Peter Beale

Peter Beale
Ben Hardy as Peter Beale (2013)
Eastenders character
Portrayed by	Francis Brittin-Snell (1993–1996) Alex Stevens (1997–1998) Joseph Shade (1998–2004) James Martin (2004–2006) Thomas Law (2006–2010) Ben Hardy (2013–2015)
Duration	1993–2010, 2013–2015
First appearance	Episode 926 16 December 1993
Last appearance	Episode 5022 24 February 2015
Introduced by	Leonard Lewis (1993) Jane Harris (1997) Lorraine Newman (2013)
Classification	Former; regular
Profile
Occupation	Market trader
Family Beale Father Ian Beale Mother Cindy Beale Stepmother Laura Beale (2001–2004) Jane Beale (2007–2011, 2015–) Sisters Lucy Beale Half-brothers Steven Beale Bobby Beale Half-sisters Cindy Williams Sons Louie Beale Grandmothers Kathy Beale Uncles Ben Mitchell David Wicks Nieces Beth Williams Other relatives Pauline Fowler

Peter Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders who has been played by six actors since being introduced in 1993. Francis Brittin-Snell portrayed the role from 1993 to 1996, followed by Alex Stevens from 1997 to 1998 and Joseph Shade from 1998 to 2004. James Martin took over and played the role from 2004 to 2006. He was played by Thomas Law from 2006 until 2010 when the character departed the series. On 19 April 2013, it was announced that Peter would return, this time played by Ben Hardy who made his first appearance on 7 June 2013. Hardy announced his departure from the role on 19 November 2014, making his final on screen appearance on 24 February 2015.

Peter and his twin sister Lucy (Eva Brittin-Snell) are born to Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins). He is named after his paternal grandfather, Pete Beale (Peter Dean), who dies on the day he is born.

Peter is brought up by both his parents until 1996, when Cindy absconds with him and his half brother Steven (Stuart Stevens), fearing she will be arrested for attempting to have Ian killed. Cindy takes him and Steven to Italy where Ian finds them in 1997 and takes him and Steven home, assisted by Phil (Steve McFadden) and Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp). Cindy wins custody of the children in 1998 but is arrested directly after the court case for the attempted murder of Ian. The children stay with Ian while Cindy is remanded in custody but dies during childbirth. Her baby daughter Cindy Williams, survives and Cindy's sister, Gina Williams (Nicola Cowper), brings her home. Peter grows up with several women acting as his stepmother and has another half brother, Bobby Beale (Kevin Curran), in 2003. Peter is injured in a fair ground collapse in 2004 but is saved from the wreckage by Den Watts (Leslie Grantham) and Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman). Ian meets his fourth wife, Jane Collins (Laurie Brett), at this fair.