It is all about to kick off for Charlie Cotton in EastEnders.
He’s been on the backfoot since Carol Jackson (Lindsey Coulson) uncovered his lie about his father, Nick Cotton (John Altman), being dead.
This week, he panics that Nasty Nick - as he is not-so-fondly known - has tracked him down.
In this interview with the Mirror, Declan Bennett, 33, who plays Charlie, talks about his character’s secret past, and how his story will develop before Nasty Nick returns this autumn…
Your secrets are emerging slowly.
“Really slowly. I’m like, come on! It is nice that it’s blossoming, finally.”
Charlie’s car is vandalised this week - does he suspect Nick?
“Yes and he’s scared. It is about to fall apart, and I don’t think he really has any idea of how! He doesn’t want to rock the boat but he can’t keep it all calm.”
Has he Dot’s best interests at heart?
“Yes. When he first arrived, he was the spawn of Cotton. He didn’t want Nick’s coffin open, and then everyone was rightly suspicious of him. But through his relationship with Dot [June Brown], he’s changed. He’s met this lovely woman who has given him a strong family connection. If she was a crabby old cow it’d have been easy to have upped and gone…
Does Charlie have the potential to be violent?
“Totally. There’s a part of Nick Cotton inside of him and I hope it comes out. That will be ace.”
Ronnie’s pregnant - is Charlie the father?
“Even that story has been left hanging! Charlie had this thing with Ronnie [Samantha Womack] and thought that it was all going well, and then she leaves the Square. So as far as he’s aware, she’s gone…”
Do you like your character?
“I really like him. He’s maybe a bit quiet sometimes.”
Do you fancy sticking around?
“Yeah. I’m having a whale of a time. Charlie is an exciting character to get my teeth into.”
How many more secrets will be revealed?
“Quite a few. Two to three hundred – no! Let’s say it’s a handful. Charlie is causing more secrets and more problems than he ever envisioned.”
EastEnders continues on BBC1, Monday, August 18, 8.00pm.
