Bobby Davro says stroke reconnected him with EastEnders co-star after 15-year feud

Bobby Davro has revealed that having a stroke brought him back in contact with former pal Brian Conley after a 15-year feud.

The 65-year-old comic had what he described as a “funny turn” during a stand up show in south London back in January. He’d left the stage after receiving a standing ovation at the sold-out gig but then lost the feeling down the left side of his body, later learning he’d had a minor stroke which left him sounding like Jack Sparrow as he was slurring his words so much.

His health woes come months after he lost his long-term partner Vicky Wright to pancreatic cancer and he admitted he was “struggling” and not looking after himself. After cancelling a string of upcoming gigs, Bobby is getting back on track and prioritising his health after the “wake-up call”.

But the funny man revealed the biggest thing that has helped get him through is the pals that have reached out to him since, including fellow EastEnders star Brian, who he famously fell out with in the Noughties.

Speaking about their reunion to The Sun, Bobby shared: “Brian Conley and I were best buddies for many years, but we had a bit of a falling out a long time ago. It was over professional differences, but it was quite painful at the time. It’s been 15 years since we were both doing a TV show together, for Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, so when he rang to ask how I was it was really touching. We all have our battles, but hearing from him was a real tonic getting through this. Life is all about forgiveness.”

Bobby revealed his pal Bradley Walsh also called up to check on him while he was in hospital as The Chase host was holidaying on a yacht “somewhere in the Seychelles”. And his “dearest” pal Les Dennis came and stayed over for a night and they cooked up steaks. “I’m so blessed. That did me the world of good,” Bobby added.

Six weeks on from his stroke, Bobby says it has put his life in perspective “because one of the best things to come of it has been hearing from people who haven’t been in touch. It makes you realise they do care.” He joked he “never had myself down for a stroke; heart attack or erectile dysfunction, perhaps, but never a f**ing stroke because I always felt quite healthy.” He believes it was his love for his late partner Vicky that got him through before.

Paying tribute to his late fiancée, who he was with for 12 years before proposing, he said on X, formerly known as Twitter: “To think we will never hear her voice to hear laughter look into her beautiful eyes see her smile to hold her and to kiss her is devastating and so incredibly painful. She will be in my thoughts and in my heart forever. She was my Schluffe and I loved her and always will.”