EASTENDERS stars are banned from Strictly Come Dancing — because the new series lasts too long at 16 weeks.

The BBC1 ballroom hit usually features a big name from Albert Square, the Beeb’s flagship soap.

Now EastEnders producers have put a halt to stars waltzing off to the dancing contest because it runs two weeks longer than previous series. A source at the soap told TV Biz: “We love the show. But we can’t spare anyone for that long.”

Christopher Parker, who played Spencer Moon, was runner-up on the first Strictly Come Dancing.

Jill Halfpenny, (Phil Mitchell’s wife Kate) won the second series. Patsy Palmer was in the third series, although she had left the soap. Louisa Lytton (Ruby Allen) danced on the fourth series. Former EastEnder Letitia Dean was featured last year.

Emma Barton, whose character Honey Mitchell has been axed, is in talks about dancing in the sixth series in September.