EastEnders bad boy Joel Marshall has returned to Walford following a stint in a juvenile prison for attacking Vicki Fowler. The actor who plays him, Max Murray, also has famous family connections.
Last year, teenager Joel, played by Max Murray, arrived in Albert Square alongside his father Ross Marshall (Alex Walkinshaw) and step-mum Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig), and soon became disliked for his troubling misogynistic behaviour.
One disturbing incident saw Joel filming an encounter with Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James), which subsequently led to the schoolgirl falling pregnant. He also crossed lines when he groped a woman on the tube to impress Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall).
Joel's Violent Assault and Return
Joel's disdain for women took a horrifying turn when he violently assaulted Vicki, capturing the attack on his phone. He was thrown in a juvenile prison for six months for the assault, but Joel has served his time and returned to Walford.
Last week, newlyweds Vicki and Ross were all smiles as they returned from their honeymoon, with Zack Hudson (James Farrar) agreeing to move out and give them space. Their happiness was short-lived when Joel showed up at their door unannounced, accompanied by his mum, Cleo, played by Mazz Murray, who explained that Joel wouldn’t be able to stay with her and her new husband any longer.
Meanwhile, as Ross and Cleo argued about their boy’s vile actions and who should look after him, Joel overheard their conversation and headed out, feeling hurt. He sat in the park alone, but it wasn’t long before Tommy spotted his former best friend, and the group of teens was shocked to discover that he was back in Walford.
Max Murray's Famous Family
Away from the BBC soap, actor Max Murray shares a real-life connection with on-screen mum Cleo, as she is his aunt. Speaking of her new role, Mazz Murray said: "It was so wonderful to be part of these EastEnders episodes as we delve into Joel’s familial past, and my experience was made all the better working alongside my talented, gorgeous nephew Max. And also, my childhood school friend Alex Walkinshaw playing my ex-husband!"
Mazz is best known for her stage credits, having played Donna Sheridan in the West End production of Mamma Mia: The Musical for six years. For two years prior to that, she played Tanya in the same show. Other parts include Mama Morton in Chicago, Killer Queen in We Will Rock You, and Maureen in Rent. Long-term EastEnders viewers may also recognise her as Julie, a woman who booked Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) through an escort agency in 2017, and 13 years earlier, she played Miranda in two episodes. Mazz also played a shop assistant in Ben Elton's sitcom Blessed, and earlier in her career, had a guest role in The Bill.
Max's mum, Gina Murray, is also an actress and began her television journey with The Bill back in 1994. Gina, 52, who is also Mazz's sister, has graced screens in numerous acclaimed series, such as Doctors, Judge John Deed, and portrayed Lesley Stobbart in ITV's factual drama The Hunt for Raoul Moat in 2023. In 2014, she appeared in EastEnders as Helen, a specialist who arrived to help Carol Jackson find a wig after losing her hair during her battle with cancer.
Gina is also a seasoned theatre actress, having shone in productions such as Mamma Mia!, Chicago, The Full Monty, Fame, and Hairspray. She has also voiced characters in numerous video games, including RoboCop: Rogue City and Baldur’s Gate 3. Gina and Mazz are the daughters of songwriter and producer Mitch Murray and actress Grazina Frame, who is known for her appearances on The Morecambe and Wise Show, where she was a regular between 1971 and 1974, as well as on The Fenn Street Gang, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), among other shows.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer.
