Darren Roberts

Name: Darren Roberts
First Appeared: 28th July 1987
Last Appeared: 21st July 1988
Played by: Gary McDonald

Darren Roberts made quite the entrance when he arrived in Walford in July 1987, driving a flashy red, left-hand drive Pontiac. Not long after, his son Junior and young daughter Aisha joined him. Having fallen out with his wife Darleen, Darren managed to persuade his sister Carmel to let him and the kids move in with her at 3B Albert Square. Known for his lawless ways, Darren had attended school with infamous troublemakers Nick Cotton, Graham Clark, and Rod Norman. Just like his former classmates, Darren was no stranger to the wrong side of the law.

Darren wasted no time setting up various dodgy deals in Walford, quickly finding himself in a dispute with Den Watts over selling stolen goods. He dabbled in everything from pornographic video laundering and counterfeit money rings to renting out an abandoned flat to squatters. His “cultural evening” at the community centre turned out to be a front for a porn film screening and stripper, leading to Dot Cotton accidentally wandering in and fainting. Darren’s ambitions even led him to clash with Brad Williams from The Firm, a gangster organization. Despite his attempts to gain favour, Brad warned him off with a beating.

Ever the con artist, Darren pulled a fast one on Ian Beale and Barry, providing them with hired equipment for a mobile disco that soon got repossessed. When Carmel found out about his shady activities, she had enough and threw Darren out of her flat. He disappeared in July 1988, abandoning his children in the process. His departure wasn’t without drama, as he implicated Den Watts in the arson incident at The Dagmar following Kathy Beale’s rape, leaving a trail of chaos behind.