Actor Shane Richie is reportedly finding comfort in his co-star Marianne 'Mazz' Murray following the finalization of his divorce from Christine Goddard and subsequent legal issues. Richie, known for his role as Alfie Moon in the BBC soap EastEnders, and his wife Christie officially divorced after 19 years of marriage, with the proceedings concluding on July 23.
Just six days after his divorce was finalized, Richie, 62, was charged with drink-driving. The charge followed an incident at a Tesco petrol station in Harlow, Essex, where police were called after a dispute with staff. Amid these personal and legal challenges, Murray, 51, with whom Richie has appeared in musicals and on EastEnders, is said to be providing support.
A source told The Sun that Murray has been instrumental in keeping Richie's spirits up. "Shane and Mazz have always got on like a house on fire and in recent months, as his marriage crumbled, Shane’s found himself buoyed by their friendship," the source stated. They added that both have found solace in sharing their experiences of difficult splits, noting, "They make each other laugh, trust and like each other so it’s no surprise they’ve grown closer."
"It’s early days, but Shane and Mazz have a spark, and friends are looking forward to seeing where their relationship goes," the source continued.
Murray and Richie have a history of working together. They appeared in the 1999 musical Boogie Nights, where Murray played Debs and Richie starred as Roddy. Murray has also had multiple guest stints on EastEnders, playing characters who interacted with Richie's Alfie Moon, including Miranda in 2004 and Cleo Marshall more recently.
Sources indicated that Richie's split from Christine Goddard, 47, was prompted by her growing frustration with his behavior, which had reportedly been spiraling. "Christie was at the end of her tether with Shane and had had enough. The divorce was her decision and she pursued it after talking it through with relatives," a source told The Sun. The decision was not attributed to a single incident but a buildup of issues, with Christie reportedly feeling "fed up with his behaviour."
Reports also surfaced that Christie had been removed as a director of their joint company, Bluebelle Skye Productions, in June, diminishing her control over their shared business ventures. However, she has reportedly not forced Richie out of their family home, with her primary concern being their three children. The source expressed that Christie was "shocked" by Richie's drink-driving arrest and hopes it serves as a "wake-up call" for him.