Memorable LGBTQ moments in EastEnders history

EastEnders has been on our screens for more than 35 years – in that time, the Walford-based soap has become one of Britain’s most iconic TV shows.

Since its debut in 1985, EastEnders has never shied away from hard-hitting storylines and has been at the forefront of LGBTQ representation on screen.

BBC Bitesize takes a look at some of the most memorable LGBTQ moments from the BBC One show’s history.

First gay kiss on a British soap

Colin Russell was the first gay character on EastEnders, appearing in Albert Square just over a year after the show’s first episode.

Played by Michael Cashman, there was controversy at the time when Colin kissed boyfriend Barry Clark (Gary Hailes) in 1987 – even though it was just a peck on the forehead.

Two years later, Colin and new character Guido Smith (Nicholas Donovan) shared the first mouth-to-mouth kiss on a British soap – an estimated 17 million people tuned in to watch the couple’s kiss.

It became one of the most ground-breaking scenes in soap history – but was deemed so controversial that some MPs called for the soap to be pulled from the air.

Landmark LGBTQ characters

In 2009, Syed Masood (Marc Elliot) arrived in Walford, battling with his Muslim faith and sexuality.

Syed became attracted to chef Christian Clarke (John Partridge), despite being in a relationship with girlfriend Amira (Preeya Kalidas). Syed tells Christian he is gay and in love with him – but under pressure from his family, gets married to Amira.

His feelings for Christian prove too strong – so Syed comes out. He marries Christian in 2012 and the couple leave Walford hand-in-hand to embark on a new life in America.

In 2019, the first lesbian Muslim character was introduced to the show. Iqra Ahmed, played by Priya Davdra, arrived in Walford with her sister Habiba (Rukku Nahar) having run away from an arranged marriage.

She comes out to Habiba and later introduces her long-term girlfriend Ash Panesar (Gurlaine Kaur Garcha). Ash's family soon join her in Walford - the soap's first-ever Punjabi Sikh family - and Ash reveals she is bisexual.

Johnny Carter comes out to his dad

When Johnny Carter (Sam Strike) came out to his hardman dad, Mick Carter (Danny Dyer), it was seen as a landmark moment for EastEnders.

Mick held his teenage son in his arms to deliver a tear-jerking speech, telling Johnny that he loved him and there was nothing bad about being gay, supporting him to come out through both of their stifled tears.

Johnny’s mother Linda (Kellie Bright) initially struggled with his sexuality – but the pair eventually make up as she takes him to his first Pride event where he meets new boyfriend Gianluca Cavallo (Gabriele Lombardo).

First transgender character played by transgender actor

Kyle Slater’s arrival in Albert Square was a landmark moment for EastEnders.

It marked the first time in British soap history that a transgender character had been played by a transgender actor, with Riley Carter Millington taking on the historic role.

Kyle’s first appearances showed him following Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) before he later reveals he is her long-lost half-brother and the pair ultimately unite.

After sharing his story with Stacey, Kyle reveals that his mother Alison (Denise Welch) has never seen him as a man. Stacey attempts to get them to reconcile, but is initially unsuccessful. Alison eventually acknowledges Kyle as a man shortly before he leaves Walford for a job in France.

Walford’s first Gay Pride

In July 2019, Walford threw its first-ever Gay Pride event, with an episode tackling a number of LGBTQ issues.

Airing ahead of London’s Gay Pride event, the episode was seen as celebratory, diverse and educational, but also included moments that reminded the audience of the prejudice and discrimination still faced by the LGBTQ community to this day.

In the iconic episode, Bernadette Taylor (Clair Norris) embraces her sexuality while celebrating her first Pride, having come out as a lesbian to her mother six months earlier, while Callum Highway (Tony Clay) struggles to come to terms with his new feelings.

Callum, also known as Halfway, was engaged to Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) at the time of Pride and was helping to get everything organised for the big event. But he was mortified when brother Stuart (Ricky Champ) turned up and told him he saw him kissing Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) the night before.

While the course of true love didn’t always run smoothly for Callum and Ben – Stuart beat up Ben later in the Pride episode - the fan favourite duo went on to become a couple, with the pair eventually proposing to each other on the balcony of local gay bar The Prince Albert.