HE’S one of the most villainous characters ever to grace TV screens.

Nasty Nick Cotton has twice committed murder, succumbed to a heroin addiction and attempted to poison his own mother among a hefty list of misdemeanours committed during his memorable stints on EastEnders.

Now the actor who played him, John Altman, is to be the star guest at the Daily Echo’s glittering curtain call awards later this month.

Fresh from a stint in pantomime in Fareham where he impressed audiences and critics as another menacing character, Fleshcreep in Jack and the Beanstalk, John will regale the audience with tales of life in soaps, screen and stage.

The actor, who made his debut in the 1979 film The First Great Train Robbery, and went on to appear in Birth of the Beatles, Quadrophenia and American Werewolf in London, will also present gongs to the cream of amateur drama talent in the south.

Limited tickets for the night, at Southampton’s Grand Harbour Hotel on Friday January 31, remain.

For details, email jo.richardson@ dailyecho.co.uk.