Callum Monks

Name: Callum Monks
First Appeared: 18th August 2008
Last Appeared: 6th March 2009
Played by: Elliott Jordan

Callum Monks arrived in Walford with a bang – quite literally, considering he was squatting in his dad Vinnie’s flat and got a vase to the head for his trouble. When Vinnie found him, he quickly went from attacker to caretaker, offering Callum water and a bacon sarnie. Callum, ever the charmer, filled Vinnie in on his recent breakup with the “three birds” he’d been shacked up with. His knack for drinking and dating was well known, but his past was a darker tale of childhood abuse at the hands of his mentally ill mother, leaving him with scars both physical and emotional. 

Despite his rough edges, Callum was instantly drawn to Stacey Branning. Her initial rejections did nothing to deter him, and he even dated her friend Danielle Jones just to make Stacey jealous. His attempt to bore Danielle into breaking up by taking her trainspotting at St. Pancras was a comedic highlight, though he fibbed to Mo Harris about their real destination. Eventually, Stacey gave in after a fight with her husband, Bradley Branning, leading to a casual fling. However, Callum’s discomfort around Stacey’s bipolar mother, Jean Slater, led to heated arguments. His harsh words to Jean, blaming her for ruining Stacey’s life, earned him a well-deserved punch from Stacey. 

The revelation of Callum’s traumatic past came out during this confrontation. He confided that his mother, also mentally ill, had abused him and locked him in cupboards, leaving him with scars from a wire coat hanger attack at age ten. This dark backstory added depth to his character, explaining some of his complex behaviour. Realizing Stacey would never abandon her mother, Callum saw no future for himself in Walford and decided to leave. 

Callum’s farewell to Stacey was bittersweet. He acknowledged their relationship had no hope of surviving given his issues with Jean and Stacey’s unwavering support for her mum. With nothing left for him in Walford, he decided to seek out Vinnie, who had already left the area.