EastEnders fans have been left gobsmacked after discovering the real age of beloved character Patrick Trueman. Portrayed by actor Rudolph Walker, Patrick first appeared on the BBC One soap in 2001 and has since become an iconic figure in Walford.
According to the character's official date of birth, listed as 26 June 1940, Patrick is 85 years old. Meanwhile, Rudolph Walker himself is 86, set to celebrate his 87th birthday on 28 September. Fans have expressed astonishment at how youthful both the character and actor appear.
On an EastEnders Facebook fan page, one admirer exclaimed: 'Wow! Looking fabulous!' Another fan commented: 'This man looks soo well. And his skin!' A third wrote: 'Congratulations to them both for such a storyline. 85, where? He's not aging at all.'
The revelation comes amid a dramatic storyline in which Patrick's son Anthony was murdered by his secret daughter Jasmine Fisher. Following Anthony's funeral, Jasmine confessed to Kat Slater that she had video evidence, but it went missing. After Jasmine returned to the Queen Vic with the murder weapon, police arrested her in front of a shocked Patrick.
Despite the turmoil in Walford, viewers remain fixated on Patrick's remarkably youthful appearance, with many taking to social media to share their disbelief at his age.
