Richard Cole (EastEnders)
Richard Cole | |||||
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EastEnders character | |||||
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Portrayed by | Ian Reddington | ||||
Duration | 1992–1994 | ||||
First appearance | Episode 779 23 July 1992 | ||||
Last appearance | Episode 1003 21 July 1994 | ||||
Classification | Former; regular | ||||
Created by | Tony Jordan | ||||
Introduced by | Leonard Lewis | ||||
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Richard Cole (also known as "Tricky Dicky") is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Ian Reddington between 23 July 1992 and 21 July 1994.[1]
Storylines
Richard Cole arrives in
Richard makes various enemies, including Alan Jackson (Howard Antony), who he reports for benefit fraud, Arthur Fowler (Bill Treacher), whom he causes to lose his job as market sweeper, and the lovers Mandy Salter and Aidan Brosnan (Nicola Stapleton and Sean Maguire). Richard buys a property to let out for rent; Mandy and Aidan are squatting in one of the bedsits at the time and Richard evicts them, leaving Aidan homeless and suicidal over Christmas 1993. However, Richard's main rival is Kathy's son Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt). Richard relishes winding up Ian by flirting with Ian's wife Cindy (Michelle Collins). Richard spreads rumours about having an affair with Cindy, implying that he is the father of Cindy's unborn twins, which causes various problems in the Beale marriage for a while. Later, Richard orchestrates the closure of Ian's catering business the "Meal Machine" by reporting him to environmental health.
In revenge for this in 1994, Ian forces Richard to flee Walford when he finds out some unsavoury things about his past. Richard had been a former planning officer for the council in Doncaster; he and a colleague, Neil Bradley (Martyn Whitby), had taken monetary bribes, but when they were caught, Richard framed his colleague, leading to the colleague's imprisonment. After Ian takes photographic evidence of Richard and threatens to inform Bradley where Richard is, Richard disappears, leaving his belongings/property in Sanjay's possession. Bradley shows up in Walford the following week and is dismayed to find Richard gone. He tells Sanjay to tell Richard that when he finds him, he will kill him.
Creation and development
Producers
The character was conceived by writer Tony Jordan.[2] Richard was designed to be "a bit of a lad, a charming womanizer" and the original character's biography scripted him as a uniform-wearing Cockney from London.[2][3] However, when Sheffield-born actor Ian Reddington read for the role, the production team liked his portrayal so much that they altered the character's backstory so they could accommodate Reddington's Northern-English accent.[2] The character was nicknamed "Tricky Dicky" both in the show and the British press and become a prominent soap womanizer and villain for the two years he appeared;[2] he had flings with various female characters, most notably Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) and Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer).[4]
Tricky Dicky has been described as a "lothario",[5] as well as "corrupt, shifty and slimy as they come".[4] Author Kate Lock suggests that Tricky Dicky was aptly named, stating "he was sly, underhand and ruthless, both in his business dealings [...] and with women." She adds that he was "good-looking in an oily sort of way, but dropped his girlfriends once he'd got another notch on his bedpost."[6]
Reddington left EastEnders in 1994. On-screen, Richard becomes embroiled in a feud with
See also
References
- ^ "After Hours: Ian Reddington". The Independent. London. 12 August 1994. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-563-37057-4.
- ISBN 978-0-86369-825-5.
- ^ a b "EastEnders: Wheeler Dealers & Womanisers". Sky. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-563-52165-5.
- ISBN 978-0-563-55178-2.
- ^ Green, Kris (19 July 2009). "Ian Reddington's not returning to 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ "AND FOR MY NEXT TRICKY". The People. Retrieved 14 December 2010.