Eastenders' hard man Ross Kemp today show his softer side by giving his support to the Palace Theatre.

The Albert Square star, who plays Grant Mitchell in the soap, trod the boards in 1985 when he was a virtual unknown in the Palace production of the Wizard of Oz and a play called Staircase.

The Westcliff theatre - which is due to make all staff redundant as it closes its doors for nine months - was the breeding ground for many famous stars including Pierce Brosnan, Gary Oldman, Kathy Burke and Carolyn Quentin.

The stars have now united to support their theatrical roots and make sure the theatre does re-open, as promised, in December.

A spokesman for Action for the Palace Theatre, said: "We wrote to Ross Kemp and asked if he could raise the profile of the theatre. He said he had been very fond of the Palace and would do all he could to help.

"He agreed to come down, which was very good of him. The Palace clearly gave many stars their first step on the ladder of stardom."

She added: "It is so nice that the stars are remembering their theatrical roots.

"Pierce Brosnan wrote a letter which said he had many wonderful years at the Palace and that the idea of it closing breaks his heart."

Gary Oldman and Kathy Burke also mentioned they had first met at the Palace when they picked up an award for their film, Nil By Mouth, at a recent prestigious awards ceremony in the south of France.

As they walked up the glitzy red carpet, Gary was heard to say to Kathy, "Who would have believed it, all those years ago in Westcliff."

Support - Ross Kemp

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