BAFTA-winner Danny Dyer has taken up an unlikely posh sport loved by the Royals to help prepare for the new series of Disney+ hit Rivals.

Speaking to MailOnline at Sunday night’s BAFTA Television Awards, which saw the ex-EastEnders star claim the best male performance in a comedy gong for his role as Lee Campbell in Sky series My Bigstuff, the actor revealed he’s been having polo lessons which has left his backside feeling ‘uncomfortably sore.’

Danny, 47, told how he’s been enrolled into an intensive horse-riding course by show bosses and once he becomes a natural in the saddle, will then learn how to strike a ball with a mallet on horseback.

Speaking at Southbank’s Royal Festival Hall, Danny, who plays Freddie Jones, said: ‘We’re filming season two of Rivals this week. I’m learning how to play polo, it’s not easy. I spend my days now galloping on a horse…’ 

And on his moustache, Danny added: ‘Oh, and this isn’t for fashion either…’

The father-of-three was still beaming after scooping the prestigious gong, the first BAFTA in his career which has spanned four decades.

BAFTA-winner Danny Dyer has taken up an unlikely posh sport loved by the Royals to help prepare for the new series of Rivals

Speaking to MailOnline at Sunday night’s BAFTA Television Awards, the actor revealed he’s been having polo lessons which has left his backside feeling ‘uncomfortably sore’ 

Danny plays married Freddie Jones in the Disney+ hit but his character falls in love with Lizzie Vereker, played by Katherine Parkinson

During his emotional acceptance speech on stage, Danny admitted he was ‘choked up’ winning the award and thanked his two daughters, Dani, 28, and Sunnie, 18, in attendance, saying: ‘Girls, Sunnie and Dani… I’ve done it, girls, I’ve f***ing done it!’

The star said it was catching a glimpse of his daughters in the audience that reduced him to tears during the ceremony. 

And speaking following his win, Danny went onto explain how much the gong meant to him and what his critics over the years might have to say. 

He quipped: ‘Oh, there’ll be some people fuming!

‘I don’t know, man. I’ve earned it. I only want one; I don’t need more than this. I’m happy.

‘I’ve lifted a couple of NTAs over the years, and I always like to win awards and lose them, do the moody clap [pretending] that you’re happy for someone else… I’ve done all that b******s, and I thought I’d be doing that tonight.

‘I’ve had a really good run this year. Rivals has been so well received. A bit odd, really. I’ve got Rivals sitting there, and I’ve got Mr Bigstuff there. I’ve made it.’

Danny triumphed over fellow nominees Bilal Hasna for Extraordinary, Dylan Thomas-Smith for G’wed, and Nabhaan Rizwan for Kaos.

Danny, who attended the ceremony with daughters Dani and Sunnie, told how he’s been enrolled into an intensive horse-riding course by show bosses 

During his emotional acceptance speech on stage, Danny admitted he was ‘choked up’ winning the award and thanked his two daughters 

Danny stars in Disney+ series Rivals alongside Alex Hassell, Emily Atack, Nafessa Williams, Bella Maclean, and David Tennant (pictured at last night’s BAFTA Television Awards) 

The cast reunited at the BAFTA Television Awards on Sunday as Emily Atack, who plays sultry Sarah Stratton, attended the red carpet event dressed in a white gown with leather gloves

Oliver Savell, who plays a young Alan Carr in Changing Ends, was also recognised, as was Phil Dunning for his role in BBC Three’s Smoggie Queens.

Danny stars in Disney+ series Rivals alongside David Tennant who plays station boss Tony Baddingham and Aidan Turner, whose character, journalist Declan O’Hara goes against him to create a competitor channel.  

The cast reunited at the BAFTA Television Awards on Sunday as Emily Atack, who plays sultry Sarah Stratton, attended the red carpet event dressed in a white gown with black leather gloves.  

She appeared alongside US star, Nafessa Williams, famed for her role as Cameron Cook, who wore a red latex vintage dress by Alexander McQueen.  

During the prestigious awards, Danny watched his former cast mates in EastEnders also walk away with a huge gong after being named Best Soap.

Danny, who played Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter between 2013 and 2022 before he was ‘lost at sea’, faced an awkward reunion with his ex-bosses after slamming the show’s ‘dark’ storylines during a public speaking event on Friday night.

He also hit out at former co-stars Jessie Wallace and Shane Ritchie for ‘blanking him’ when he first started and claimed he was ‘off his nut’ on prescription drugs, including ‘Valium and diazepam.’

On the intensive work schedule, he added: ‘You earn good money, but you ain’t got time to go to a cashpoint. You have no life.

‘The amount of birthdays I missed. If someone dies in your family, they won’t even let you go to the funeral. It’s such a machine. There’s not much duty of care. That’s the truth.

‘On EastEnders there is no messing about, and you’ve got to do it. It’s the hardest part of our job. I’d love to see A-list actors come in and do it, they’d crumble. You’ve got to be on it.

‘In films you make yourself properly cry, you go to a dark place, and you have time to recover. It messes a lot of people’s heads up. Most people are off their nut. 

You meet them on the street, they’re lunatics I’m telling you. Institutionalised.’