EastEnders star Ricky Champ has hinted that a redemption could still be possible for Stuart Highway.

The actor's character caused chaos for the Carter family last year by framing Mick (Danny Dyer) for shooting him, which led to the Queen Vic landlord spending time in prison.

Stuart has now turned his sinister attentions towards Doctor Legg while staying at Dot Branning's house – a clear sign that he hasn't changed his ways just yet.

Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy about whether the show could redeem Stuart in the long-run, Ricky explained: "The road for redemption would be an awfully long one. There'd be a long queue of apologies that he'd have to make and good deeds for him to do, in order to make any headway towards redemption.

BBC

"But Stuart Highway is a damaged character and a damaged man. Even though he could try to be good and really try to make amends for some of the things that he's done, there's still a lot that's bubbling underneath and a lot that hasn't been sorted out.

"We'll see – I think redemption is a long way off, but maybe it is in sight."

Ricky also heaped praise on EastEnders' new senior executive producer Kate Oates, hinting that she has her own plans for the character of Stuart.

He revealed: "I have spoken to Kate, we've spoken a lot. She's very open, very hands-on and really great, actually. I'm really happy that we've got Kate on board. We're really lucky to have her running the place.

"We have spoken a lot about Stuart Highway. A few days ago I was in a hotel and I was reading the next two filming blocks, so I had eight episodes of EastEnders in my bag.

"I was reading on and I noticed a gear change, a real distinct one, and I called her straight away. That's the great thing about Kate. She said: 'Here's my number, call me whenever, about whatever you want.' We had a really great chat about the direction Stuart is going in and what's going to happen for him.

"That's all I'll say about that, but everyone should know that Kate is awesome."

Ricky has been nominated for the Most Popular Newcomer prize at next week's National Television Awards and will face off against Hollyoaks' Aedan Duckworth (Ollie Morgan), Coronation Street's Alexandra Mardell (Emma Brooker), Emmerdale's James Moore (Ryan Stocks) and Casualty star Neet Mohan (Dr Rashid 'Rash' Masum).

BBC

Discussing the nod and his proudest moments so far, Ricky added: "I'm really excited. I feel absolutely delighted, I'm not going to lie! In my nearly 15 years in the business, I've been in and around awards ceremonies before, but I've never been up for an individual gong. I'm really humbled and it feels great.

"I'm proud of a lot of the work that I've done on the show. I was really proud of the first couple of months, after I came into EastEnders.

"But if I had to choose one thing, I'd have to go with the two-hander episode that myself and Kellie Bright performed. That was a monumental effort from everyone. I really enjoyed working with Kellie and I feel we produced something really special."

BBC

Asked whether Stuart's villainous ways could count against him in the public voting, Ricky laughed: "I'm not really sure, I don't know! It's a strange one, because I'm in a weird category where people love to hate me. I've had a lot to do as a newcomer to the show, straight off the bat.

"I think all of us who are up for the award bring our own different energies and passion to it. We'll see. Being nominated is one thing, winning it is something else. I'm really proud of the nomination."

Votes for the National Television Awards can be cast on the ceremony's official website.

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