Paul Priestly

Name: Paul Priestly
First Appeared: 20th April 1989
Last Appeared: 1st March 1990
Played by: Mark Thrippleton

Paul Priestly, originally from Leeds, made quite an entrance when he arrived in Walford in April 1989, looking for a place to stay. Lodging with the Butchers at The Queen Victoria pub, Paul quickly caught the eye of schoolgirl Diane Butcher, much to the dismay of her father, Frank Butcher. After a misunderstanding during a trip to a Deacon Blue concert, Frank mistakenly thought Paul had harmed Diane and knocked him to the floor. Once the truth came out, Frank apologized, and Paul, being laid-back, held no grudges. Despite Frank’s constant vigilance, Paul and Diane began dating, with Mo Butcher even standing guard outside their bedrooms to prevent any secret liaisons. While Diane fell hard for Paul, his feelings were less intense.

In June 1989, Paul’s friend Trevor Short, a dim-witted but loyal companion, arrived in Walford. Despite initial reluctance, Paul warmed to the idea of having Trevor around, employing him as a builder’s aid. This led to various humorous mishaps, particularly during the conversion of Julie Cooper’s salon. Julie, attracted to Paul, seduced him, leading to a series of events that saw Paul standing Diane up repeatedly. Diane blamed Julie for the rejection, but Paul soon realized Julie was using him and ended their fling. He returned to Diane, who took him back, but her revenge on Julie continued.

Paul continued finding work around Walford, despite Trevor’s frequent blunders. His relationship with Diane became strained as Paul lost interest, though Diane remained oblivious and even considered marriage. Longing for his old life in Leeds, Paul decided to leave after completing a job for Ashraf Karim. Unable to tell Diane directly, Paul said his goodbyes to everyone but her. Eventually, Trevor informed Diane of Paul’s departure, leading to a dramatic scene at the bus stop where Paul left without a word.

Diane, heartbroken, ran away on her sixteenth birthday. Frank, desperate, tracked Paul down in Leeds, only to find he knew nothing of Diane’s whereabouts. Paul, feeling guilty, returned to Walford to set things right, revealing he had spoken to Diane but refused to see her. After reconciling with Frank, Paul decided to leave for good, inviting Trevor to join him. In March 1990, Paul and Trevor left Walford, heading back to Leeds to start anew.