EastEnders star Gillian Taylforth’s lover poisoned by date rape drug at award bash
Police investigating 60-year-old's Rohypnol claims
EASTENDERS actress Gillian Taylforth’s fiancé had his drink spiked with date rape drug Rohypnol at a party for soap stars.
David Fairbairn, 60, on medication for cancer, was found comatose in a gutter after last week’s British Soap Awards.
He was taken to hospital where doctors found high levels of the drug in his blood.
Police are now checking CCTV of the cast’s pre-party at an East London bar to try to find out who spiked him.
A source said: “David seemed fine at 4pm on Saturday, but not long after that it became clear he wasn’t right.
“He was slurring and falling about. When they went on to the soap awards, he was a real embarrassment.
“At the time Gillian was furious. Then he disappeared.
“It was only much later that a passer-by saw him lying in the street and called police, thinking they’d seen a corpse.
“At the hospital, doctors found high levels of Rohypnol in his blood. They said it was a massive dose.
“Given he was on cancer medication, he was incredibly lucky it wasn’t more serious.
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The source added: “Gillian and David were both absolutely horrified that someone could have done such a vile thing to him.
“They were in company they trusted so it is shocking that this could have happened.”
Gillian, 60, who plays Kathy Beale in the BBC soap, and David have been engaged since 2013.
A spokesman for David said last night: “Dave is unable to comment on this matter.
“However, he would like to make it clear that he does not suspect anyone at EastEnders of doing this, nor can he state where it happened.”
An EastEnders spokesman declined to comment.