Incredible throwback footage shows a true icon of British TV living it up at an Ibiza rave in the 1990s.
Watch the clip here:
Many of you will have grown up with Sid Owen on your screens, as he’s starred in popular BBC soap EastEnders on and off since 1988.
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He’s known for playing Ricky Butcher (‘Rickkaaaaaaaayyyyyy!), who was previously married to Bianca Butcher (Patsy Palmer) - the two proving to be the fictional power couple of the 90s.
Owen, who is now 50, later took part in the fifth season of I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, finishing in a respectable third place, and also competed in Strictly Come Dancing in 2012, before appearing in 2016 series The Jump.
But during Ricky’s heyday, he was seen partying hard at a rave in Ibiza, having been captured on Rapture TV, a station founded in 1997 that was dedicated to electronic dance music and extreme sports.
In the footage, which was recently posted on TikTok by user @leggett79akalegzz, Owen is interviewed by the Rapture TV inside a club in Ibiza, Spain.
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He’s even joined by co-star Richard Driscoll, who played the Reverend Alex Healy from 1997 to 1999.
“One of my best friends at work!” Owen says, pointing to his pal beside him, who says he’s having a ‘great time’ in Ibiza.
When the presenter asks the pair if they’ve got Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard) with them, and whether or not they’d ‘get off’ with her, Owen diplomatically replies: “I’d love to! She’s lovely.”
The presenter makes a comment about Fowler’s breasts, Owen defends her, screwing up his face and saying: “Oi, don’t talk like that!”
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Many TikTokers felt the video was the ultimate throwback, with one writing: “Wow!!! That’s a blast from the past – Rapture TV!!”
Another said: “Living his life when young.”
A third wrote: “This is quality remember these days.”
A fourth added: “Love that Ricky was respectful to Pauline.”
Someone else was excited to see ‘Alex the vicar’, while another commented: “Omg Rapture TV forgot about this used to love this.”
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These days, Owen is busy being a dad, having welcomed his first child with partner Victoria Shores on 23 January this year.
Speaking to The Sun, he revealed that Shores lost two litres of blood during labour, and nearly died.
He said she required a blood transfusion before delivering Skye via an emergency C-section, recalling: “I couldn't cope with losing Vic, I was more concerned about her.
"I'm still trying to process the trauma of it. It was the toughest moment I have ever experienced."
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Later in the year, Owen also returned to EastEnders as Ricky, saying in a statement at the time: “I’m delighted to be back at EastEnders.
"I can’t wait to see what Ricky Butcher has been up to these past few years and how he’s going to react to seeing some familiar faces including old flames. I’m excited to see the drama unfold.”
Topics: TV and Film, Celebrity
Jess Hardiman