Barry Evans (EastEnders)
Barry Evans | |
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EastEnders character | |
Jack Evans |
Barry Evans is a fictional character from the
Creation and development
The character was originally intended to appear in four episodes, debuting in December 1994.[3] According to Barry's actor Shaun Williamson, the character was originally conceived as a tall, blond haired man. Williamson was neither particularly tall nor blond, and after being called for an audition to read for the part, he thought about dropping out as he was not a physical match. However, the director stated that "nothing is laid in cement" with regard to the character, so Williamson went ahead with the audition. Williamson has said that Barry was meant to be a vehicle to bring his father Roy Evans (Tony Caunter) into the show, as Roy was being scripted as a new love interest for the regular character Pat Butcher (Pam St Clement); in Barry's first appearance he meets Pat to apologise for a dodgy car he had sold her, paving the way for Roy to be introduced to her. For the next year and a half, Barry made sporadic appearances, in Williamson's own words "popping in and out".[3] When a storyline in 1996 saw Barry imprisoned for arson, Williamson has said that he was uncertain whether his character would appear again; however the character was brought back on a more permanent basis later in the year.[3]
In 1999, executive-producer
Natalie and Barry's screen wedding was featured as part of the Millennium Eve episodes, which drew in 20.89 million viewers – the biggest soap audience since the character Tiffany Mitchell (Martine McCutcheon) was killed off in EastEnders precisely one year earlier (New Year's Eve 1998). An EastEnders spokeswoman commented: "This is a remarkable endorsement of the power of EastEnders that over 20 million viewers chose to see the Millennium celebrations in Albert Square." The episodes were also broadcast on screens in London's Trafalgar Square, a typical “haunt for New Year's Eve revelers”.[7]
In 2001, a pregnancy was written into the Evanses' narrative. Natalie was shown to be distressed by the prospect of being a mother and planned to have an abortion. Viewers saw a “devastated Barry” react badly to the news in a special extended four-hander episode (written by Christopher Reason and directed by Clive Arnold) – the episode had a maternal theme with the action flitting between Barry and Natalie's saga and scenes between Steve Owen and his dying mother, which included revelations of child abuse and incest.[8] An EastEnders spokesman said: "We are very proud of the programme. The storylines involving Steve and his mother and Barry and Natalie are the stuff of intense drama. All four actors give incredible performances."[8] The following episode Barry was seen to chase Natalie to the abortion clinic, where he persuaded her to go through with the pregnancy. The scenes between Natalie and Barry have been described as some of “the most powerful moments in soap, with the couple battling to decide the fate of their unborn baby”.[9]
Viewers saw Natalie and Barry's marriage sour towards the end of 2002 when, in the New Year's Eve episode, Natalie rekindles a secret affair with her former lover Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen), which continued into 2003.[10] Speed commented “Natalie's always had strong feelings for Ricky. And now she's grown tired of being a mother to baby Jack and Barry."[4][11] The storyline reached its climax in March 2003.[10] On-screen Natalie's plan to abscond with Ricky was thwarted by Barry's discovery of the affair, leading to a public confrontation between the three protagonists. Shaun Williamson has commented “Barry is absolutely devastated as his whole life is ripped apart. He can’t believe Nat has betrayed him. He loves his life with Natalie and Jack, and would do anything to make it work as a family again. Losing Natalie is going to be really difficult for Barry, but I think the hardest thing will be losing his son.” The storyline signified the end of the characters’ three-year marriage.[12]
Storylines
Barry arrives in
Barry is the son of car dealer
Losing his job at the car lot, Barry is forced to seek employment elsewhere and he uses malicious means to replace
Barry has a turbulent time when his half-brother
When Natalie grows weary of marriage to Barry, she begins an affair with her former lover Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen). Natalie and Ricky plan to leave Walford with their sons but Barry catches them. Barry attempts to change her mind but Natalie is adamant their marriage is over. However, she opts to leave Walford alone, having discovered that her trust in Ricky is misplaced. In the aftermath, Roy discovers Pat has been aware of Ricky and Natalie's affair and has not told Barry. Roy is incensed and dies from a heart attack, brought on during the resulting blazing row. Devastated, Barry blames his father's death on Pat for cheating on Roy with Frank, which depressed and angered Roy. During an argument with Pat, she tells him Natalie never loved him and Barry trashes the house. As Barry is the sole beneficiary of his father's estate, he throws Pat out and leaves her with nothing.
Barry spends a long time feeling sorry for himself and becomes reclusive. His employee Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks), sensing an opportunity to make money, starts manipulating Barry. Helped by her secret boyfriend Paul Trueman (Gary Beadle), she concocts a plan to make Barry fall in love with her so she can get her hands on Barry's wealth. Feeling vulnerable since his split from Natalie, Barry falls for Janine and they get engaged. When a mix-up at Barry's doctor makes Barry believe that he only has a short time left to live, Janine believes she will inherit all his money and agrees to a rushed wedding in Scotland. They marry but Janine is mortified when Barry reveals he is not dying after all. Barry forces Janine to go for a walk on the Scottish Moors but, unable to stand being near Barry, Janine verbally abuses him. She confesses their relationship is a sham and that she has been having an affair with Paul. Barry still wants her and says that he will forgive her if she stays with him. He begs Janine not to leave him and goes to hug her but she pushes him away. Barry stumbles before falling over a cliff edge and hitting his head on rocks, dying shortly thereafter.
Just days after his death, Barry's funeral is held secretly by his Janine who had Barry cremated. Janine returns to Walford with Barry's cremation urn alongside her. She also inherits all of his estate while Barry's son, Jack, inherits nothing. After Janine was arrested for Laura Beale (Hannah Waterman)'s murder, Natalie finds Barry's cremation urn and pours the ashes into the tree.
Reception
In 2020, Sara Wallis and Ian Hyland from The Daily Mirror placed Barry 38th on their ranked list of the Best EastEnders characters of all time, calling him a "Total Mug" who "was duped by a conwoman, dumped by wife Natalie and fell for gold digger Janine, who left him to die after he fell off a cliff in 2004."[13]
In popular culture
In 2002 the character was featured in a spoof of the Michael Jackson hit video, Thriller, which was made as part of the annual fund-raising event, Children in Need.[14] Shaun Williamson (as Barry) played the Michael Jackson role, while Lucy Speed (as Natalie) took on Ola Ray’s role as his date. The spoof saw Natalie transformed into a zombie, as Jackson was in the original video. Several cast members took part in the spoof where they recreated the dance routine made famous in the original video.[15]
Following his stint on EastEnders, Shaun Williamson had a regular role as a
On 20 January 2017, EastEnders actor
In March 2020, Jade Thirlwall, English singer and songwriter, and member of the British girl group Little Mix, appeared in a FaceTime interview on Capital FM's Breakfast Show, wearing a 'Barry' t-shirt.[18]
British pro wrestler and Isle of Sheppey native Zack Sabre Jr. has used a submission move that he calls “Barry From EastEnders” as a finisher since his pro wrestling debut in 2004.
References
- ^ Barry Evans played by Shaun Williamson
- ^ "Barry quits EastEnders". BBC. 11 April 2003. Retrieved 28 June 2008.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4401-5987-9.
- ^ a b Tim Wilson. "The Return of 'Natalie'". Walford Gazette. Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
- ^ "Watchdog attacks EastEnders". BBC. 29 March 2000. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
- ^ Rick Fulton (30 March 2000). "SOAP CHIEFS RAPPED FOR EASTBENDER; PLOT TOO FAR". Daily Record. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
- ^ "EastEnders is millennium hit". BBC. 12 January 2000. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
- ^ a b NICOLA METHVEN (21 July 2001). "MOTHER OF ALL KISSES". The Mirror. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
- ^ Julie MacCaskill (4 August 2001). "Lucy plays it for tears". Daily Record. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
- ^ a b Nicola Methven (14 February 2003). "ROY'S A GONER". The Mirror. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
- The People. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
- ^ "Barry quits EastEnders". BBC. 11 March 2003. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
- ^ Sara Wallis; Ian Hyland (12 June 2020). "100 Best EastEnders characters ever". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "BBC NEWS | Entertainment | In brief: Crossroads unveils new line-up". news.bbc.co.uk. 10 November 2002. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- ^ "EastEnders stars remake Thriller video". BBC. 10 November 2002. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
- ^ Deen, Sarah (20 January 2017). "This clip of 'Barry off EastEnders' singing at Trump's inauguration is genius". Metro.co.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- ^ Allen, Gavin (20 January 2017). "Did Barry from EastEnders sing at Donald Trump's inauguration? Jake Wood says so". Mirror. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- ^ "Jade Thirlwall Gives Us A Tour Of Her House | FULL INTERVIEW | Capital". YouTube. 30 March 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.