Toby-Alexander Smith has teased what lies ahead for his character Gray Atkins, when he returns to EastEnders this summer.
Last month, Radio Times revealed that Smith was reprising his role after 4 years away. The star has already filmed a number of scenes on the soap’s set in Elstree, Hertfordshire, though due to Gray being held at His Majesty’s Pleasure, will only be back for a short stint.
The villainous solicitor was responsible for the deaths of three residents during his reign of terror, and was finally imprisoned after pleading guilty to his crimes in 2022.
His comeback will cause further upheaval for estranged wife Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams), who is struggling with mum Denise’s (Diane Parish) blood cancer diagnosis, and the fact her son Jordan (Jahsaiah Williams) may never walk again after being hit by Ian Beale’s (Adam Woodyatt) car.
This week, her sister Libby (Belinda Owusu) reached out to Gray’s grandmother Sheila Atkins (Sheila Ruskin), hoping that she could help financially with Jordan’s care.
Chelsea was furious when she discovered what was happening, though later agreed to meet Sheila and offered her a chance to get to know her great grandson – on the condition that she had nothing to do with Gray. Sheila swore that they were estranged, and had been for some time, and then offered £3,000 towards Jordan’s recovery.
Despite initially being hesitant to accept the cash, she later realised how crucial it could be. Outside of the tube station, she took the cheque from Sheila, and handed her a school photo of Jordan in return.
Sheila slipped it into her purse, alongside a photo of Gray.
Are they still in touch? It certainly seems that way!
Now, ahead of his comeback, Smith has expressed fascination at what a stint in prison will have done to the character.
“Gray was pretty heavy the first time around,” he told The Mirror.
“Obviously, we dealt with the domestic abuse storyline and then there was some more sort of heightened curveballs and more deaths, which was very heavy too, but a gift for an actor.
“I felt very challenged doing that but then leaving the show, you know I’ve gone on to do some really lovely films. I feel very privileged that I’ve been given an opportunity to sort of stretch myself as an actor or just sort of just be a ‘yes man’ to whatever opportunity is coming your way and just dive straight in.”
He continued: “Gray was a brilliant character. It was a gift to play Gray and it’ll be fascinating to know what four years in prison would do for someone like him.
“His identity was very much, you know, control and power and very manipulative. Being in prison would very much strip a lot of that identity. So it was fascinating to tap into that psychology.
Read more:
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- EastEnders legend teases “dangerous” dynamic between Max Branning and Cindy Beale
- EastEnders boss teases “emotional” Denise Fox scenes from blood cancer storyline after 20 years on the show
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