Danny Walters, who played Keanu in EastEnders until his big dramatic exit in the ‘Sixmas’ storyline, has admitted that one particularly out-of-character moment was in fact planned all along.

Speaking at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards, sponsored by Inspired Villages, Walters lifted the lid on one scene that really shocked the fans: the moment where, in a fit of rage, Keanu strangled Sharon. This, of course, led directly to Keanu’s Christmas death.

Walters, who picked up the award for Best Exit as EastEnders gathered up an impressive number of gongs, reflected on this moment in the video interview you can watch above.

Walters told RadioTimes.com: “Yeah, I think that’s the way we pitched it, when me, myself and the director Lance [Kneeshaw], and Letitia Dean, and the writers, when we sat down, we had to work out… the only thing that Keanu ever wanted was to be a dad, and to have a son, Albie, and as soon as that was taken away from him, his whole purpose and his character completely changed within a split second.

“So I think it was a side of Keanu we saw, it was quite a vulnerable side, that was scared, that was feared of losing his child. Angry. It was such a whirlwind of emotions that was going on with Keanu’s character at that time on that stairwell in the Vic, that he just lost character.

“And in that split second when a character loses character, that’s when the character is at his lowest point. And then, that’s obviously what happened with Keanu’s demise after that, so it was very out of character, but I think it was needed for that story to work.”

Of course, the Sixmas storyline was the pinnacle of EastEnders storytelling last year, with the the flash-forward finally paying off. Keanu ended up at the heart of it, with loads of twists and turns for his character. A well deserved Best Exit award for Walters!

Stay tuned for more exclusive intel from the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards in the days ahead.

Danny Walters, who portrayed Keanu on EastEnders until his dramatic exit in the ‘Sixmas’ storyline, revealed that a shocking moment was planned from the start.

During the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards, sponsored by Inspired Villages, Walters divulged details about a key scene where Keanu strangled Sharon in a moment of anger, ultimately leading to his demise during Christmas.

Reflecting on this pivotal moment during an interview, Walters explained that the decision was carefully thought out among himself, the director Lance Kneeshaw, Letitia Dean, and the writers. He emphasized that the loss of his desired fatherhood was the turning point for Keanu’s character, leading to a vulnerable and scared portrayal that ultimately led to his out-of-character actions.

With the Sixmas storyline being a highlight of EastEnders’ narrative in the past year, Walters’ portrayal as Keanu was central to the plot’s twists and turns. His award for Best Exit was well-deserved, solidifying his contribution to the show.

Keep an eye out for more behind-the-scenes insights from the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards in the coming days. Follow us for updates and exclusive content to stay informed about your favorite shows.

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Source: CNN