Laurie Bates

Name: Laurie Bates
First Appeared: 12th September 1989
Last Appeared: .8th March 1990
Played by: Gary Powell

Laurie Bates arrived in Albert Square in September 1989, ready to take on the world—or at least the fruit and veg market. Setting up his stall in direct competition with Pete Beale, Laurie wasn’t shy about undercutting prices to snag Pete’s customers. But Laurie wasn’t just interested in business; he soon turned his attention to Julie Cooper and then Kathy Beale, Pete’s recently estranged wife. Understandably, Pete was furious, not just because Laurie was pilfering his customers, but because he was also moving in on Kathy.

Kathy, wary of men after being raped in 1988, found herself caught in a web of mixed emotions. Julie Cooper saw an opportunity and seduced Laurie, but he quickly regretted it. Julie’s attempt to persuade Laurie against Kathy by revealing her past only made him more sympathetic towards her. Laurie managed to convince Kathy to give him a chance, promising to take things slowly. Despite Pete and Ian Beale’s resistance, Laurie and Kathy tried to make it work. However, by January 1990, Kathy still had cold feet about taking their relationship to the next level. Laurie’s frustration grew, especially after Kathy found a photo in his wallet of a woman who looked eerily similar to her, leading her to believe he was trying to recreate his deceased wife.

This misunderstanding led Laurie into a spiral of depression and heavy drinking. His sister Shirley intervened, asking Kathy to explain why she ended their relationship. When Kathy confronted Laurie, she accused him of trying to turn her into a replica of his dead wife, only to be embarrassed when she learned the photo wasn’t of his late wife at all. Apologies were exchanged, and they called a truce, realizing they weren’t right for each other.

Deciding he needed a fresh start, Laurie gave up his stall on Bridge Street Market and left Walford, never to be seen or heard from again