25 December 2023 , 12:00
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EastEnders legend Shaun Williamson has shared the key to a bombshell Christmas episode.
The star who appeared on the soap as Barry Evans between 1994 and 2004 had his fair share of dramatic storylines throughout his stint. Most famously, in his final scenes, Barry finds himself at the top of his cliff with his employee Janine Butcher who later coerced him into falling in love with her.
Unbeknownst to the unlucky-in-love character, Janine was reeling Barry in order to inherit all of his cash after believing he is dying. But when he revealed he wasn't, she saw red and pushed him off the edge of a cliff. During an exclusive chat with the Mirror, Shaun, 58, shared what he believes makes the episodes on Christmas Day so good.
Shaun's EastEnders character Barry Evans was pushed to his death by Janine Butcher (BBC)He said: "General misery! Have you ever known a happy Christmas Day? They do like a good death on Christmas, EastEnders and so do the rest of the soaps. You want a little bit of someone to get their redemption like Scrooge, someone actually sees the light and is happier through the spirit of Christmas and someone else is in a skip.
"You want that shade and darkness and light in there, that's what makes a great soap episode, a real drama tinged with comedy moments." Although Shaun doesn't watch the soap due to his hectic work schedule, his wife, Sophie, keeps him informed about the ongoing storylines.
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But one story that shocked him was the return of Cindy Beale, played by Michelle Collins. Cindy was said to have died during childbirth in 1999 but was actually placed in the witness protection programme and given a brand new identity. "Barry would be very shocked at Cindy's return because he spoke at her funeral!"
The actor revealed what makes a good Christmas episode (BBC)
Shaun left the soap in 2004 (Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)Discussing a possible return for Barry, he said: "It would have to be a hell of a storyline, wouldn't it? You're lying there with a broken back in the middle of Scotland and 20 years later, ta-da! He's been a Scottish shepherd for 20 years. They (bosses) come up with them. Never say never."
This year, EastEnders viewers will find out who the mystery killer and their victim is. During the dramatic episode, one of six women are tipped to turn killer as one male resident meets a grisly end in the big episode. Back in February, we found out in a flashforward clip that one mystery male character will be killed off at The Queen Vic at Christmas.
Suki Panesar, Kathy Beale, Linda Carter, Denise Fox, Stacey Slater and Sharon Watts are all at the scene of the crime. Sharon walks over to the mystery body on the floor and confirms he is dead. Possible victims include Phil Mitchell, Keanu Taylor, Dean Wicks, Nish Panesar, Ravi Gulati, Rocky Cotton and Jack Branning.
But with each woman having a motive, it's still unclear who the murderer is, with the details being kept under lock and key.