A well-known English actor joined Labour's Southend East and Rochford candidate door-knocking around the city.

Ross Kemp, best known for his role as Grant Mitchell in EastEnders and his TV documentaries filming with dangerous gangs, joined Southend East and Rochford candidate Bayo Alaba to support his campaign. 

The pair canvassed voters  around Southend, where Ross has previously lived, having received his acting equity card at the Palace Theatre in Westcliff.

Ross has known Mr Alaba since his time in the military and met him at a barracks in Shepherd's Bush. 

Having been briefed on the area on his way to canvas, Ross said he was shocked to learn of some of the problems facing the area.

He said: "Southend has the worst waiting times for an NHS appointment in the country, approximately 21 per cent of the people that live here are on an NHS waiting list.

"Secondly, the thing that really knocked me for six was that in 2024 there were 400 spillages in sewage into the Thames estuary, Southend relies on the tourist industry, if you lose those blue flags people will lose their jobs.

"If you want change you have to vote for it."

The other candidates in the General Election for Southend East and Rochford are Gavin Haran (Con), Lee Clark (Confelicity), James Allen (Lib Dems), Simon Cross (Green), Leslie Lilley (Reform), Bianca Isherwood (Heritage)