{"id":27103,"date":"2022-12-13T20:58:07","date_gmt":"2022-12-13T19:58:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1754355"},"modified":"2022-12-13T23:18:37","modified_gmt":"2022-12-13T22:18:37","slug":"colin-russell-and-barry-clark-get-happy-ending-in-eastenders-return","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/colin-russell-and-barry-clark-get-happy-ending-in-eastenders-return\/","title":{"rendered":"Colin Russell and Barry Clark get happy ending in EastEnders return"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Lewis Knight\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 13 December 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Returning Walford legends Colin and Barry received a romantic happy ending in EastEnders<\/a> tonight (13th December 2022).<\/p>\n

Actors Lord Michael Cashman CBE and Gary Hailes reprised their roles as Colin Russell<\/a> and Barry Clark<\/a>\u00a0respectively, as part of the special episodes to honour the iconic character Dot Branning and her actress June Brown, who passed away at the age of 95 earlier this year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Colin was seen returning to the Square and reuniting with friends Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) and Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth), attending Dot\u2019s funeral, the subsequent wake in the Queen Vic pub, and then the merry celebrations at Dot\u2019s house.<\/p>\n

Through conversations in the episode, we learned that Colin\u2019s husband Eddie Tsang had passed away \u2013 but he now had a man in his life again after reconnecting online.<\/p>\n

Later on, Barry was seen arriving on the Square and looking upon his old home before being shown directions to the wake at Dot\u2019s house by Felix Baker (Matthew Morrison) \u2013 albeit a very short trip.<\/p>

Kathy saw Colin out from Dot\u2019s and she was pleasantly surprised to realise that Barry was there to pick up Colin and that they were now a couple again.<\/p>\n

Felix told them that they were \u201cgoals\u201d in a lovely moment, recognising the progress made in LGBTQ+ issues on screen, given that Felix is the first gay drag performer to be a regular character in EastEnders.<\/p>\n

Before departing the Square, Colin and Barry shared a passionate on-the-mouth kiss before driving away.<\/p>\n

Speaking to RadioTimes.com<\/a> and other press at an event last week, returning actor Gary Hailes spoke positively about the conclusion of Colin and Barry\u2019s story.<\/p>\n

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Gary Hailes as Barry Clark in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

On his pleasure at Colin and Barry\u2019s happy reunion, Hailes concluded: \u201cI always thought that Colin and Barry should be together. It\u2019s a positive image.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was the whole idea from the very beginning with [EastEnders creators] Tony [Holland] and Julia [Smith], to do something that was a positive image and that changed people\u2019s perceptions of gay relationships and gay people. And I just, I just think it\u2019s really special that that\u2019s the end as it were, and that they do get to get back together.\u201d<\/p>\n

One specific moment felt especially powerful \u2013 when Colin and Barry shared an on-the-mouth kiss, which they never did back in the 1980s.<\/p>\n

Hailes noted: \u201cActually, they did the kiss that they were never allowed to back in the \u201980s, to be fair, and that\u2019s when I read the script, I sat at home and it was just so well written. It\u2019s absolutely stunning and so easy to do because it was so well written.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Gary Hailes as Barry Clark and Lord Michael Cashman as Colin Russell in EastEnders in the 1980s.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

On being asked to return to the soap, the actor continued: \u201cWhen I first got the phone call, I was terrified. I really was going back after 33 years and to come back, it was just, like, a bit freaky.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I kind of had to settle down and then when I got here, it was just brilliant. Everyone was so nice, so supportive. It was so well written. It was such an honour to be part of such a special episode and it really really was, having known June and worked with June, I\u2019ve never ever met anyone who didn\u2019t like Dot or June or both.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s so special and to be part of that was really, really an honour to be honest.\u00a0And then to work with Michael again\u2026 he said that it was [like] putting on a pair of old shoes \u2013 really comfortable. We just clicked; it was brilliant.\u201d<\/p>\n

On stepping back onto Albert Square \u2013 albeit on a new set \u2013 Hailes added: \u201cIt was surreal. Surreal is the word of the day. It really was surreal.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n