EastEnders' Eddie Royle: The Whodunnit That Gripped the Nation
EastEnders viewers have always been captivated by a compelling "whodunnit" mystery, and the dramatic murder of Eddie Royle had audiences utterly enthralled back in 1991. The Queen Vic landlord made his debut on the BBC One soap opera during the summer of 1990, having purchased the iconic pub from Frank Butcher, portrayed by Mike Reid. As a former police officer, Eddie brought a distinctly authoritative and no-nonsense approach to managing the establishment.
A Controversial Figure in Walford
Eddie Royle stood in stark contrast to previous proprietors of The Queen Vic, including the notorious Dirty Den Watts, played by Leslie Grantham. However, due to his abrasive and confrontational manner, the residents of Albert Square took an immediate and profound dislike to him. Consequently, his tenure in Walford proved to be remarkably brief and tumultuous.
Grant Mitchell, portrayed by Ross Kemp, became his arch-enemy after the hardman attacked him for making unwelcome advances towards his then-partner, Sharon Watts, played by Letitia Dean. Eddie consistently antagonised those around him, and eventually, this behaviour proved to be fatal. His turbulent romance with Kathy Beale, played by Gillian Taylforth, became even more complicated when his father reconnected him with his former love, Eibhlin O'Donnell, as reported by OK! magazine.
The Iconic Murder Mystery Unfolds
In September 1991, Eddie departed The Queen Vic for a brief stroll to post a letter, accompanied by his dog Roly, when he was confronted by an unknown assailant. Minutes later, he lay fatally stabbed and was discovered by the neighbourhood busybody Dot Cotton, portrayed by June Brown. The investigation identified numerous potential culprits, creating a classic whodunnit scenario.
Clyde Tavernier, played by Steven Woodcock, was originally blamed for Eddie's killing and was subsequently jailed. However, it later emerged that the local criminal Nick Cotton, portrayed by John Altman, was actually responsible. Nick had stabbed Eddie during an attempted robbery. He was arrested but famously found 'not guilty' at his 1993 trial due to a significant lack of evidence, leaving the case officially unresolved in the eyes of the law.
What is Eddie Royle Star Michael Melia Doing Now?
Actor Michael Melia, who is now 80 years old, portrayed Eddie Royle in EastEnders between 1990 and 1991. Following his departure from the soap, Michael built an impressive and diverse acting career, appearing in numerous hit television programmes.
A Prolific Television Career
His roles included appearances in Casualty and The Detectives before he secured the part of DI Frank Dagley in Dangerfield between 1996 and 1997. He subsequently took on the role of Jerry Block in Sky One's football drama Dream Team, a part he played from 1998 until 2002.
In a notable crossover to a rival soap, Michael appeared as businessman Colin MacFarlane in Emmerdale for two episodes in 2007. The character made his entrance at a luxury hotel where he encountered and spent the evening with Chas Dingle, played by Lucy Pargeter. Yet, in a shocking twist, when Chas awoke the following morning, Colin had died after passing away overnight from natural causes.
In a surprising development, Colin's wife Brenda, portrayed by Judy Holt, turned up in the Dales and expressed gratitude to Chas, despite her husband's infidelity and sudden death. Brenda also became embroiled in Dingle family chaos when an intended nightclub heist backfired, vanishing after just four episodes on the show.
Stepping Away from the Spotlight
Throughout the years, Michael Melia has also featured in a wide array of other popular programmes, including The Bill, Doctors, Coronation Street, and New Tricks. His latest credited role was as Grandad in the children's comedy series Dani's House between 2010 and 2012. It appears that following this role, Michael has now stepped away from acting, concluding a long and varied career on British television that spanned decades beyond his infamous EastEnders whodunnit storyline.
