AN ACCRINGTON man made national newspaper headlines when he allegedly caused mayhem on the set of top TV soap Eastenders.
Raymond Taylor, 33, is said to have strode up to star Shane Richie and told him: "I'm here for the acting lessons."
But his stunt backfired and this week a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Taylor, whose address was given as Cedar Street, was charged with going equipped for theft with a screwdriver and wire-cutters to the soap studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, last Friday.
He is said to have burst in on Richie, who plays Queen Vic landlord Alfie Moon, and Jessie Wallace, who plays his wife Kat, while they were filming, as cameramen and Eastenders executives looked on in amazement.
Police were called after security guards apparently stepped in to ensure the stars came to no harm.
Magistrates issued a warrant for Taylor's arrest after he failed to attend court in St Albans on Tuesday.
A spokesman for the soap said: "It was a shock for everyone and we are reviewing security to make sure it doesn't happen again."
A show insider was quoted in national newspapers as saying: "Shane and Jessie were filming an intense scene when the intruder marched straight up to them. Even though cameras were rolling, the man walked in front of them and said: 'All right, Shane, I'm here for the acting lessons.' "
Richie is said to have thought it was a joke at first, until a producer realised it was a serious situation and called security guards, who held the man down until the police arrived.
Eastenders bosses are now looking into how a man could not only break into the set but walk straight into a scene without being spotted by security.
