Steven Beale

Steven Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Edward Farrell from 1989 to 1990, Stuart Stevens from 1992 to 1998, Edward Savage from 1998 to 2002, and Aaron Sidwell from 2007 to 2008 and again from 2016 to 2017. It was announced on 22 February 2008, that the character would be written out at the end of Sidwell's contract. Sidwell made his on-screen departure on 9 May 2008. On 2 May 2016, it was announced that Sidwell would return to the role. Steven made his return on 27 May 2016. On 9 August 2017, it was announced that Sidwell would leave the show again. Steven made his final exit on 8 September 2017, when the character was killed off during a high-profile stunt week.

In the 1990s, Steven's storylines mostly included his paternity and the ongoing custody battle between his mother, Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins), and his adoptive father, Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt). In the early 2000s, a darker side to adolescent Steven emerged as he began writing poison pen letters to neighbours and blackmailing Ian over his affair with Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks), before moving to New Zealand to be with his biological father. In the late 2000s, Steven's storyline focused on his hostile relationship with his dad and involved stalking Ian and taking him hostage, multiple suicide attempts, and accidentally shooting his stepmother, Jane (Laurie Brett). Steven also briefly dates Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) but struggles with his sexuality and an attraction to Jane's brother Christian Clarke (John Partridge). He also attempts to murder his grandmother, Pat Butcher (Pam St Clement).