On EastEnders, Peter Beale’s role has had a number of casting changes. Thomas Law recently assumed the role that he had performed from 2006 to 2010 when he returned to Albert Square as part of the plot that also saw Ian and Cindy Beale’s shocking return to Walford.
Thomas Law’s first exit from the Square was followed by Ben Hardy receiving the role of Peter. During his tenure on the program, a significant subplot involving the death of Peter Beale’s sister Lucy (Hetti Bywater) was covered. After she passed away, a complex whodunit mystery captivated viewers. In the end, it was discovered that Bobby, Lucy’s younger brother, who at the time was being portrayed by Eliot Carrington, had been the murderer.
Peter left to New Zealand because he couldn’t stand the family’s decision to try to conceal Bobby’s activities. After the birth of their son Louie, Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa), his girlfriend, joined Peter in his new life.
Ben Hardy decided to leave the program because he felt that he wasn’t producing his finest work. He stated to Deadline:
I believe there was a time where I had to go because I felt like I would get stuck in this if I didn’t. You’re trying to make it the best you can, but because they have to produce so much content in such a short amount of time, it might sometimes leave you feeling a little disappointed. Thus, there is a sense of urgency.
There are actors on there who are still very much invested in wanting to make things the best they can be, Ben recognized that there are actors who can thrive in this type of setting.
Ben, however, found that this was not the case.
For me personally, I noticed that I was beginning to say, “That’ll do,” rather than striving to create the finest version of something. I then thought, “I need to get out of here,” as soon as the thought began to cross my head.
“I felt as though I was becoming rather depressed and that I wasn’t getting to where I wanted to be.” I was beginning to lose hope and thought, “I can’t do that.”
Ben left Walford and went on to star in the critically acclaimed biopic Bohemian Rhapsody as Queen’s drummer Roger Taylor. Along with playing the lead in various films, TV shows, and theater productions, he also attained superhero status as Angel in X-Men: Apocalypse.
In the upcoming film Unicorns, a love story between an Essex auto mechanic and a South Asian drag queen, viewers will witness him playing an entirely different character alongside Jason Patel.
Ben explained that the issue was one of inclusion and letting individuals love anyone they choose. We want people to say, “That was a lovely love tale,” when they leave the theater, in my opinion.
Ben cites EastEnders as his “film schooling” for all of the parts he has played since leaving Walford.
“Having had that day in and day out training of just all the technical stuff you don’t want to be thinking about on set, I felt lot more comfortable going to work on films.” Where do I have to be? becomes a part of your muscle memory. The camera is not here. Which lens are we using? Those kinds of things.
In October, unicorns will be made available in the UK.
