What became of actor Peter Dean after he left Walford?
EastEnders legend Pete Beale was a beloved presence in Walford for eight years before his life came to a tragic end.
Throughout the BBC soap’s 40-year history, no other market trader matched Pete’s uncanny talent for distinguishing a Golden Delicious from a Granny Smith.
His hard-edged East End persona kept him at the centre of drama, most famously the explosive paternity storyline involving Simon Wicks (Nick Berry) and his first wife, Pat Butcher (Pam St. Clement).
Portrayed by Peter Dean, Pete appeared in the very first episode as Kathy’s (Gillian Taylforth) loyal husband and Ian Beale’s (Adam Woodyatt) father – and viewers adored his iconic catchphrase: “Alright, treacle!”
As Pauline Fowler’s (Wendy Richard) twin brother, Pete was uncle to Martin Fowler (James Bye), who died earlier this year, and grandfather to Peter Beale (Thomas Law), who was named in honour of the much-loved character, according to OK!.
The long-serving market trader worked his stall from February 1985 until leaving Walford in May 1993, before being shockingly killed off-screen in a car crash that December.
Even today, EastEnders fans fondly recall Pete’s quirky traits, especially his habit of drinking from a pewter tankard.
The traditional cup was reportedly used because Peter Dean practised Buddhism and didn’t drink alcohol, choosing lemonade during filming instead.
However, Peter Dean’s relationship with the BBC One soap reportedly soured, and after he publicly criticised the production team, his contract was ultimately terminated due to “irreconcilable differences.”
Appearing on Loose Women, Peter revealed that he had been called in by the producer and told that the writers were struggling to come up with new storylines for his character.
He recalled: “The producer brought me in and said, ‘The writers can’t find anything for you to do.’ So I said, ‘Well, get rid of the writers. Life’s simple when you use logic.’ But of course, the decision had already been made. EastEnders is EastEnders. The real East End has changed.”
Before joining the residents of Walford, Peter Dean — now 86 and originally from Hoxton in East London — had already landed significant roles in TV series such as Law And Order (1978), Minder (1979), and even Coronation Street in 1983.
He also appeared in several films, including Up Pompeii (1971), Sweet William (1980), and The Great Rock ’n’ Roll Swindle (1980).
In later years, he made cameo appearances in Bo’ Selecta! and Little Britain, and took part in the BBC series The Real Marigold Hotel in 2018. He also featured in the 2016 television series Cradle to the Grave.
Despite his character being long dead, Peter has expressed enthusiasm about returning to the gritty BBC soap as the iconic fruit-and-veg market trader.
In 2020, Pete told The Star: “Actors don’t retire — they just keep going until no one wants them anymore or people forget who they are.
“I’ve got a van now, so I do a bit of decorating, a bit of buying, a bit of selling. They could bring Pete back.”
According to the Aston Management website, Peter is still listed as available for acting work.
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