EASTENDERS’ Colin Salmon has broken his silence after his court appearance to thank the “compassionate” judge.

The 64-year-old actor was clocked driving at 24mph in a 20mph zone near his £1.2million home in Acton, West London.

Colin Salmon has broken his silence after his court appearance and thanked the ‘compassionate’ judgeCredit: Getty

Colin cares for his sick wife Fiona, which he explained in detail to the court after being charged with driving at 24mph in a 20mph zoneCredit: Alamy

Colin plays George Knight in EastEndersCredit: BBC
He appeared at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court earlier this week, where he pleaded guilty.

But the actor – who plays George Knight in EastEnders – wept as he told how he needs his licence to drive his sick wife Fiona Hawthorne and their daughter Sasha to various health appointments.

Fiona, who shares four children with the star, suffers with interstitial lung disease, which left her needing a double lung transplant.

The judge decided not to ban Colin from driving, and now the star has thanked him for his compassion in a post on X on New Year’s Day.

He wrote: “I hold my hands up, take full responsibility & apologise. I actually feel the 20mph limit has improved quality of life in London.

“Nine points in seven weeks within half a mile of my front door. Proves the maxim ‘you’re more likely to have an accident five mins from home!’

“The court weighed up our extraordinary circumstances, fined me but showed compassion for which I’m genuinely grateful.”

He added: “Here’s to a less eventful and healthy 2026.”

The court was told Salmon was caught by a speed camera on March 31.

He already had nine points for speeding from 2023, jumping a red light on February 27 this year, and driving without due care and attention on April 15.

Salmon pleaded guilty to the latest offence and was fined £666, with £130 costs and ordered to pay a £266 victim surcharge.

He received three more penalty points, which would usually trigger an automatic six-month disqualification.

But waiving the ban, bench chairman Mark Stollery told him: “We note you are the main breadwinner and carer for your family and within the family, members have life-limiting conditions, including your wife and children, who all have varying medical conditions.”

Speaking in court about his family’s situation, a tearful Colin had said: “My wife fell ill while I was working in America, so I needed to stay home and in 2022 the opportunity came to join the cast of EastEnders and stay in London.

Colin – who also cares for his daughter – was fined £666, with £130 costs and ordered to pay a £266 victim surcharge and received three more points penalty pointsCredit: Alamy
“They don’t offer cars. You have got to get yourself to and from work – it is part of our contract that we are self-sufficient in relation to that.”

Salmon also broke down while detailing how daughter Sasha fell ill with lymphoma, a cancer that affects the blood cells, in 2019.

He added: “I assist her as much as I can and I drive her to medical appointments.

“EastEnders have been amazing. If I give them dates, they make it work for me.”