Caine covets Albert Square

EastEnders may be going through a ratings slump, but some fans will never give up on it - including Sir Michael Caine.

10:44 18 October 2004

EastEnders may be going through a ratings slump, but some fans will never give up on it - including Sir Michael Caine.

The multi-Oscar winning actor believes he could be the man to restore flagging audience figures with a little help from his friends.

"I think I could do a lot to it," he said.

"If I was in a situation where I was looking for work in British TV, EastEnders would be the one that would interest me."

Sir Michael thinks that fellow Academy Award winner Gwyneth Paltrow (with her oft-used English accent) could add a splash of glamour to Albert Square.

"I'd get Gwyn to go out with all the British guys in the show - something controversial," said Sir Michael.

"She does a wonderful English accent, she does uppercrust superbly. Get Gwyneth in the middle, so to speak."

And he does not believe a big name star has anything to fear from appearing in the BBC soap.

"Barbara Windsor was a big name in movies and she's happy doing it, so it's possible to do it, and do it with dignity," he pointed out.

And if Sir Michael fails to bring about a turnaround there are many more celebrity fans to call upon, including Bridget Jones star Rene Zellweger, singer Lulu, megastars Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, not to mention Madonna, Cher and Liza Minnelli - who all petitioned BBC America to bring the soap back after it was left off the US channel's schedule.