Victor "Vic" Hampton made his first appearance on 29 September 1988 and last on 5 January 1989. He was portrayed by Michael Brogan.
Storylines[]
Victor is an inmate at Dickens Hill Prison. He is imprisoned on remand for the theft of antique furniture. Vic is married to a woman named Gillie, but the marriage has come under strain due to Vic's continuous infidelities. Gillie visits and expresses her concerns about Vic's promiscuity. She asks him to get tested for any STDs that he may have picked up.
When the prison officers find out about Vic's concerns he is quarantined in isolation, as they fear he could spread diseases to the other prisoners. Vic is tested and is told by the prison chaplain that he is HIV positive. He becomes severely depressed and berates himself for giving the virus to his wife. He talks of the humiliation he feels, having the entire prison know about his condition, being segregated from the other prisoners and treated like a leper. He talks about the dreams he had for the future, which will now have to be forgotten. Gillie is supportive and Vic is relieved to discover that she has actually tested negative. She promises to stay with him no matter what.
Victor is the first character in EastEnders to be diagnosed as HIV positive, paving the way for the controversial virus to feature in a storyline surrounding a much higher profile character - Mark Fowler - a couple of years later.
List of appearances[]
1988[]
- Episode 381 (29 September 1988)
- Episode 382 (4 October 1988)
- Episode 383 (6 October 1988)
- Episode 384 (11 October 1988)
- Episode 386 (18 October 1988)
- Episode 388 (25 October 1988)
- Episode 392 (8 November 1988)
- Episode 393 (10 November 1988)
- Episode 394 (15 November 1988)
- Episode 395 (17 November 1988)
- Episode 397 (24 November 1988)
- Episode 398 (29 November 1988)
- Episode 404 (20 December 1988)
- Episode 406 (27 December 1988)
- Episode 407 (29 December 1988)
1989[]