Christian Clarke

Christian Clarke From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia For the Australian actor, see Christian Clark. ‹ The template (Infobox soap character 2) is being considered for deletion. › Christian Clarke

EastEnders character Portrayed by John Partridge Created by Diederick Santer Duration 2008— First appearance 17 January 2008 Classification Present; regular Profile Date of birth 15 June 1972 Home 15a Turpin Road Occupation Barman, previously caterer [show]Family Christian Clarke is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by John Partridge.[1]. He made his first appearance on 17 January 2008. Contents [hide] 1 Creation 2 Development 3 Storylines 4 Reception 5 References 6 External links [edit]Creation

In November 2007, it was announced that a new gay character was to join the cast of EastEnders, as the show's bosses had seen how popular Antony Cotton was in the role of Sean Tully in Coronation Street.[2] However, Partridge's character is not as camp as Cotton's, and is described as "very suave and a real charmer"[2] and a "savvy, bright character [who is] very fun."[3] Partridge commented that it would be "stupid" to copy Cotton's character, adding that "it's about time EastEnders had a gay character in the show."[4] He later told Attitude that Cotton's character in Coronation Street is the reason Christian is in EastEnders due to his popularity, and that Christian was created to be the opposite of Sean.[5] Partridge said of his character, "I think he's going to upset the apple cart at the Beales'"[1] and "Christian, like me, is an openly proud gay man and he is certainly going to ruffle a few feathers when he arrives."[4] Talking about his casting in the role of Christian, Partridge has disclosed: "I'm slightly terrified when I come into work every day. It's an enormous machine. Plus, the actors I work with the most, Adam Woodyatt (Ian) and Laurie Brett (Jane), are such consummate professionals that I don't want to weaken the Beale family or bring anyone down. I want to stand up there with them and be seen as a good team player."[6] [edit]Development

Christian as he appeared in his first episode. Discussing the storyline which sees Christian become involved in Steven Beale's confusion over his sexuality, Partridge has deemed the scene in which the two characters unexpectedly kiss "the first time Christian's ever been lost for words!"[7] Expanding on this, he added: "You know what Christian's like — now that he realises Steven's gay, he's ready to get his big wooden spoon out and give the situation a good old stir! It's not that he's being malicious towards the teenager — after all, they're practically family. [...] The thing is, Christian's really not interested in Steven's sexuality — he just wants to be a mate to him. He's aware of how difficult it is to come out to the people you love. But Christian makes sure Steven knows the score, by subtly telling everyone that he likes real men, not 18-year-old boys!"[7] Following the development which saw Steven accuse Christian of coming on to him, Partridge has given the plot twist his approval, stating: "It could've gone one of two ways, and I'm really glad the producers didn't choose to make Christian look predatory. Sexuality is a difficult issue, but one that definitely needs to be touched upon. I think it'll help to educate people about social situations."[6] Partridge has commented that one aspect of his character he most enjoys is "that he weaves in and out of lots of characters' stories, so I have interaction with loads of different people. Take his friendship with Roxy, for example — I absolutely love it, and working with Rita Simons, who plays her, is such a pleasure. We're very natural in that set-up."[6] In turn, Simons has commented that her own character, Roxy, would be "really lost without (Christian). He's her rock".[8] Partridge has also denied that that Christian is a stereotypical gay man, saying "Christian wears slightly brighter colours than I would normally wear but you know it is a BBC show and we have to show that I am gay you know? I don't think it's stereotypical at all because there are what I call seven shades of gay and that goes from real straight acting to camp and I like to think that Christian has all of those elements as I do as a gay man."[9] In June 2009, Christian begins an affair with Muslim character Syed Masood, played by Marc Elliott.[10] The storyline is said to be controversial, as homosexuality is strictly forbidden according to mainstream interpretations of Islam.[11] However, the show's executive producer Diederick Santer explained that the storyline will not be a moral tale, but one of human interest, adding: "[Syed] struggles with his sexuality when he finds himself drawn to Christian and he believes this goes against his faith. This is not a story about Syed and Christian's physical relationship — we don't see anything beyond one kiss."[10] Santer also said that EastEnders always tries to "reflect modern life in multicultural Britain and [tell] social issue stories relevant to [its] diverse audience."[10] Partridge commented on the storyline, saying: "I'm thrilled this storyline is being done. People fall in love in impossible circumstances all the time. Why are Christian and Syed any different?"[12] Partridge told entertainment website Digital Spy that lessons were learnt after a kiss between Christian and his then-boyfriend Lee Thompson in 2008 prompted 145 complaints from viewers, saying: "Even after [the gay kiss] story, Diederick [Santer, executive producer], Dominic [Treadwell-Collins, series story producer] and the BBC were brave enough to push forward with this current storyline. Everybody learned lessons from that [gay kiss] as to how to tell this story... so as not to offend people, not to be gratuitous and not to let something like a kiss be something that overshadows the story we're trying to tell. I'm immensely proud of that and immensely proud of this storyline. I'm honoured that they've allowed me to be a face for it."[13] In December 2009, Santer was asked what his favourite storyline of the year had been. He replied "I'm really pleased with the Christian/Syed storyline. It's bold and we thought long and hard before we did it to make sure we got it right and I'm really proud with what we've done. Marc [Elliott] and John [Partridge] have absolutely stepped up to the plate and like all good EastEnders stories, we're not even half done with it yet. There's miles to go."[14] In 2010 Christian will get a beating once his and Syed's secret is revealed. A source explained: "It seems that Christian is going to take the brunt of Syed's problems. Syed and Amira's wedding achieved one of the highest ratings of the year, so we're expecting viewers to again be gripped when this storyline reaches its dramatic climax. "There will be lots of twists and turns along the way. And sadly for poor Christian, he'll be the one who ends up taking a battering. There will also be lots of complaints."[15] Tahir Shah from the Muslim Public Affairs Committee criticised the storyline as soon as it was reported for portraying Muslims in a negative light."EastEnders is known for its gritty and realistic storylines but we cannot condone such violence from a Muslim character," he explained. However, gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell described the plot as "groundbreaking", adding: "No storyline in any drama will ever reflect the totality of the many diverse gay lifestyles and experiences. Full credit to the BBC for having a gay Muslim character. The lives of gay Muslims are very rarely in the media."[15] [edit]Storylines

Christian is first mentioned when his older sister Jane Beale receives an invitation to his civil ceremony with partner Ashley Jennings. Jane throws the invitation away but it is later found by Jane's husband Ian. Jane refuses to tell Ian why she does not want to go to the ceremony but Ian wants to meet Christian, and invites him and Ashley to dinner at Fargo's Restaurant. Christian reveals that he was once in love with Jane's first husband David Collins. Ashley storms out of the restaurant and the couple end their relationship. Christian arrives in Walford as he has nowhere to stay. He apologises and Ian allows him to move in. Christian flirts with Ian's stepson, Steven, so Steven pretends Stacey Branning is his girlfriend to put Christian off. Roxy Mitchell tries to chat him up, but is shocked to discover a stripper he had hired for his sister was an ex-boyfriend of his. They go on to become close friends. He becomes involved in a love triangle between Steven and Stacey, as Steven begins to experience confusion over his sexuality. He and Steven share a kiss but Steven falsely claims that Christian made a move on him; as a result, Christian leaves the Square. He returns after Steven's lie is exposed. Christian is tricked by Ian's daughter Lucy into letting her use his flat so she can spend some "quality time" with her boyfriend, Olly Greenwood. Christian walks in on them about to have sex and stops them. Ian punches Christian over what happened with Lucy and Olly, but when he catches Lucy attempting to leave with Olly, he insists she move in with Christian again. Roxy's sister Ronnie asks Christian to go to her school reunion, where he pretends to be her husband. She introduces him to her former boyfriend's friend Lee Thompson, who sees through their act. Christian and Lee go on a date, and Christian gives Ronnie the contact details of Joel, the father of her child. Christian invites Lee to meet Roxy and Jane but the atmosphere is uncomfortable. Lee reveals that he doesn't really like Christian and wants someone younger. Christian is surprised to see his mother Linda after having lost contact with her for nearly 20 years. At first, Christian dislikes her because she still disapproves of his sexuality, but when Ian's son Peter tells him how he lost his mother Cindy, Christian knows he has to make amends with her. Roxy unexpectedly goes into premature labour, and Christian offers to help raise the baby, Amy, as her marriage to Sean Slater has ended. However, Roxy leaves Christian heartbroken when she gets back with Sean. She later tells Christian that he is to be Amy's godfather. Roxy gives her daughter the middle name Christina, after Christian. Christian's colleague at Masala Queen, Syed Masood, argues with him over his sexuality, fearing that it will cause them to lose business when Syed's mother Zainab's friend Bushra Abbasi (who requests Masala Queen's services) becomes disgusted at Christian's sexuality. Syed tells Christian his homosexuality goes against his God's will, but then unexpectedly kisses Christian. Christian fails to convince Syed that they have feelings for one another. Syed tries to avoid Christian, and although they sleep together, Syed denies he is gay and proposes to his girlfriend Amira Shah. Christian reveals he was once with a woman and that he could have married her and had children but he would have been living a lie. On the day of Syed and Amira's engagement party, Christian takes a man called Luke back to his flat, but Luke beats Christian up after revealing he is not gay and hates gay men cottaging in public places. Syed finds out about the attack, and insists that he go to the police, but refuses. He finally goes, when Syed is with him. Roxy later becomes worried, and Christian opens up about how he's scared following the attack. Roxy comforts him and Christian then invites Syed over. Following this, Christian becomes agoraphobic. Syed believes Christian is strong enough to go to the shop on his own and says he will spend the night with him as a reward. Christian's friend James Mackie turns up saying he has split from his boyfriend. Syed sees them together and is jealous, and after James admits that he is a little bit in love with Christian, Syed tells him Christian is not the type to settle down. Christian finds out and is furious, saying now Syed knows how he feels when he sees him with Amira. Christian tells Syed he must break up with Amira, but Syed cannot go through with it, so Christian breaks up with him and kisses James, starting a relationship with him. James invites Ian, Jane, Amira and Syed to lunch with him and Christian, though Amira is unable to attend. Syed accidentally cuts his finger on a piece of broken glass and Christian bandages it for him. There is sexual tension between them. Christian later takes Syed down an alleyway and kisses him, and they do not realise they have been seen. Christian breaks off his romance with James and restarts his secret affair with Syed. When Syed is worried someone has found out about the affair Christian assures him nobody knows apart from them. Later Christian and Syed are photographed looking cosy in an alleyway. Syed is blackmailed and Christian discovers it is Lucy. Christian tells Syed he loves him and then Syed says the same back. That night, Syed's father Masood Ahmed crashes his car and the next day Syed tells Christian that he was forced into saying he loves him and he is being punished. He says their relationship is wrong and it is over between them. Christian is meant to be dance organiser for Syed and Amira's wedding, but he turns up late to the rehearsal and tells Syed he can have nothing to do with the wedding. Christian tells Jane he has fallen for somebody, Jane is initially thrilled for her brother but is disappointed when she realises it is Syed after she sees Christian looking at his window. Jane confronts Christian saying he should not try to break up a relationship. Christian explains that Syed initiated the affair, and is upset that Jane is not on his side. On Christmas Eve, Christian tells Syed he cannot see him with Amira any longer and has got a one-way ticket abroad, but asks Syed to come with him. Christian thinks Syed has chosen to come with him but Amira turns up as well and Christian leaves on his own. Christian returns on New Year's Eve and turns up at Ricky Butcher and Bianca Jackson's engagement party which Syed is attending. Just before midnight, he shuts Syed in the kitchen with him and kisses him passionately. Syed demands to know why he came back and he says he tried to forget but he needs Syed. Amira comes into the kitchen saying she knew he would not let them down. Syed says he loves Amira and they kiss, upsetting Christian. When he later sees Jane, she says he has to let Syed go but he says he would regret it. She says Syed has made his choice and is getting married, but Christian says he will make sure there is no wedding. On the wedding day, Christian summons Syed to the café where he admits he is gay but cannot come out because he is not just gay, but a son, a brother and a Muslim. When he runs out of the café distressed, Zainab sees and confronts Christian who tells her everything, but she does not believe him and attacks him verbally and physically. She then goes to the wedding and confronts Syed who eventually confesses, and she tells him to marry Amira. As they say their vows, Christian interrupts the ceremony but the wedding goes ahead. During the subsequent celebrations, Zainab asks him to leave. Syed catches up with him just before he leaves for his taxi and the two share an emotional goodbye. A few days later, Christian overhears Zainab telling Jane how much Syed and Amira are enjoying their honeymoon. Unable to cope, Christian quits his job at Masala Queen. When Roxy inherits The Queen Victoria public house from her father, she employs Christian to work behind the bar. Masood asks Christian for help in building Syed and Amira's new bed before they return from their honeymoon. When Masood says that they will probably want to start a family quickly, Christian is upset. The next morning, Christian is awoken by Leyton, a man who he does not remember spending the night with. He annoys Christian so he tries to avoid him but Leyton finds him working at The Queen Victoria. Christian flatly rejects him but he does not get the message. When Syed and Amira return, Christian introduces Leyton as his boyfriend to make Syed jealous, which works as Syed is clearly upset by Christian's new "relationship". The next week, he tells Amira that Leyton is the perfect boyfriend. When he meets Syed, Syed says he wants to make his marriage work and Christian wishes him the best. He then tells Leyton they need to talk. Christian tells Syed he should tell the truth to Amira as their marriage will never work. However, after Syed and Amira consummate their marriage, Syed tells Christian that they are planning a baby, and says he and Christian can both move on as Christian has Leyton and Syed has Amira. However, Christian tells Syed he has broken up with Leyton and was only with him to make Syed jealous. Christian finds Zainab trapped in the office at the Masala Queen unit, where she has gone into labour. Christian calls an ambulance and gives instructions to Zainab and then to Masood when the baby, Kamil, is not breathing. Masood performs CPR and Kamil survives. Christian announces to Zainab that he intends to "win back" Syed, however after Amira confides in him about their marriage, he abandons his plan and helps her recover her marriage, though Lucy encourages him to tell Amira everything in order to split them up. Christian leaves the apartment and drops his keys, which Lucy picks up. Later, she returns them to him but has painted "Syed loves Christian" on the wall in Syed and Amira's apartment. After Christian sees it and finds out it was Lucy he says that he does not want to break Amira's heart. Both Syed and Christian stop Amira seeing the message but have an argument, during which Christian accuses Syed of being "selfish" by not being truthful to Amira. The argument ends in a kiss. After another argument about Syed hiding behind his religion, they are seen kissing on floor in Syed and Amira's new flat by Masood. [edit]Reception

The character's introduction to EastEnders was welcomed by critics, with the Pink News deeming him to be "a realistic portrayal of a London based, slightly older gay man."[16] Gareth McLean of The Guardian praised the character, saying "he brings EastEnders a step closer to more accurately resembling London."[17] In October 2008, a kiss between Christian and new love interest Lee prompted 145 complaints from viewers who were displeased that homosexual kissing had been broadcast before the 9pm watershed. The BBC released a statement defending the incident, stating: "EastEnders aims to reflect real life, and this means including and telling stories about characters from many different backgrounds, faiths, religions and sexualities. We approach our portrayal of homosexual relationships in the same way as we do heterosexual relationships. In this instance, Christian is enjoying the first flush of romance and we've shown him being affectionate with his new boyfriend in the same way any couple would. We also aim to ensure that depictions of affection or sexuality between couples are suitable for pre-watershed viewing. We believe that the general tone and content of EastEnders is now widely recognised, meaning that parents can make an informed decision as to whether they want their children to watch."[18] [edit]References

^ a b "Partridge to play Jane's brother". BBC. 2007-11-20. Retrieved 2007-11-20. ^ a b Dadds, Kimberley (2007-11-07). "New gay character to join 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2007-11-07. ^ "John Partidge Video Interview". BBC. Retrieved 2008-02-24. ^ a b Kilkelly, Daniel (2007-12-08). "'Enders not copying Corrie's Sean Tully". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2008-02-24. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (8 March 2010). "'Enders star: 'Sean Tully is a stereotype'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 8 March 2010. ^ a b c Ellis, Sarah, "Going to work terrifies me!", Inside Soap (England): 18–19, 22 April 2008 ^ a b Ellis, Sarah, "Out of the closet?", Inside Soap (England): 27, 15 April 2008 ^ Woodward, Kate, "Roxy's guilty secret!", Inside Soap (England): 4–5, 22 April 2008 ^ "Enders Christian 'not a stereotype'". The Press Association. 25 March 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2009. ^ a b c Green, Kris (28 May 2009). "'Enders Syed for gay love plot". Digital Spy. Retrieved 28 May 2009. ^ Moussly, Mona (1 June 2009). "EastEnders to show gay Muslim kissing homosexual character". Al Arabiya. Retrieved 6 June 2009. ^ "EastEnders: Christian LOVES Syed!". What's On TV. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2009. ^ Green, Kris (4 October 2009). "EXCLUSIVE: Partridge: 'I'm immensely proud'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 6 October 2009. ^ Green, Kris (17 December 2009). "Producer's Perspective 2009: Diederick Santer". Digital Spy. Retrieved 17 December 2009. ^ a b http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a211110/eastenders-gay-plot-sparks-complaints.html ^ "EastEnders to air new bisexual storyline". Pink News. 2008-02-23. Retrieved 2008-02-24. ^ McLean, Gareth (2008-01-22). "Are EastEnders viewers ready for a realistic gay character?". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-02-24. ^ Green, Kris (9 October 2008). "'Enders receives complaints over gay kiss". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2008-10-09.