EastEnders actor Shane Richie has pleaded not guilty to drink-driving after police were called to a Tesco petrol station in Harlow, Essex, where he was reportedly filmed arguing with staff about using a vape on the forecourt. Richie, who plays Alfie Moon in the BBC soap, had driven onto the forecourt with a flat tyre when the confrontation was recorded; officers arrived shortly after 11pm on 29 July and he was subsequently arrested and charged. The case has drawn attention both for the celebrity involved and for reports of pressure from his demanding filming schedule.

Appearing by videolink at Colchester Magistrates' Court under his real name, Roche, the 62-year-old disputed the prosecution's account of what he said during the incident, with police officers, a cashier and the duty manager listed as witnesses. Prosecutors said Richie failed to provide a roadside breath sample after numerous attempts and was arrested, before a later test at Harlow police station recorded 55mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath, against a legal limit of 35mg. Despite repeated technical disruptions to the videolink, the hearing proceeded, and Richie was granted unconditional bail ahead of a full-day trial set for 17 November 2027, which he must attend in person.