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Patrick O'Connor, D.D.S - Dr. Patrick O'Connor - Patrick Oconnor drpatrickoconnor.com | Dr. Patrick Hudson | Patrick Hudson MD PA | Patrick Hudson MD phudson.com |
Patrick Neville Loftus Alfonso Trueman is a fictional character from the popular British BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Rudolph Walker. He made his first appearance on 13 September 2001.
[edit] Creation and developmentThe character Patrick, played by Rudolph Walker, was introduced by John Yorke as a replacement parental figure to the Trueman brothers, Anthony (Nick Bailey) and Paul (Gary Beadle), following the axing of Audrey Trueman (Corinne Skinner-Carter), who was killed in the serial in September 2001.[1] Patrick first appeared at Audrey's "rum-feulled wake".[2] A love interest was introduced for Patrick in 2003, Yolande, played by Angela Wynter. Following their screen marriage in 2004, the characters were involved in the BBC's season "Taking Care", which covered issues "surrounding a different kind of childhood". The Truemans were involved in a storyline about fostering after they decided to foster a 14 year old boy, JJ, following an encounter with him at their Bed and Breakfast.[3] In 2007, executive producer Diederick Santer used Patrick and Yolande to cover a storyline about racism, that according to the producer, was inspired by the 2007 Celebrity Big Brother race row, sparked by supposed racist bullying of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty by UK celebrity Jade Goody. In the storyline, the characters Jay Brown and Sean Slater used racist phrases to the Truemans, and their reaction to the insults. Santer commented, "The Celebrity Big Brother race row kicked off as I took charge of my first scripts. I thought it was fascinating because it showed there was a real need for a debate about race in Britain. [Big Brother] didn’t do it particularly well, so I thought it could be something EastEnders should do. Our stuff won’t be overly moralistic or preachy but it will tackle this serious issue head on."[4] Angela Wynter was axed from EastEnders in 2008, ending Patrick and Yolande's screen union. Wynter commented, "'Patrick and Yolande’s marriage is the only representation of a black union in British TV, which I am very proud to have played."[5] Discussing Wynter's axing, Rudolph Walker said: "I really enjoyed working with Angela, because apart from anything else, she was a tremendous help to me - we've known each other a long time. I have to be thankful for the time she was in the show, and I'm in regular contact with her. I know she does watch EastEnders and while she obviously misses being part of the cast, she still enjoys it. Whether she's keeping an eye on Patrick or Rudolph, I can't be sure!"[6] In February 2009, EastEnders aired its first episode consisting of an entirely black cast. The episode focused up on Patrick and the Fox family. It concentrated on Patrick reminiscing about London in the 1950s after his arrival from the Caribbean. The script involved discussion about racism, with reference to the real life occurrence of the 1958 Notting Hill race riots in London. Taking the discussion of racism further, the characters considered it lessened in the 21st century, but that it still existed, possibly in more subtle forms.[7] The episode averaged 8.37m (35.6%) viewers.[8] It was part of a wider storyline concentrating on Patrick's past, and the murder of his fiancee during the race riots. Actor Edward Woodward was brought in especially for the storyline as Tommy Clifford, the man who killed Patrick's beau and subsequently sought his redemption before he died.[9] [edit] Storylines[edit] BackstoryBorn in Trinidad, Patrick came to the UK in the 1950s to find work. He was subjected to racism and, during the 1958 Notting Hill race riots was convicted of assault, while his fiancee Ruth was killed in a fire lit by Tommy Clifford who was a Teddy boy. Patrick played in a band named "The Five Hectors", which eventually disbanded. Later, he married a religious woman named Audrey in a shotgun wedding after she allegedly fell pregnant with his son, Paul (b. 1969). In 1970, they had a second child, Anthony, but Patrick left Audrey and the children shortly after. [edit] 2001—Patrick arrives in Walford in September 2001 for Audrey's funeral, reuiniting with his two sons after decades apart. After a period of adjustment, the Trueman brothers accept Patrick into their home; however, Paul grows suspicious of Patrick and secretly performs a DNA test, where it is revealed that although Anthony is the biological son of Patrick, Paul is not. It transpires that Paul is the son of Patrick's best friend Milton Hibbert. Despite the upset, Patrick and Paul maintain a father/son relationship. Patrick becomes close friends with pensioner Jim Branning, who helps him woo Yolande Duke with love letters after Patrick has a holiday romance with her in 2003. As a result, Yolande follows him to Walford. Patrick eventually welcomes her into his home, despite protests from Yolande's strict Christian husband, Victor. Patrick and Yolande marry in 2004 and briefly foster a young girl, though they find it difficult when she is returned to her mother. Paul is employed as a drug dealer by gangster Andy Hunter, ultimately leading to his death when he tries to double-cross Andy. Patrick is devastated to lose his son and begins a vendetta against Andy. In 2005, Patrick rents the car lot, hiring Pat Evans to do the bookkeeping. Patrick and Pat begin a casual affair, which Yolande discovers when Stacey Slater informs her; she slaps Pat, who retaliates. Yolande threatens to leave, but Patrick persuades her to stay. They attempt to rebuild their marriage, but Yolande is resentful and almost strays with Aubrey Valentine, a member of Patrick's former band, who tries to destroy Patrick but fails; the Truemans remain together. In 2006, when Denise Fox discovers that a member of Patrick's band fathered her, he takes a DNA test. It is revealed that Patrick is not Denise's biological father, but he pretends he is as he has grown attached to her. The truth comes out while Patrick and Denise holiday together in December; despite initial upset, Denise and the Truemans remain close. After purchasing the Minute Mart grocery store, Patrick and Yolande run it together. Patrick is assaulted there in August 2007 and, although Chelsea Fox and Deano Wicks claim the assailant is Sean Slater in a set-up, it is later revealed to be Craig Dixon, whom Patrick had disagreed with over the sale of alcohol. Patrick becomes fearful of leaving his house for a while, but eventually overcomes this with the support of his wife and friends. After Yolande impresses the Minute Mart official, she is offered a management position in Birmingham. Yolande accepts and prepares to move, however Patrick is less keen. Yolande leaves for Birmingham in October 2008, leaving Patrick behind to sell their house, under the premise he would join her later. However, Yolande ultimately decides she is happier without Patrick and ends the marriage, leaving Patrick devastated; they divorce in May 2009. The Fox family move in with Patrick, including Denise's lover Lucas Johnson. When Patrick discovers Lucas is withholding information about a tryst he has had with his ex-wife Trina, Patrick orders him to confess. Lucas responds by blackmailing Patrick, threatening to tell Denise about his criminal past during the Notting Hill riots. Patrick's past was revealed anyway, by Chelsea's boyfriend Theo Kelly, who is in league with a man named Tommy Clifford. Tommy claims to be writing a book about black culture, but it is eventually revealed that Tommy is the man who killed Patrick's fiancee in the 1950s. Patrick is furious, but eventually relents to Tommy's dying wish and forgives his criminal act moments before his death. [edit] ReceptionFollowing the airing of EastEnders' all-black cast for the first time in the show's history in 2009, the BBC received criticism for not adequately advertising the event. The programme-makers refuted these claims, insisting that the storyline received the same publicity treatment as the soap's other ongoing plots. An spokesperson told media website Digital Spy: "Everyone at Elstree has been truly shocked and surprised by the attention that an episode with an all-black cast has had, given that we live in such a diverse and multicultural society. [The] episode focuses on Patrick Trueman sharing his experiences of being a young man living in 1950s Britain with the family he lives with (the Foxes) which does mean it is solely an all-black cast on screen. Patrick and the Foxes are an integral part of Albert Square and this is no different to other episodes where we've concentrated on one particular family or storyline in the past."[10] Additionally, the BBC received "183 complaints about the episode's 'unnecessary' content, while some viewers felt aggrieved by the nature of an 'all-black' cast. Some 57 complains, meanwhile, were logged before it aired." The BBC responded, "It is not unusual for EastEnders to devote a whole episode to a single storyline or set of characters, and this episode was one of these occasions. This was an opportunity to explore in some depth the background and experiences of Patrick Trueman, one of EastEnders' longest-standing and most popular characters. There have been many 'all-white' episodes in the show's 24-year history, and we do not believe there is any reason why an 'all-black' episode should not be included within the series. Some viewers felt it was unnecessary to raise the subject of the Notting Hill race riots. These form part of the character's experience, as well as British history, and we feel it was absolutely legitimate for these characters to discuss them."[8] [edit] References
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