01 November 2023 , 08:00
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EastEnders' beloved fruit and veg expert, Pete Beale, was a market stall holder like no other. Even his own nephew, Martin Fowler, couldn't match his speed in identifying a pink lady from a gala apple.
His legacy lives on in the hearts of dedicated EastEnders fans from the 80s and 90s. For the uninitiated, Pete was a twin brother to Pauline Fowler, played by Wendy Richard, and husband of Kathy, played by Gillian Taylforth. He was also the proud father of Ian Beale, played by Adam Woodyatt, who like everyone else, adored his dad's famous catchphrase - "alright treacle!".
Peter Dean, the 84-year-old actor who played Pete Beale, left the show almost three decades ago in 1993. But his character remains one of the most memorable in the show's history. The Cockney greengrocer had been on the market since the very first episode aired in February 1985.
Pete Beale, was one of the first characters of the beloved show (The People)
Peter Dean alongside Adam Woodyatt who played his son Ian Beale (Daily Mirror)Despite his absence, fans of EastEnders continue to hold dear memories of Pete's unusual antics, such as drinking from a pewter tankard. While some fans may still be confused by his drinkware choice, it is worth noting that actor Peter was a practicing Buddhist and would never consume beer. Instead, he would only drink lemonade, which explains his character's unique choice of drinkware.
Despite leaving the show after eight years, Peter Dean is still a household name in the world of TV. He rose to fame playing the role of criminal Jack Lynn in the 1978 show Law And Order. Later, he starred in other iconic TV shows such as Minder, Shoestring, Hammer House of Horror, and The Chinese Detective.
EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness
Despite leaving the show after eight years, Peter Dean is still a household name in the world of TV. (BBC)But Peter's breakthrough moment came when he landed the role of Pete Beale in EastEnders, beating Leslie Grantham to the part. However, his character's sudden death in a car crash marked the end of his time on the show. Things reportedly turned bitter on set after the actor publicly criticised the producers. This led to his contract being terminated due to "irreconcilable differences."
In an interview with Loose Women, Peter revealed that he was called in by the producer and told that the writers couldn't find any new material for his character. He said: "The producer called me in and said, 'The writers can't find anything for you to do.' So I said, 'Well get rid of the writers. Life's simple when it's logical.' But of course, it was already set. EastEnders is EastEnders. The real East End has changed."
Things reportedly turned bitter on set on Eastender after the actor publicly criticised the producers. (Getty Images)Despite his abrupt exit from the show, Peter remains a beloved figure in the hearts of EastEnders fans. Even though he was one of the most recognisable faces on TV in the 1980s, since departing Albert Square he hasn't been such a regular on screens. He made a guest appearance in the Channel 4 show Bo Selecta, starring Leigh Francis, and also made a cameo in Little Britain.
Back in 2002, Peter could be seen in the Channel 5 show, Harry and Cosh and one of his last television appearances was on the third series of The Real Marigold Hotel in 2018. He appeared alongside Stanley Johnson, father of Boris, TV presenter Selina Scott, actor Stephanie Beecham, actor Susan George, former jockey Bob Champion, comedian Syd Little and The Krankies stars Janette and Ian Tough.