EastEnders villain William Ellis branded a ‘nonce’ in drunken row over Stacey Slater stalker storyline
THEO Hawthorne has shown Stacey Slater his true colours as he continues to make her life a nightmare on-screen.
But during the Inside Soap Awards, EastEnders star William Ellis revealed the impact the storyline had on his life away from Walford.
The soap star was one of the many actors and actresses to attend the Inside Soap Awards on Monday, September 25, 2023.
While he maintains a low profile with his family and wife Alice off-screen, the 43-year-old actor is better known as the villainous and creepy Theo Hawthorne on the BBC One show.
As mentioned above, the teacher has been giving Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) a hard time in recent months as he has started to stalk her in an attempt to get her affection.
Speaking to The Sun about his storyline, William revealed that the reactions to his character have been “sometimes quite harsh.”
William then explained he has even had to face small backlash for his TV work during a trip just as viewers were led to believe his Albert Square alter ego was grooming a pregnant Lily Slater.
“I was on a flight to Ibiza six weeks ago when the storyline kicked in as Theo might be grooming Lillia (actress Lillia Turner aka Lily Slater) and I was flying on my own”, he recalled.
“In very good humour, I was called a ‘nonce’ by various stag parties and hen parties behind me.”
But while this could have left him in shock, William stated he took it all in his stride, seeing the interaction as “a real bonus.”
“People are talking about the show, there was no bad feeling but it just meant that you’re part of something so big and part of a show that is so canonised”, he explained.
“People are talking about it and it’s fizzing, largely thanks to Chris (Clenshaw, executive producer of EastEnders since 2022) and his direction.”
Questioned about his approach to the role, William added he felt “lucky” to be a part of the unravelling drama.
“It’s not often that you get to play characters that are dark and mysterious, especially if they’re so alien to you as a person.”
“It means your research is bigger, your tool pack has to be broader.”
However, with a Christmas murder mystery in the works and the odds seemingly being against him, many viewers have begun to wonder if Theo could be the mystery victim found next to the Queen Vic’s Christmas tree.
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William Ellis admitted he was in no position to clear up the mystery as has also been left in the dark about the whodunnit.
“Fans have suggested it could be me, it could be anyone. I feel very lucky to even be thought about being in the mix”, he said.
But at the last minute, the actor was able to tease more trouble ahead as Theo’s story is “ongoing.”
“We have to wait and see, there’s more to come. That’s all I can say.”
EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.