Darren Roberts (EastEnders)

Infobox EastEnders character 2


character_name=Darren Roberts
actor_name=Gary McDonald
years=1987–1988
first=28 July 1987
last=21 July 1988
dob=1962
status=Separated
wife=Darlene Roberts
sisters=Carmel Jackson
Maxine Roberts
sons=Junior Roberts
daughters=Aisha Roberts

Darren Roberts was a fictional character in the popular BBC soap opera "EastEnders". He was played by Gary McDonald.

Darren was a wideboy who was involved with various dodgy scams in Albert Square. When The Firm became more active in Walford, Darren tried to work his way onto their payroll but was warned off with a severe beating. A few weeks later he disappeared, abandoning his two children.

History

Darren was the brother of Carmel Roberts. He arrived in Walford in July 1987 along with his son Junior and young daughter, Aisha, who had different mothers.

Darren had attended school with Nick Cotton, Graham Clark and Rod Norman, none known for their law-abiding tendencies, and just like his wayward contemporaries, Darren also regularly dabbled on the wrong side of the law.

Darren had fallen out with his wife Darleen, and managed to persuade his sister to allow him and his children to move in with her at number 3b Albert Square.

Darren proceeded to make himself at home in Walford, trying to set up all kinds of dodgy deals. He managed to make an enemy out of Den Watts for selling knock-off gear on his patch; he got involved in pornographic video laundering; instigated a counterfeit money ring; started renting out an abandoned flat to squatters for a weekly fee; and he even held a 'cultural evening' in the community centre, which was a front for a porn film screening and stripper — Dot Cotton accidentally wandered in and fainted! Carmel would despair over all Darren's thoughtless behaviour and criminal antics, but her rants usually fell on deaf ears.

Darren continued to cause more trouble in 1988 when he stole Chris Smith's JCB and Alan McIntyre's work tools. He also maliciously informed Ashraf Karim about Arthur Fowler's criminal record when Arthur refused to give him credit in the grocery store. Arthur lost his job and Darren seemed delighted with the trouble he had caused. He continued rubbing everyone in Walford up the wrong way and even tried to stop his sister dating her new boyfriend, Matthew Jackson, merely because he was white.

The smile was soon wiped off his face, however, when he got on the wrong side of Brad Williams, a member of the gangster organisation known as The Firm. Darren wanted in on their payroll, but after several attempts to gain his favour, Brad warned him off by giving him a severe beating, much to Den's amusement.

Darren's final dastardly deed was to con Ian Beale and Barry Clark. Darren provided them with equipment for a mobile disco, but the equipment turned out to be hired and further hire purchase payments were still owed. Soon after, the hire purchase men turned up and took back all the disco gear. When Carmel found out, she threw Darren out of her flat, after which, he disappeared, abandoning his two children in the process. His last appearance was in July 1988

Days before his departure, Darren was questioned about the torching of The Dagmar, following Kathy Beale's rape, and he purposefully implicated Den Watts as the culprit. Den, who was working for The Firm, was eventually forced to take the blame and was arrested for the deed. Joanne Francis and Gregory Mantel (two members of The Firm, who were watching Darren), later revealed that Darren had moved in with a girl, whose boyfriend then put him in hospital. He never returned to Albert Square to claim his children, and his whereabouts following this were not revealed. However, in 1989, Darren's accomplice Vince Johnson arrived in Walford. Vince regularly liased with Darren by phone, and both were responsible for conning Frank Butcher in a motor scam.

References

*"The EastEnders Handbook" by Hilary Kingsley, ISBN 0-563-36292-8
*"EastEnders: The First 10 Years: A Celebration" by Colin Brake, ISBN 0-563-37057-2