Yahoo News EastEnders star speaks out on Callum story change
EastEnders star Tony Clay has backed the decision to change storyline plans for his character Callum Highway.
Kate Oates, who oversees EastEnders as the BBC's Head Of Continuing Drama, has confirmed that she scrapped plans for a longer-term storyline focusing on Callum and Whitney Dean's desire for a baby.
When Oates took charge of the Walford soap last year, she came up with an alternative plan for Callum to question his sexuality and become a new love interest for Ben Mitchell. The move has paid off, with 'Ballum' attracting a big fanbase in recent months.
Speaking to Digital Spy and other media at an EastEnders press day, Tony explained: "I think it completely works. Callum is a character who's got so much to him and so much to explore. That's why it's such a joy to play.
Related: EastEnders star Max Bowden calls for Ben and Callum to get together
"Since Kate and [executive producer] Jon Sen came in and we talked about it, it's evolved from there. Callum's attitude before was: 'I've got to have a baby, I've got to settle down, I've got to be a man'.
"It was that toxic masculinity he's been surrounded with – due to his dad, his brother, and whoever else – it's always been there for him."
He continued: "Callum and Ben have both come from troubled backgrounds in their own ways. They've both taken very different paths, but now they've met at the right age, at the right sort of time and at the right moment in their lives.
"It's such a joy to work with Max Bowden and to have the dynamic between the characters. They are so different and they are worlds apart on so many things, but equally there's that thing that they come back to, which stems from their dads. I think it's such an interesting thing to see.
Related: EastEnders return for Bianca Jackson to spark a new year-long storyline
"I think Callum also brings out a side to Ben that he knows is in there. He looks at Ben and goes: 'All this anger. I understand that, I've been surrounded by that in the Army, with people pretending to be who they aren't. There is a lovely person inside of you'. I think he tries to bring out the part of Ben that he loves as well."
Next week's EastEnders episodes see Callum and Whitney's wedding day arrive, but the big question is whether they'll go through with the ceremony.
Asked whether Callum is fooling himself into believing there's a 'happily-ever-after' with Whitney, Tony replied: "I think happily for him might be the wrong word!
"But I think in Callum's mind, he's considering what his dad might think, what his brother might think, what people around him might think, and what he thinks of the world's interpretation of him.
"I think he feels: 'That's how I should be. I'm going to marry her, we're going to have two kids, we're going to move to the suburbs, and everything's going to be fine'.
"Equally, in his heart and in his happiness, it's not right and he needs to be true to who he is."
EastEnders kicks off the wedding week on Monday, September 2 at 8pm on BBC One.
Read more news, spoilers and gossip on our EastEnders homepage
Digital Spy Soap Scoop video – hit play below for all the latest EastEnders spoilers, as Mel plans to flee with Hunter, and Callum has something to tell Whitney ahead of their wedding.
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