Eddie Royale

Name: Eddie Royale
First Appeared: 3rd July 1990
Last Appeared: 10th September 1991
Played by: Michael Melia

Eddie Royle made quite the entrance when he arrived in Walford in July 1990 as the new landlord of The Queen Victoria pub, bought from Frank Butcher. Eddie’s serious demeanor and past profession didn’t win him many friends in Albert Square. His father, John Royle, often visited to keep him company. Despite renting a room to barmaid Sharon Watts, Eddie disapproved of her relationship with local thug Grant Mitchell, causing frequent tension. Eddie’s attempts to romance Kathy Beale fizzled when she saw him kissing his ex, Eibhlin O’Donnell, from Ireland.

Kathy wasn’t the only one Eddie had complications with. In April 1991, Eddie rashly offered himself to Sharon as a replacement for Grant, only to be rejected and brutally beaten by Grant, landing Eddie in the hospital needing brain surgery. While recovering, Eibhlin visited again, and Eddie proposed, which she accepted. Unforgiving of Grant’s assault, Eddie got a police colleague to investigate Grant’s dodgy dealings. Sharon discovered this, removed incriminating packages from Grant’s garage before the police arrived, and Eddie, enraged, fired her. Sharon successfully sued for unfair dismissal, but Eddie refused to rehire her.

In August 1991, Eibhlin moved in with Eddie, who began coaching Clyde Tavernier in boxing. Eddie and an old friend attempted to bribe Clyde to lose a fight, causing a fiery row between them. Grant’s fury reignited upon learning Eddie had tipped off the police about his shady activities, further isolating Eddie in the community. Phil Mitchell warned Eddie he had overstepped, foreshadowing trouble. On September 10, 1991, Eddie was tragically stabbed to death while walking Roly, the pub dog. Clyde discovered Eddie’s body, foolishly picked up the murder weapon, and fled, only to be seen by Nick Cotton, who then framed Clyde.

Clyde was arrested and imprisoned for Eddie’s murder, but another witness later came forward, revealing Nick had been attempting a robbery and stabbed Eddie to silence him. Clyde was released, and Nick was arrested, but shockingly found ‘not guilty’ in 1993 due to insufficient evidence.