EastEnders star Paul Nicholls in rare sighting 20 years after leaving the soap

Paul Nicholls has proved that he’s still got the good looks that won him legions of fans when he appeared in EastEnders back in the nineties.

The former soap star, 41, was seen shopping in London’s trendy Primrose Hill over the weekend and he’s barely aged a day since he left the BBC show two decades ago.

He joined the cast of EastEnders in March 1996 playing teenager Joe Wicks (no, not that one), and won huge praise thanks to his portrayal of the character’s battle with schizophrenia.

And he still looked every inch the soap pin-up when he ran errands on Sunday.

He still has the floppy brunette hair that became part of his trademark look back then.

Paul was seen sporting a navy bomber jacket with a black t-shirt underneath, which he teamed with a pair of blue jeans and trainers.

The TV star was seen carrying a paper bag and a bottle of Lucozade during his outing.

He seemed in good spirits as he smiled for the cameras while he walked down the street.

During his time in EastEnders, Paul enjoyed was voted TV’s sexiest actor twice and appeared on the cover of magazines including Smash Hits, Heat, Just Seventeen and Sugar.

Paul quit the show after just two years as he struggled with depression and became hooked on alcohol and drugs.

He managed to get clean in 2008 and blamed his rise to fame for his struggles.

Paul said: “People said I had too much too soon when I was playing Joe Wicks, and maybe they were right. I didn’t want to be a heartthrob, and I could not handle the attention.”

He added: “I was well on my way to a total breakdown. I was drinking a lot and taking drugs.

“I had lost control of my life. The more I partied, the more I was telling myself, ‘Wow, this is what acting is all about’.”

Before he shot to fame he was a child star, appearing in Children’s Ward, Earthfasts and The Biz.

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