MEP Michael Cashman has announced he is quitting politics – and may return to acting.

The West Midlands MEP is a former Eastenders star and played middle-class Colin, the show’s first gay character, in the 1980s.

He has represented the region in the European Parliament since 1999 and is the current chairman of Labour’s National Executive Committee, the party’s governing body.

But he told delegates at Labour’s annual conference in Manchester that he would not seek re-election.

The decision comes after both Mr Cashman and his civil partner Paul Cottingham were diagnosed and successfully treated for cancers. The pair became civil partners in 2006.

Mr Cashman told the Birmingham Post: “He was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Later, I was also told I had cancer.

“Things like that make you think you should spend more time with the people you love. It was a difficult time.

“It has been an amazing privilege to represent the West Midlands. They say the best time to go is when you love doing it and other people still want to hang on to you.”

Mr Cashman said he could return to acting, potentially at a theatre such as Birmingham Repertory Theatre in the city centre.

“I don’t know what I will do now but one thing I would say is don’t be surprised if you see me marching across Centenary Square towards the Rep.”

Mr Cashman continues as an MEP until the European Elections in 2014. His work in the European Parliament included supporting the Staffordshire ceramics industry and campaigning for human rights across Europe.