Lee MacDonald wishes he\'d joined \'EastEnders\' 32 years ago.
The 50-year-old actor - who played Sammy \'Zammo\' McGuire in children\'s drama series \'Grange Hill\' until 1987 - was recently confirmed to be joining the soap\'s cast, and he has admitted he should have tried to get a role on Albert Square when he first moved on more than three decades ago.
Opening up about regretting not asking for a job at the time, he told TV Times: "\'EastEnders\' is something I\'ve always wanted to do.
"When I left \'Grange Hill\', \'EastEnders\' had just moved to the \'Grange Hill\' studios. My one regret is that I didn\'t introduce myself to the casting director."
While Lee is glad to be getting the opportunity now, his goal is to have a "longer stint" on the show.
He said: "A longer stint in \'EastEnders\' would be the dream. I\'d feel like I\'d won the lottery!"
The actor will guest star as Terry, a London bus driver, for a couple of episodes as his character goes up against Danny Dyer\'s alter ego Mick Carter in a radio competition to try to win concert tickets, but the Queen Vic landlord is desperate to get his hands on the prize for wife Linda Carter (Kellie Bright).
He previously said: "I am absolutely chuffed to bits and so excited to be briefly joining the cast of \'EastEnders\'. I can\'t say too much yet but watch this space. Top banana."
As well as \'Grange Hill\', Lee has made cameo appearances in \'Birds of a Feather\', \'The Bill\' and starred in a TV version of \'A Midsummer Night\'s Dream\'.
