Former EastEnders star Elaine Lordan has prompted fresh concern for her welfare after she was seen openly drinking on a public street during an appearance in London.
The actress, who became a household name thanks to her role as fiery Albert Square resident Lynne Hobbs in EastEnders, looked completely unrecognisable while making her way towards a local shop.
Notably gaunt and appearing unsteady on her feet, the 51-year old threw her head back while drinking from the small glass bottle as she paused next to a set of railings.
Frail: Former EastEnders star Elaine Lordan has prompted fresh concern for her welfare after she was seen openly drinking on a public street during an appearance in London
With temperatures plummeting, the actress stayed warm beneath a black woolen hat, thick coat and scarf while making her latest appearance in London.
She was later joined by a younger male companion, one of many who appeared to guide her across the street as they linked arms.
A second male acquaintance was later seen arm in arm with Elaine, who paused while engaging him in a conversation before setting off arm in arm.
Old times: The actress became a household name thanks to her role as fiery Albert Square resident Lynne Hobbs in EastEnders (pictured at the British Soap Awards in 2002)
Sad: Holding a plastic shopping bag in one hand, the actress looked notably frail and gaunt while standing alone on the pavement
Moving on: The actress later made her way across the path while continuing to drink from the raised bottle
Stepping out: She out her hand into her shopping bag and placed something in it as she walked on
Pictured: She appeared to have a glass bottle in her hand before she placed it back in her bag
The soap star, who was once a member of the fictional Slater family, was thought to have sought professional help in 2003 for her drinking woes.
In 2001, she received a driving ban for drink-driving and was ordered to pay £750 by magistrates in St Albans and ordered to pay £2,500 costs.
Breathalysers showed she had 51mg of alcohol in her breath. The legal limit is 35mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.
She left EastEnders in 2003 – maintaining that she was not sacked for her excessive drinking – with the incentive to give up drink as she and partner Peter Manuel were trying for a baby.
At the time, her mother Bernadette told one magazine: ‘Elaine drinks too much. It is a problem and I wish she would cut down.
Helping hand: At one point Elaine was joined by a male companion
Leading the way: The actress linked arms with her acquaintance, who appeared to guide her across the street
Side by side: The former soap star held on to his arm while venturing out in the capital
Walking along: Elaine held onto his arm as she walked with her pal in the wet weather
Let’s talk: At one point the pair appeared to be engaged in conversation as they paused on the street
‘She will be seeing a professional for help. She was constantly in the public eye and working long hours. Drinking blocks out her stress.’
However in 2005, Bernadette – who was helping her daughter rehabilitate – died after throwing herself in front of a London tube.
The tragedy left Elaine grief stricken and nine months later her baby James was born five weeks premature and died days before his first birthday.
She miscarried her second baby shortly before her 72-year-old father Garrett died in 2008.
Speaking about her heartbreaking time, Elaine told the Mirror in 2008 that she was determined to rebuild her life and move on from her tragic past.
‘People say, “You are the unluckiest person in the world”, but I don’t think, “Woe is me”,’ she told the publication. ‘I don’t want people to feel sorry for me and I don’t want them to feel they have to come up to me.
‘There are people far worse off than me. Look at the poor McCanns. At least I have got closure and I can move on. They can’t. I have learned so much from everything that has happened. Life does have to go on.’
In 2005, Elaine appeared on I’m A Celebrity but had to be airlifted out after she fainted twice on the first day. At the time, Doctors pronounced her ‘in good health’ and she was discharged, but ITV bosses decided it was too risky to allow her back into camp.
Although the she spent less than 48 hours in the Australian jungle, she was still be paid her £65,000 fee.
Reflecting on her short time in camp at the time, she explained that she wasn’t sure what had caused her to have a seizure during the first few hours of the competition.
She shared with show hosts Ant and Dec: ‘The first bit was absolutely brilliant, going up in the helicopter and then we landed and it all changed. Then the walk was much tougher than I could have imagined. The tightrope was really hard.
‘I can’t explain what happened the day I had that seizure. I’ve heard lots of descriptions of it. I can’t help but laugh about it now although it’s not funny. I have a vague surreal memory of gripping Sid (Owen’s) hand and saying “help me”.
Interviewed on the show, Elaine said she thought ‘tiredness’ had got to her. She said she was ‘gutted’ about leaving, but had accepted the producers’ decision – and had also realised the great outdoors was not for her.
She added: ‘It was very difficult. I don’t think I’m what you would call a natural camper. Never ever will I ever go camping again. I can categorically state that now.’
Bosses were understood to be concerned about Lordan’s ability to cope with a Bushtucker Trial or manage on the meagre food rations.
The actress initially passed out during a jungle trek with fellow contestants Carol Thatcher and Sheree Murphy. She came round but collapsed a second time the following day and was treated by paramedics then transferred to hospital.