The man charged with the murder of EastEnders actress Sian Blake and her two children in has admitted killing the trio.

Hairdresser Arthur Simpson-Kent, 48, appeared by video link from Belmarsh prison before Mr Justice Singh at the Old Bailey today (Friday, April 29).

He was accused of killing his 43-year-old girlfriend and their sons Zachary, eight, and four-year-old Amon in Erith between December 12 and December 16 last year.

The Walthamstow-born actress and her two sons vanished on December 13. Their bodies were found buried in the garden of the family home in Pembroke Road on January 5.

Dressed in a red t-shirt and dark trousers, the bearded defendant spoke only to confirm his name.

He had been due to enter pleas to the charges ahead of a provisional trial fixed for October 4.

But defence lawyer Jim Sturman QC told the court that his client had admitted the killings.

He said he had no objection to the defendant's position being reported.

The defendant was remanded in custody until his next hearing on July 29 when he is now expected to enter pleas.

Simpson-Kent was arrested at Heathrow Airport in February after agreeing to his extradition from Ghana.

Ms Blake played Frankie Pierre in 56 episodes of EastEnders between 1996 and 1997.

She was suffering from motor neurone disease before she died.