The actor, who played Barry on the BBC soap, admitted he can understand why Danny decided to leave the soap for a break
EASTENDERS star Shaun Williamson has insisted Danny Dyer is under "pressure" due to hectic filming schedules, as he defended the actor's decision to take a break from the soap.
The star, who played Barry on the show from 1994 to 2004, opened up about the long hours the cast constantly put in during filming, as he appeared on Loose Women today.
Speaking to panellist Martine McCutcheon, who also previously starred on the soap, the pair agreed they'd often be working 17 hour days.
Asked if he could understand why Danny had decided to take a break recently, Shaun said: "Barry either had a lovely storyline or he didn't.
"I've seen what can happen to some people who are in all day every day and work all hours.
"I understand the pressure he's under and I just hope he can sort it out."
Shaun was on the chat show alongside Only Fools and Horses actress Sue Holderness, as they promoted their new show Out of Order.
He joked: "I still pay a little chubby loser."
Meanwhile, it comes after Danny took a leave of absence from EastEnders after he suffered a meltdown at the National Television Awards and had to be calmed down by his co-stars.
The meltdown came days before Dyer, who plays Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter, took a break from the soap to deal with his “issues”.
The Sun has told how his hard-partying lifestyle was worrying bosses and The Sun on Sunday revealed his babbling rants on set were concerning co-stars and crew.
The final straw is believed to have come at the National Television Awards on January 26.
Dyer, 39, had tried to give up alcohol but was back on the booze.
He arrived at 6pm and saw red at the end of the evening.
Pals including Jane Beale actress Laurie Brett and James Bye, who plays Martin Fowler, can be seen in the video footage trying to help the fraught star.
James wraps an arm around party-loving Dyer, who waves his hands as the debate turns increasingly heated.
His wife Joanne Mas, the mother of his three children, can also be seen attempting to get him to cool down.
The woman who took the film said: “You could tell Danny had been drinking.
"It seemed like he was annoyed at someone else and ranting, and his cast mates were trying to calm him down.
“It went on for quite some time. At one stage he walked off in a strop and then came back.
“Then the guy who plays Martin Fowler was trying to reason with him and at one point Danny Dyer hugged him — in that way that drunk people do when they are having a bit of meltdown and going from anger to love.”
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