Eastenders star Joe Absolom's life 23 years on from soap stardom

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Eastenders' Matthew Rose - who was played by Joe Absolom - was wrongfully sentenced to prison time for the murder of Saskia Duncan over 20 years ago.The Eastenders character was shockingly framed for Saskia's murder after her boyfriend hit her over the head with an ashtray.The storyline captivated fans with newspapers even starting nationwide campaigns for the character's release, reports the Mirror.The 44-year-old left Eastenders in 2000 - continuing his acting career starring in British horror film Long Time Dead, and a supporting role in the ITV series Vincent.

But it was his role as Bert Large's son, Al, in Doc Martin, in which he felt most at home.The actor has been based in Cornwall for 14 years after relocating with his wife and their children while filming the show.Joe - who starred as plumber-turned-restaurateur Al in the ITV comedy-drama series since it started 18 years ago - took the decision to quit his native London when his eldest daughter, Lyla, was five.Speaking to The Mirror, he said: "I remember sitting on the beach in Cornwall with [Lyla] on a day off from filming.

She was asking where the tide had gone. I made up some sort of hare-brained father’s explanation. We drove back to London the next day and unfortunately a teenager had just been murdered outside our local supermarket."The last straw for Joe was in 2013 when his family's South London home was robbed by a gang of teenagers whilst Joe was in Romania filming - leaving his wife at home with their two eldest children.The following year the family moved to Cornwall, where Doc Martin was filmed in Port Isaac.Speaking about his children's transition down south, Joe said: "My children’s lives are in Cornwall now.