Fresh blow for Shane Richie after secret split from wife & drink-drive arrest as EastEnders star spotted filming funeral

EASTENDERS star Shane Richie has suffered a fresh blow after splitting from his wife of 19 years and his drink-driving charge.

The Sun On Sunday revealed EastEnders actor Shane, 62, and Christie, 47, secretly divorced last month, six days before he was arrested in Essex.

[Jessie Wallace as Kat Slater at Zoe Slater's funeral in EastEnders.] 6

[Shane Ritchie and Christie Goddard at Shocktoberfest 2021.] 6

Now insiders have revealed that the actor has quietly sold his five bedroom, 1.75million family home in Reigate, Surrey.

The house, which was advertised by a local estate agent and the couple bought in 2008, is now online as sold subject to contract, and has been removed from listings.

A source said: Shane and Christies split happened a few months back.

They put their house on the market in March and it took a few months to get a buyer in place.

Hopefully if it goes smoothly, they will be moving this year and settling down again in separate houses.

No divorce is pretty but theyve tried to be as amicable as possible for their children.

Christie confirmed to The Sun On Sunday that they had finalised their divorce on July 23.

She has now updated her Facebook profiles relationship status to: Divorced.

Friends said it was Christie, who has three children, Mackenzie Blue, 20, Lolita Bell, 18, and Romani-Skye Angel Shelley, 15, with the Alfie Moon actor, who pushed for the split.

A source added: She had put up with a lot over the years.

She got fed up with his behaviour and did not take the decision lightly.

There is a feeling he has been working hard and playing hard and that his behaviour has spiralled a bit.

The pair started dating in 2001, when they met while working as actors in local pantomimes.

They married six years later in 2007.

[Shane Richie filming scenes for Zoe Slater's funeral.] 6

[Shane Richie attending Zoe Slater's funeral.] 6

Friends close to Christie said she was shocked to learn of his drink-driving charge last month.

He was arrested at a Tesco petrol station in Essex at 11pm and was filmed arguing with staff, saying: I dont give a f**k.

The incident happened less than a week after their divorce was finalised.

A friend said: Shane might have been pushed over the edge because of the split.

[Aerial view of Shame Richie's house in Surry.] 6

[Pallbearers carrying a casket decorated with white and yellow flowers out of a building.] 6

But it showed Christie was right to fear he had spiralled. It was no way to behave and she hopes it will be a wake-up call to him.

Shane returned to work on EastEnders last week and was photographed for the first time since his arrest.

He was seen filming a funeral scene alongside his co-stars, including actress Jessie Wallace, who plays Kat Slater, and Gillian Wright, who stars as Jean Slater.