EastEnders has paid tribute to director and producer Michael Owen Morris, who has died aged 79. The tribute appeared at the end of Monday's episode (September 28), with the message: 'In loving memory of Michael Owen Morris 1947 – 2026'.
A long-running EastEnders career
Morris was one of the longest-serving directors in the show's history, with his first episodes airing in 2003. He directed regularly until 2019, returning for a final episode in 2023, bringing his total to 241 episodes.
His final episode, under producer Chris Clenshaw, was set in France and revealed how Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) had survived her supposed 1998 death and reunited with ex-husband Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt). It also featured the return of Thomas Law as Peter Beale and Jacqueline Jossa as Lauren Branning.
Work across other soaps and shows
Morris worked under show bosses including Louise Berridge, Kate Harwood, Diederick Santer, Bryan Kirkwood, Lorraine Newman, Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Sean O'Connor, John Yorke, and Kate Oates. He also directed the 2004 spin-off Pat & Mo, focusing on Pat Evans (Pam St Clement) and Mo Harris (Laila Morse).
Beyond EastEnders, he directed 9 episodes of Coronation Street in 1994, 4 of Holby City between 1999 and 2000, and 16 of The Bill between 1989 and 2002. His other credits include Campion, Doctor Who, Vanity Fair, and Tenko.
Tributes from colleagues
Tributes appeared on X/Twitter, with Chris Chapman writing: 'Very sad to hear that super-talented director Michael Owen Morris has died. We loved taking him back to his Awakening locations in 2010 and I was filming with him again only last year – lovely chap'. Philip Newman added: 'Oh that's very sad! Only met him a few months ago at a @fantomfilms signing. And just finished a rewatch of Tenko for which he directed several episodes…RIP'.
