Max Murray, the actor behind EastEnders villain Joel Marshall, has shared a series of behind-the-scenes images showing the soap's teen cast together, despite their characters being embroiled in a violent revenge plot against him.
Taking to Instagram, Murray posted photos from the set of the recent attack storyline, writing: 'What a privilege and honour to work with all the amazing talented young cast of @bbceastenders. Off screen there is so much love and support between us and I am so grateful and proud to say that I have worked with all of them.'
Cast reactions and storyline context
Ellie Dadd, who plays Amy Mitchell, commented: 'Always love working with you.' The images featured Aaliyah James (Avani Nandra-Hart), Lillia Turner (Lily Slater), Lewis Bridgeman (Barney Mitchell), Juhaim Rasul Choudhury (Nugget Gulati), Ricky Branning (Frankie Day), Denzel Danes (Jaden Ladega) and Freddie Phillips, whose character Will Mitchell was the first to suggest the teens had gone too far.
Joel's return to Walford has been controversial. He previously filmed Avani without consent and uploaded the footage online, leading to her pregnancy and abortion, which he verbally attacked her over. His behaviour escalated to terrorising Stacey Slater over her online sex work, a sexual assault on a tube commuter, and a vicious beating of his stepmother Vicki Fowler. After initially pleading not guilty, he eventually pleaded guilty following a word from his father Ross Marshall.
Teens' revenge plot
Released last week, Joel returned to Albert Square after his mother Cleo abandoned him. Avani and Amy, furious, plotted revenge. Luring him to the park under the guise of forgiveness, they chained him to a fence. Learning Joel had been bullied in prison with waste food dumped on him, Amy decided to humiliate him similarly, dousing him with beer and filming it.
As the teens reeled from their actions, Will insisted they check on Joel. They found him unchained but on the ground, bleeding from a head injury, indicating someone had taken the revenge further.
