{"id":54807,"date":"2024-07-15T20:00:16","date_gmt":"2024-07-15T18:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=2072010"},"modified":"2024-07-16T08:01:40","modified_gmt":"2024-07-16T06:01:40","slug":"eastenders-danny-walters-knew-keanu-would-be-killed-off-for-a-long-time","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/eastenders-danny-walters-knew-keanu-would-be-killed-off-for-a-long-time\/","title":{"rendered":"EastEnders\u2019 Danny Walters knew Keanu would be killed off \u201cfor a long time\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Keanu was killed off at Christmas. <\/p>

By Helen Daly\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 15 July 2024 at 18:00 PM<\/p>

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Christmas Day on EastEnders<\/a> in 2023 was one to remember, with Keanu Taylor (played by Danny Walters) killed off in an epic twist that very few saw coming.<\/p>\n

However, Walters was always aware he would be departing in such a manner, having revealed to us at the RadioTimes.com<\/b><\/span>\u00a0Soap Awards 2024<\/strong>\u00a0sponsored by\u00a0Inspired Villages<\/a> that he had to keep a big secret for a very long time.<\/p>\n

Speaking ahead of his win for Best Exit, Walters said: \u201cI\u2019d known the story was coming for a long time. But what was difficult was not being able to tell my fellow colleagues and co-stars, because there was only a select few that had known about the storyline.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was very difficult to sit in the green room and not tell them about the storyline and what was happening to my character! But I think it paid off in the end, because the shock at the end of Christmas Day was worth it \u2013 and was quite explosive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walters went on to reflect on how Keanu\u2019s character changed, particularly in his final episode, when he attacked Sharon.<\/p>\n

\"Danny\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Danny Walters as a dying Keanu Taylor in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

\u201cThe only thing that Keanu ever wanted was to be a dad and to have a son; as soon as that was taken away from him, his whole purpose and his character completely changed within a split second.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I think it was a side of Keanu we saw, it was quite a vulnerable side, that was scared, that feared losing his child.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was such a whirlwind of emotions that was going on with Keanu at that time in the stairwell in The Vic that he just lost character \u2013 that\u2019s when the character is at his lowest point.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was very out of character, but I think it was needed for that story,\u201d Walters concluded.<\/p>\n

Later that night, Walters scooped the award for Best Exit at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards<\/strong>, which took place in Manchester on 13th July 2024.<\/p>\n

Find out the full list of winners<\/a> from the night, which saw EastEnders emerge with the most accolades<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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