Rough sea gets soft-hearted Cockney (9)

I believe the answer is:

eastender

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'hearted cockney' is the definition.
'eastender' can be an answer for 'cockney' (I've seen this before). I am unsure of the 'hearted' bit.

'rough sea gets soft' is the wordplay.
'rough' is an anagram indicator.
'gets' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'soft' becomes 'tender' (associated in meaning).
'sea' with letters rearranged gives 'eas'.
'eas'+'tender'='EASTENDER'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for eastender that I've seen before include "Pearly Queen surely is" , "Butcher perhaps" , "eg Barbara Windsor" , "Someone born within the sound of Bow Bells?" , "Capital fellow" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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