John Royle
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| EastEnders character | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| John Royle | |
| Portrayed by | Paddy Joyce |
| Duration | 1990–1991, 1993 |
| Marital status | Widower |
| Occupation | Retired metal worker |
| Family | Eddie |
John Royle was a fictional character in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. He was played by Paddy Joyce.
[edit] History
John was the widowed father of Eddie Royle — the publican of The Queen Vic. He first appeared in Walford in August 1990 when he came to visit his son. John was a wily Irishman and a retired metal worker. In his youth, he was a talented footballer and could have played professionally if he'd wanted to leave Dublin, which he didn't.
He was often the life and soul of the party in Walford, and was known to like a pint of Guinness or two. He was a perfect pal for the other seniors on the Square — Jules Tavernier and Ethel Skinner. He could often be seen engaging in a game of poker with Jules. On one occasion Jules managed to thrash John, but was mortified when John paid the winnings in chickens instead of money. Mo Butcher ended up taking them back to her family's Bed and Breakfast.
John was very proud of his son and wouldn't get mixed up in anything that would have earned his disapproval. John would show up periodically to visit Eddie, and on one occasion he brought Eddie's ex-girlfriend, Eibhlin O'Donnell, with him. Unfortunately, John's timing couldn't have been worse, as her arrival spelt the end of his son's relationship with Kathy Beale. However, within a few months, Eddie had changed his mind and asked Eibhlin to marry him.
Eddie was murdered by Nick Cotton in September 1991, and John was devastated to lose his pride and joy, especially in such horrific circumstances.
After this time, John was not seen in Walford until January 1993, when he attended the trial of Nick Cotton. He had found the death of his son hard to get over and he hoped that seeing justice served to his son's killer would bring closure. He was horrified and inconsolable, however, when the verdict came back as not guilty.
[edit] Family
- Son: Eddie Royle (deceased)
