicles was removed, which left him with 120 stitches and feeling emasculated. “As a man, I felt I’d lost part of my sexuality, my masculinity, my virility,” he said.

However, the star recovered and appeared in Full Monty Live 2018 in early April.

• TV
• Dec 18 2024

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