Anthony Trueman

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Anthony Trueman
EastEnders character
Ant trueman.jpg
Portrayed by Nicholas Bailey
Duration2000–2005, 2014
First appearanceEpisode 2040
11 December 2000 (2000-12-11)
Last appearanceEpisode 4894
22 July 2014 (2014-07-22)
Classification Former; regular
Introduced by
In-universe information
Occupation General Practitioner
Father Patrick Trueman
Mother Audrey Trueman
Stepmother Yolande Trueman (2004–2009)
Half-brothers Paul Trueman
Isaac Baptiste
WifeSophie Trueman (off screen)
SonsEuan Trueman
Nieces Eleanor Trueman

Dr Anthony Trueman is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders , played by British actor Nicholas Bailey. He made his first appearance in the episode broadcast on 11 December 2000 and left in 11 July 2003 but returned in 2004 and 2005 for brief stints such as the wedding of Yolande Duke (Angela Wynter) and Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker). [1] Anthony made a brief return on 22 July 2014 following Patrick's stroke.

Contents

Storylines

Anthony is the younger son of Patrick (Rudolph Walker) and Audrey Trueman (Corinne Skinner-Carter) and the brother of Paul Trueman (Gary Beadle). He is the brains of an otherwise dysfunctional family, and his dodgy-dealing brother Paul always feels under his shadow. Anthony works as a doctor in the Square. Audrey becomes deeply involved with his life, whilst ignoring Paul. She disapproves of Anthony dating Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) and tries to interfere many times, leading to Anthony rebelling against his mother. When Audrey dies, Anthony's long lost father, Patrick, arrives for Audrey's funeral, reuniting with his two sons after decades apart. After a period of adjustment, the Trueman brothers accept Patrick; however, Paul grows suspicious of him and secretly performs a DNA test, where it is revealed that although Anthony is Patrick's biological son, Paul is not.

After Kat breaks up with Anthony, he and Kat's teenage daughter Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) begin an affair. Zoe disowns Kat for disapproving of their relationship, and later runs away when Anthony reveals that he is still in love with Kat. Anthony and Kat's relationship resumes, but Zoe returns and catches them in bed together. Zoe then accepts they are together. After Kat fails to impress Anthony's colleagues she breaks up with him as he is about to propose. Kat discovers she is pregnant by him and decides to have an abortion. Her boss Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) persuades her not to, but she suffers a miscarriage while on her way to tell Anthony of the pregnancy. Kat then breaks up with Anthony again after realising he is not who she wants. In 2003, when Anthony causes the death of a pregnant patient, he leaves the Square to go travelling, but returns for Patrick's wedding to Yolande Duke (Angela Wynter) and Paul's funeral.

After living in Cambodia for several years, Anthony returns to the UK and settles in Glasgow, marries a woman named Sophie and has children. In 2013, Patrick falls from a ladder and considers staying with Anthony but decides not to. In 2014, Anthony is featured in a medical journal, in an article about his work in Cambodia, a copy of which Patrick buys. After hearing about Patrick's stroke, he returns to Walford, though Patrick mistakes him for Paul. Despite feeling obliged to take care of his father, Anthony admits he cannot forgive Patrick's absence during his childhood. He writes Denise Fox (Diane Parish) a cheque for £2000 to help look after Patrick and returns to Scotland. In 2020, while the show is offscreen, he returned to look after Patrick in hospital after he contracted COVID-19 during the pandemic. He later invited Patrick and Sheree to stay with him during lockdown and the pair make amends.

Creation and development

In early 2000, it was announced that a new doctor would arrive in EastEnders . A few days later it was announced he would be played by Nick Bailey. Bailey was working for an investment bank unloading boxes, when he received the call about auditioning for Anthony. [2] He explained "I was alone in the stockroom when my agent's wife rang and told me I'd got the part. I just jumped up and punched the air, then did a rumba round the room." [2] EastEnders marked Bailey's first major television role. [3] Anthony was introduced as the son of B&B owner Audrey Trueman (Corinne Skinner-Carter). [3] He made his first on-screen appearance on 11 December 2000. It was later announced his family would arrive later in the year.

In December 2002, it was announced that Anthony will begin a relationship with Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace). "Kat and Alfie is a romance just waiting to happen and we don't have to wait long," an insider told The People today. "Bosses are convinced they will become the next Den and Angie." Kat, who has only just rekindled her love with her daughter's former fiancé Anthony Trueman, will ditch him after embarrassing herself at a dinner party the Doc has taken her to.

"Kat and Anthony's romance has been on-off from day one," the insider added. "Kat first realises she has a thing for Alfie when he coaches her on table etiquette before the big date. And after the night goes pear-shaped she flings herself at Alfie saying, 'Anthony is not the man for me'. Alfie, who's fancied Kat since he gave her barmaid's job, is delighted. They kiss and soon become a serious item." [4]

Bailey reprised his role in July 2014 for one episode. Anthony returned to Walford following his father's stroke. [5] In 2015, Bailey stated that his return in 2014 was confusing, saying, "Anthony was always a man of duty and responsibility so I don't know why he would abandon his father. It was never explained to me and it was all a bit surreal. I'm baffled myself, but then EastEnders now doesn't resemble the show I was in." [6]

The character of Anthony Trueman has been spoofed in the cartoon sketch show 2DTV .

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Trueman</span> Fictional character from EastEnders

Paul Trueman is a fictional character from the British BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Gary Beadle. The character, who first arrived onto Albert Square on 23 April 2001 and later departed the programme on 23 December 2004, was portrayed as a bad boy who was a member of the already-established Trueman family. In his exit storyline, Paul became a drug dealer, which Beadle has been critical towards, as he suggested it played into black racial stereotyping. It was implied that Paul was killed upon his exit, though his death was not screened.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Trueman</span> Fictional character from EastEnders

Patrick Trueman is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Rudolph Walker. He made his first appearance on 13 September 2001. His storylines include being the possible father of Denise Fox, to whom he is a father figure, his marriage to Yolande Trueman, an affair with Pat Evans, the death of his adoptive son Paul Trueman, being assaulted by an unknown assailant in his own shop, Ben Mitchell and his father Phil Mitchell starting a vendetta against him, a relationship with Cora Cross, being injured after falling from a ladder, discovering that Denise's fiancé Ian Beale had sex with prostitute Rainie Cross, suffering two strokes, a relationship with Claudette Hubbard, becoming embroiled in Claudette's feud with her son Vincent Hubbard, marrying his childhood sweetheart Sheree Trueman and discovering he fathered her son, Isaac Baptiste. On 7 December 2015, Walker filmed his 1,000th episode as Patrick.

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Angela Wynter is a Jamaican-British actress. She is known for her role as Yolande Trueman in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, appearing consistently from 2003 to 2008. Wynter returned to EastEnders for a guest appearance in 2017, and reprised the role in 2023. In 2021, she joined the cast of the BBC soap opera Doctors for a three-month stint as Makeda Sylvester.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yolande Trueman</span> Fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders

Yolande Trueman is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Angela Wynter. She first appears in episode 2588, originally broadcast on 16 September 2003. The character is introduced as a love interest for Patrick Trueman. She is characterised as attentive, caring and "principled". Her stories have focused on her marriage to Patrick and using their characters, producers explored fostering and racism. Wynter was written out of the series in 2008 and Yolande departs in episode 3658, originally broadcast on 3 October 2008. Wynter reprised her role for two guest appearances in 2017. The character was reintroduced in 2023 and returns in episode 6745, originally broadcast on 7 August 2023.

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References

  1. Green, Kris (16 June 2004). "Doctor returns to the Square". Digital Spy . Hachette Filipacchi UK . Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  2. 1 2 Hagan, Angela (10 February 2001). "Interview Nick Bailey: The doctor they struck off". Daily Mirror . Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  3. 1 2 Methven, Nichola (30 November 2000). "New TV Doc is smooth operator". Daily Mirror . Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  4. Wilkes, Neil (15 December 2002). "New love interest for Kat in 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy . Hachette Filipacchi UK . Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  5. Kilkelly, Daniel (22 July 2014). "EastEnders airs surprise return for Anthony Trueman". Digital Spy . Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  6. Laws, Roz (9 July 2015). "EastEnders star Nicholas Bailey on his 'baffling' return to the soap". Birmingham Mail . Retrieved 10 July 2015.