David Wicks

Name: David Wicks
First Appeared: 23rd December 1993
Last Appeared: 25th December 2024
Played by: Michael French

David Wicks, the charming rogue of Albert Square, has had quite the rollercoaster of a life. Born to the legendary Pat Butcher and Pete Beale, David’s early years were anything but stable. With Pat’s tumultuous love life and Pete’s barrow boy antics, it’s no wonder David grew up with a knack for getting into trouble. His teenage years were marked by a dramatic exit from Walford after a run-in with the Branning family, leaving behind a pregnant Carol Branning and a trail of broken hearts.

Fast forward to 1993, and David made a grand return to Walford, bringing with him a suitcase full of secrets and a smile that could charm the birds out of the trees. His arrival was anything but quiet, quickly rekindling old flames and stirring up the Square’s gossip mill. David’s relationship with his mother, Pat, was as fiery as ever, with the two often clashing over his reckless ways. But it wasn’t all drama; David’s softer side shone through in his attempts to reconnect with his children, Bianca and Joe, even if his methods were sometimes questionable.

David’s love life could fill a novel (or at least a few omnibus episodes of EastEnders). From his affair with Cindy Beale to his on-again, off-again romance with Carol Jackson, David’s heart was always in the right place, even if his actions suggested otherwise. His fling with Cindy was particularly scandalous, considering she was married to his step-brother Ian Beale at the time. But hey, what’s a bit of family drama in Walford, right?

In 2012, David returned once more, just in time to say goodbye to his beloved mother, Pat. Her death was a turning point for David, leading him to reflect on his life and the choices he’d made. His feud with Derek Branning added another layer of tension, but it was his rekindled romance with Carol that truly stole the show. Their relationship faced numerous hurdles, including Carol’s battle with breast cancer, but David’s support during her illness showed a depth to his character that many hadn’t seen before. Unfortunately for Carol however, David’s track record with dealing with trauma was non-existent – he had a habit of running when the going got tough. This time, with a heart condition threatening to finish him off, David ignored hospital advice and left Walford for the nearest airport.

Returning to Walford to help Bianca in 2024, David had the shock of his life to find Cindy Beale back from the dead. After discovering her latest torrid affair, David soon left to visit son Joe and his his granddaughter Holly. It’s seems after all these years, David Wicks had finally stopped running.