Eastenders & The Bill star’s five year dog bite battle after wife bitten by tiny pooch on Lord’s estate
A BITTERLY fought five-year dispute between an EastEnders star, his wife and their neighbours over a dog bite on a Lord’s estate has finally ended.
TV actor and film star John Blundell and his wife Mercina were locked in a bitter legal fight with neighbouring lodge owners Alison and Andrew Girdiefski after the row over their tiny pooch Ziggy.
The Sun can now confirm that Mercina and John have finally seen a closure in their favour, with an out of court payment after bringing a civil court case.
John – who also starred in Quadrophenia and Scum – and his wife are understood to be delighted by the result.
The long-running saga dates back to 2021 at the plush Fritton Lake estate in Norfolk, a 5,000-acre retreat owned by aristocrats Hugh and Lara Crossley, Lord and Lady Somerleyton.
Lord Somerleyton, at the height of tension, even attempted to mediate between the two warring couples, The Sun understands.
The row all kicked off when Mercina had been visiting her neighbours’ lodge to admire renovation work when she says their small hairless Chinese crested dog, Ziggy, suddenly bit her on the wrist.
The attack, they claimed, left her with a half an in inch wound that later scarred, with the actor’s wife needing hospital treatment.
With the row spiralling out of control – John and Mercina then launched a civil case at Norwich County Court seeking damages.
The Sun has now confirmed the long-running dispute has been settled out of court.
It brings to an end to years of acrimony.
Court officials told The Sun the matter was settled out of court using a Part 36 offer – a formal settlement under the law.
A source close to the couple told us: “While the couple are selling their property at Fritton they are reluctant to talk.
“It has been a very difficult few years for the Blundell’s, who really have done nothing wrong at all.”
Back in 2021, what should have been a tranquil countryside getaway quickly spiralled into a toxic feud involving police, lawyers and estate bosses.
Relations between the couples then soured dramatically.
The dispute even drew in Norfolk Police, with officers speaking to both sides.
Ziggy was added to a register of dangerous dogs, but no further action was taken due to the time elapsed.
Complaints of harassment were also investigated by Norfolk Police – but no offences were ultimately found.
Mercina also accused the pair of taunting them by singing “who let the dogs out” and filming them nearby.
Frustrated, the Blundells launched civil action – setting them for a court showdown.
The pair even recruited James McNally – known as “The Dog Bite Solicitor” who specialises in getting civil damages on dog attacks.
The Blundells said at the time they had been quoted £1,500 for a plastic surgeon to fix Mercina’s wrist – and were believed to be seeking up to £30k in costs and damages.
And the Girdiefskis had said ahead of the looming case that they found the figures “ridiculous”.
“The sort of money you would expect to be paying somebody who has had their face ripped off by a dog, not this mere 1.2cm cut,” said Alison in July 2025.
Speaking at the time, she added: “From day one, we have accepted responsibility.
“Our Ziggy did bite Mercina and we have never denied this.”
But the dramatic court clash never happened after the Girdiefskis agreed to settle.
A court spokesperson said: “This case was settled out of court by way of accepting a Part 36 offer, therefore there is no final order or settlement details to provide.
“Both sides had solicitors so in the end the court was not involved.”
John said the retreat, meant to be a peaceful escape, had instead become “a living nightmare”.
Both couples are now trying to sell their lodges on the exclusive estate.
The Girdiefski’s and Blundells have been approached for comment.
The Sun have also contacted Lord Somerleyton.
