The TRUTH behind Shane Richie’s meltdown… as we reveal betrayed wife has walked away from their business

WHEN police officers arrived at the Tesco petrol station of Church Langley on Wednesday night, few would’ve expected it to mark the dramatic fall from grace for Albert Square favourite Shane Richie. Looking dishevelled wearing shorts, t-shirt and abaseball cap, the soap legend repeatedly slurred obscenities at staff who had reprimanded him for vaping on the forecourt. Now it can be revealed those close to Shane fear he has been “spiralling” for some time and are scared that things could get worse for the struggling star – and even fear that he could be sacked from the BBC show. Shane Richie was filmed in exclusive videos obtained by The Sun swearing at Tesco staff after being challenged for vaping on a petrol station forecourt before his arrest Credit: SWNS Those close to Shane say they’re increasingly worried about the soap star following his latest troubles Credit: Getty It’s the latest chapter in a rollercoaster life of money woes, marriage heartbreaks and alcohol demons for the former Butlins red coat, 62. Following the incident, an insider revealed their concerns: “This has been a long time coming. Shane has been struggling to keep up with the demands of his workload and it appears it has all got a bit much. Everyone is so concerned about him.” “Since his character Alfie took over as landlord of the Queen Vic, he has been filming all the time because he is at the centre of the show.” “It is a pretty gruelling schedule. Plus he’s got a big tour in the September which he has been rehearsing for.” “When Shane gets stressed he does like a drink, he has made no secret of that.” “But drink driving is a serious offence and BBC bosses are not going to take this lightly. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they suspended him.” “To be honest that might be the best thing for him. Some down time to pull himself together and spend time with his family.” As the Sun exclusively revealed, Shane was arrested after a staff member reported a suspected drunk driver following an altercation at a Tesco petrol station in Harlow, Essex. The soap star is due to appear at Colchester Magistrates’ court in September, the same month he is due to perform in nationwide theatre tour Prat Pack alongside fellow TV favourites Bradley Walsh, Brian Conley, and Joe Pasquale. Our source added: “That tour is a double edged sword. It might do Shane some good to spend some time with his mates.” “But those close to Shane are also concerned a month on tour away from home with his drinking buddies from the nineties could do more harm than good.” Shane made a permanent comeback to Albert Square in September 2022 after years away from the soap. His loveable character Alfie alongside wife Kate Slater, played by Jessie Wallace, took over as landlord and landlady of the Queen Vic last year with sources saying it has massively increased his workload. Shane himself explained in a past interview: “When your character runs the Queen Vic, you’re in practically every episode because, back then, every story would start or stop or somehow involve the Queen Vic, and the Queen Vic was another character.” “Someone died? Let’s all meet the Queen Vic. Someone’s getting married? Let’s all meet at the Queen Vic. Someone’s having a row? Let’s meet at the Queen Vic. So even if it wasn’t my storyline I think people were getting sick of seeing me. “You do work hard even if you’re just in the background pulling pints. You got to be there all day.” For millions of fans, the footage marked a shocking reminder of the scandals that once threatened to overshadow Shane’s career. Shane had endured a string of crushing financial blows that threatened to bring his career to its knees. The actor has spoken about hitting rock bottom on more than one occasion. Before landing the role that made him a household name, Shane was left sleeping rough after moving to Plymouth as a teenager in search of work. When a promised nightclub job failed to materialise, he spent weeks homeless, sleeping on a bench and begging for loose change to buy a cup of tea. Writing in his autobiography Rags To Richie, he recalled being “too proud” to ask his family for help, instead relying on the kindness of strangers as he desperately tried to get back on his feet. Long before becoming Alfie Moon, Shane endured homelessness before fighting his way to soap superstardom Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Shane’s marriage to Coleen Nolan ended after he admitted his drinking and infidelity had torn their relationship apart Credit: Getty – Contributor Years later, just as his career appeared untouchable, history threatened to repeat itself. Despite commanding huge salaries at the height of his EastEnders fame, Shane found himself staring down bankruptcy after sinking almost £700,000 into the film Shoreditch. The passion project proved a box office disaster, attracting just a few hundred cinema-goers after its release, leaving the actor facing the prospect of losing his home. In a twist of fate, his financial fortunes were only rescued after he landed the role of Alfie Moon in 2002 – the cheeky pub landlord who transformed him into one of British television‘s biggest stars almost overnight. But even decades later, money worries continued to cast a shadow. Ahead of entering I’m A Celebrity in 2020, Shane admitted he was “skint” after the pandemic wiped out a year’s worth of theatre work. He revealed he had been relying on loans from friends and banks and accepted the ITV reality show because he needed the pay cheque to clear mounting debts. But while money worries repeatedly cast a shadow over Shane’s career, the greatest price he paid was in his personal life. At the height of his EastEnders fame, his marriage to Loose Women star Coleen Nolan began to unravel after years together. The couple, who share sons Shane Jr and Jake, had become one of showbusiness’ best-known partnerships after eloping to Florida in 1990. However, behind closed doors the relationship was increasingly under strain – and eventually they were forced to split. Shane has been married to wife Christie Goddard since 2007 after rebuilding his life following his split from Coleen Credit: Rex Shane returned to EastEnders full-time in 2022, with insiders saying the demanding filming schedule has taken its toll Credit: BBC Reflecting on the period, after discovering he had been unfaithful, Coleen admitted she had stayed in the marriage “two years too long” because she was “massively in love” with him. The breakdown of their relationship had huge effects on his family too. In January 2017, the couple’s eldest son, Shane Jr, announced that he was changing his surname to Nolan in a show of support for his mother. He said: “I’m going to support my mum and change my name to Shane Nolan. She knows nothing about it. It’s Nolan now.” The move shows just how painful the fallout from the split had become, years after their marriage had ended. Shane himself has accepted responsibility for the breakdown of their relationship. Looking back on that period, he admitted success had gone to his head, saying he believed he was “pulling the wool over the public’s eyes” while privately making a series of life-changing mistakes. Despite the painful end to his first marriage, Shane found love again with actress Christie Goddard who he started dating in 2001. The pair married in 2007 and have now spent more than two decades together, raising three children – Mackenzie Blue, 20, Lolita Bell, 18, and Romani-Skye Angel Shelley, 15. Police arrested Shane after reports of a suspected drink driver at a Tesco petrol station in Harlow, Essex Credit: SWNS Pals fear Shane’s latest scandal could have serious consequences both on and off screen Credit: Getty Images – Getty Their relationship has also weathered difficult moments, including allegations of a long-running affair with the-then head of his fan club Alison Hall. According to Alison, they first had sex when she was 22 and soon they were sleeping together up to twice a week behind Shane’s betrayed wife’s back. She also claimed that the pair continued to see each other throughout Shane’s two-year engagement and later wedding to Christie – whom she ‘exposed’ the affair to with evidence in 2010. That moment set ripples through the marriage, but Christie stood by her husband. But now there are fresh rumours that the marriage could once again be under strain, for The Sun can reveal that Christie was terminated as director of their joint company Bluebelle Skye Productions in June. Which means she no longer has control over their business empire which they have run together since 2017. The actor has also spoken with striking honesty about his relationship with alcohol, admitting fame fuelled a lifestyle that quickly spiraled – and continues to – beyond his control. He once confessed: “I lost my first wife through my drinking. A bottle of Jack Daniel’s and I was off.” Shane said the adulation that came with becoming a huge star left him believing he was invincible. “By 1996 my ego had taken over,” he said. “I was getting police escorts to nightclubs. It went to my head and I was a bit out of control.” Despite saying that he had been “lying to himself” and had put that chapter of his life behind him – this week’s shock arrest have thrust those admissions back into the spotlight.