Pete Beale

Name: Pete Beale
First Appeared: 19th February 1985
Last Appeared: 13th May 1993
Played by: Peter Dean

Pete Beale, the beloved fruit and veg vendor of Albert Square, was born on March 11, 1945, alongside his twin sister Pauline. Growing up at number 45 Albert Square, Pete helped his father Albert with the market stall from a young age and eventually inherited it. Schooling with his friend Den Watts, Pete’s early life was marked by the tragic loss of a young cousin, which affected him deeply. In his late teens, Pete had a one-night stand with Pat Harris, leading to a hasty marriage when she claimed to be pregnant. Despite the false alarm, they stayed married and had two sons, David and Simon, though Simon’s paternity was later questioned.

Life with Pat was tumultuous, filled with her various affairs, including one with Pete’s brother Kenny. After discovering Pat’s infidelity and a fling with Brian Wicks, Pete left her and started a relationship with Kathy Hills. Following a messy divorce in 1966, Pete married Kathy, much to his mother Lou’s disapproval. They had a son, Ian, and enjoyed a relatively comfortable lifestyle compared to Pete’s extended family. Unknown to Pete, he also became a grandfather to Bianca Jackson in 1977, a fact he never learned during his lifetime.

By 1985, Pete had been running the market stall for two decades. His life took a dramatic turn when his ex-wife Pat returned, revealing that he might not be Simon’s biological father. Pete’s marriage to Kathy crumbled after she confessed to being raped, leading to Pete’s downward spiral and a brief stint in New Zealand. In 1989, Pete had a brief romance with Barbara from New Zealand, but she soon returned home, leaving Pete in Walford.

In 1993, Pete rekindled a relationship with his old school friend Rose Chapman, unaware that she was still married to gangster Alfie Chapman. Fleeing from Alfie’s threats, Pete and Rose’s love story came to a tragic end when they were killed in a car crash arranged by Alfie’s family.