Actor Don Gilet has gone from roles ending lives to saving them!

Don played killer priest Lucas in EastEnders a world away from his role in Holby.

He’s gone from mad killer to a life-saving medic, but new Holby star Don Gilet has found he isn’t alone.

The 47-year-old actor played murdering priest Lucas Johnson in EastEnders.

And as he settles into the BBC’s hospital drama, he’s now sharing a screen with Corrie killer Karl Munro, played by Scots favourite John Michie.

Karl’s Rover’s Return fire claimed two lives, as did crazed Lucas in Albert Square.

So, as Don takes time for a chat between filming medical dramas, how much time is spent comparing heinous crimes in our two biggest soaps?

“Do you know, I don’t think we’ve ever sat down and talked about that,” laughs Don, who now portrays anaesthetist Jesse Law, old pal of John’s surgeon Guy Self.

“We talk about anything and everything except work. We’ll talk about family, what happened on The Apprentice and other stuff outside of this.

“Work can be too all-encompassing and it’s good to take yourself away from it.”

They’re mates on screen and it’s clear that’s happened when the cameras have stopped rolling too.

“They’re a great cast who have all been warm and welcoming, but that’s been the case with John in particular,” enthuses Don.

“He’s warm and generous and a highly intelligent guy but he’s got a very basic sense of humour and he still crumbles up like a boy when I do something.

“He’s one of those people I respect highly as they take the job seriously but not themselves. That’s the key. Do it to the best of your ability but remember it’s all pretend.”

Walsall-born Don made his breakthrough in Babyfather and was the lead in BBC cop drama 55 Degrees North.

When I spoke to Don back when he played Detective Sergeant Nicky Cole, he struck me as a bit of an intense character.

But while he admits he’s not a publicity seeker “I’d never be at the places you’d expect to find a so-called TV name” he’s easier of nature now than I’d expected.

He’s winningly self-deprecating about landing the Holby role.

“I didn’t have to audition, but don’t make that sound glamorous,” he smiles.

“I just think they were exhausted after trying everyone else and decided to throw caution to the wind.

“I could have done really badly but I gave them my two best faces my concerned and happy face and it seems to have worked so far.”

Don’s philosophy of being serious at work, but lightening up elsewhere, definitely seems to come into play at home.

He’s got a young son, Flynn, with Geordie actress Tracy Whitwell and their London home is obviously where his heart is.

“Flynn’s eight and he’s pretty rambunctious,” confides Don.

“I think he’s got some of my playful genes I think my playfulness is probably closer to the surface than most 40-something’s.

“I have fun at work but when I get home I have to become a father and keep an eye on him not getting too wild.

“He’s a lovely kid but he’s very active and loves to run about the place. If you wind him up to play you have to allow the time to calm him before he beds down at night.”

Lucas bumped off Trina and Owen but Don says their slayings didn’t cause near as much fuss as when he took drastic action to stop hound Sugar sniffing around Trina’s burial spot. Although nothing was actually seen, more than 100 viewers wrote to the BBC to complain.

“The only controversy was when Lucas went off and came back dog-less,” says Don.

“The nation loves their pets. Forget the people in Albert Square and how nutty it’s becoming, don’t do that to a dog.”

Holby’s filmed at the same Elstree studios as EastEnders, meaning Don’s back almost on his old stomping ground.

And back, again almost, with old pal Diane Parish, EastEnders’ Denise.

“It was very strange coming back to the same place, just a bit further down the road to the Holby block.

“Diane’s still a very big friend of mine and I thought it’d be a perfect opportunity to see her.

“But we’re both very busy and although sometimes we’re probably only a wall apart, we haven’t managed to meet up for lunch. It’s ridiculous.”