Entertainment

EastEnders star Shane Richie to attend The Irish Post Awards in London to accept the Entertainment Legend Award

LONDON - JANUARY 13: Actor Shane Richie poses for photographs as they promote the new series of 'Minder' on January 13, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shane Richie

SHANE RICHIE will attend next month's prestigious Irish Post Awards 2016 in London to accept the Entertainment Legend Award for his outstanding contribution to the industry.

Born in Kensington, London to Irish parents, Richie is well-known for one of his most notable television roles as Alfie Moon in hit BBC show EastEnders, which he played from 2002 through to 2005 and returning again in 2010.

In his early professional career, he was a regular on the live comedy circuit, receiving a nomination for best new stand-up at the British Comedy Awards.

Richie has always had a love of music, appearing in numerous musicals including Boogie Nights and Grease.

He has also released two albums and had a hit in the British Singles Chart in 2003 with his Children in Need cover version of Wham’s I’m Your Man.

Richie's extensive acting career has also seen him featured on stage in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and The Perfect Murder.

His television appearances include Night and Day, Dead Clean, Distant Shadow, The Good Samaritan, Father Frank, Skins and Minder, among others.

He has also hosted numerous shows including Reflex, The National Lottery: Win Your Wish List and The One Show.

He is currently working on a six-part BBC one drama series, Redwater, a spin-off that sees Alfie Moon and on-screen love interest Kat Slater - played by Jessie Wallace - travel to Ireland in an effort to put their London past behind them.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Jessie Wallace and Shane Richie present the award for Best Comedy at the 21st National Television Awards at The O2 Arena on January 20, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)

Jessie Wallace and Shane Richie are one of TV's golden couples (Picture: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images)

"Richie’s extensive career makes him a very worthy recipient of The Irish Post Entertainment Legend Award," Irish Post commercial Manager Sarah Murphy said.

The Irish Post Awards is an annual gala dinner and awards evening hosted by The Irish Post, the biggest selling newspaper and daily news site for the Irish in Britain.

The annual event will be held at The Great Room at the Grosvenor House on Park Lane on Friday, November 25, and will see over 1,000 guests come together to celebrate the many successes of the Irish in Britain across a range of industries.