Carl White
Carl White is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Daniel Coonan. He first appears in the 4660th episode, originally broadcast in the United Kingdom on 20 June 2013. Carl is the ex-fiancé of Kirsty Branning, and his storylines include tracking down cash owed to him by Derek Branning – which Ian Beale has used to open a restaurant; trying to win Kirsty back; a relationship with Roxy Mitchell ; his feuds with Roxy's cousin Phil and Derek's brother Max ; blackmailing Ian for money; and developing a conflict with Roxy's sister Ronnie that ultimately results in his downfall. He became the show's main antagonist up until his death on 1 January 2014. The character was axed in September 2013 and departed in the episode first broadcast in the UK on 1 January 2014, a joint broadcast of episodes 4775 and 4776, after being killed by Ronnie.
Development
Casting
Coonan's casting as Carl was announced on 6 May 2013, when it was revealed that the character is Kirsty Branning's ex-boyfriend and has been in prison, where he had shared a cell with Derek Branning. Coonan said of his casting, "EastEnders has been a part of my life since I was 12 years old. I even remember talking about the storylines in school playgrounds in Tottenham and I am very happy and proud to now be a small part of its life." Executive producer Lorraine Newman said: "It's wonderful to have Daniel Coonan joining us in Walford to play Carl White. Oozing confidence and with a dangerous edge, will Kirsty be able to resist his bad boy charms for long, or can Max Branning|Max save her from the lure of the dark side?" This is Coonan's second role in EastEnders, as he played David Priors in 2011. Coonan said the four-episode role helped him prepare for a bigger role in the programme, though describing his first day on set as Carl, he said, "it still hits you when you walk on to the Square for the very first time. It's like walking into your TV." Coonan filmed his first scene on the Bridge Street market set. Heat reported that Carl's introduction was part of a "rescue plan" to increase ratings for EastEnders, especially with the announced departures of popular characters Tanya Branning, Jack Branning and Michael Moon, saying "with ever-dwindling ratings and an unusually bare trophy cabinet, producers have been forced to plan some major shake-ups in an attempt to revive the ailing drama with new characters, returning familiar faces and exciting storylines." Coonan later said of being cast, "When they offered the part of Carl to me, I thought about it as long as it takes to blink your eyelids. I knew it would be a great character and fun to play. Something like this can massively raise your profile. I'm beaming into thousands of people's homes four times a week." Coonan was originally contracted to appear in 28 episodes over a six-month period, but instead filmed over 60 episodes. After Danny Dyer was cast as Mick Carter in the show, he revealed that he was approached to play Carl.Characterisation
Carl is characterised as an unemployed man who has spent five and a half years in prison for drug offences. His backstory on the EastEnders website states that he grew up on a tough south London estate with his brothers. Upon his announcement, he was described as confident, dangerous and charming, while many news reports referred to him as a "bad boy" character. Coonan called the character a dark horse, very clever, manipulative and "slippery", and said that Carl is "exciting to play" because he is unpredictable, adding that you should always expect the unexpected with Carl. He compared the character to other villains from the series, saying he is "right up there with them." Inside Soap called Carl "nasty" and "evil", and said that he fills the "super-villain" role last taken by Derek, hoping that he would "shake the Square to its foundations." Heat said of Carl, "there's a new baddie in town and he's proper scary." Soaplife reported that Carl would be the show's "toughest bad guy yet". Digital Spy called him "cunning and ruthless".Coonan hoped that Carl would be as devious as original villain Den Watts, hoping for "spicy storylines" for his character, who is "a bad guy" and "pretty nasty" with "a dark way of going about things." However, he hoped that Carl would have redeeming qualities and that he would not be "a total arch-villain". He also compared Carl to William Shakespeare's Iago, and said Carl is a film fan who would compare himself to Al Pacino in films such as Scarface and The Godfather. He also said Carl presents "different fronts to different people" and opined that there is "a bit of nice in him", but he likes to dominate, make money and have influence, and would not be good until he achieves that. He wondered if Carl would be capable of settling down and starting a family. On playing a villain, Coonan said, "It is good fun playing the bad guys. They are the always the best to play. They do not care how people perceive them. They do not have the normal social restrictions." He said that Carl is "slightly psychotic" and is "the sort of person who finds it genuinely heartwarming to see people suffer". In October 2013, Coonan said that Carl had been "an absolute bastard" during his six months in the show.
Carl's profile on the official EastEnders website says he is "seductive" and can draw people to him, especially women, and can easily fool people. He can read people quickly, understanding what they want, and can tell who has power, but is waiting for a moment when he can take it for himself because he enjoys having power. He rarely gets into fights, is unsympathetic and angry, becoming suspicious of everybody. He is entrepreneurial, pragmatic and ingenious, and could have been a successful businessman if he did not choose a life of crime, though it was the only way he knew to get women, cars and money. He will do whatever he can to get what he wants. In August 2013, Coonan said, "I wouldn't mess with a man like Carl—I would stay indoors a lot more if I'd got on the wrong of someone like him. He's someone who doesn't care and who'll go to any lengths to take people out." In the run-up to Carl's departure, All About Soap called him "a horrible bloke". Heat said Carl "thinks he's hard as nails, but compared to , he's just a big old pussycat."
Storylines and relationships
Carl is brought to Walford by Bianca Butcher after she finds his telephone number in her uncle Derek's belongings. Derek had stolen Carl's money and Carl wants it back, though it has been found by Ian Beale following Derek's death, and he has spent it. Coonan said, "the only way Carl knows how to get that cash back is to threaten people." He said that getting the money back is his first mission in Walford. Digital Spy said that Carl "leaves Ian Beale fearing for his life".Carl is Kirsty's ex-boyfriend, and Coonan explained that they were in a relationship before he went to prison. Carl was in his early 20s and Kirsty was 16 when they met and he became obsessive of her. Their relationship was based on hedonism and excess, rather than tenderness. When he went to prison, Kirsty promised to wait for him to be released, but she realised their relationship was toxic and ceased all contact. She then went on to marry Max. Carl is still in love with Kirsty, believing her to be "the only woman for him" and his second mission in Walford is to get her back. Coonan said this would cause problems between Carl and Max. He later said that "In Carl's head, he's coming in on a white horse to save Kirsty from a bad marriage", and explained that while Carl was in prison he focussed on Kirsty, and she "become an object of this freedom he was dreaming about. Now he sees she's poodling after Max and that he isn't treating her right." However, he thought that Kirsty may not want to reunite with Carl because "he's not the type of guy who's just going to change overnight" and he is probably not "the knight in shining armour" he thinks he is. Coonan went on to say that Carl would treat Kirsty "like a goddess" but would probably have a problem with her independence, and he would want to provide for her, being "old-fashioned and a bit misguided", and they would have a "fiery" relationship because they are both "strong-willed". Kierston Wareing, who plays Kirsty, opined that her character is more suited to Carl than to Max, and hoped they could be a "manipulative, power couple".
In July 2013, Carl's mother Nora White is introduced for a single episode, played by Lynn Farleigh, when he and Kirsty visit her in a nursing home. Inside Soap said that Nora is "pure, unbridled evil" and her introduction might show why Carl is a menace, giving viewers a "glimpse into twisted upbringing". They said there is tension between Carl and Nora, and compared her digging her fingernails into his hand to his burning of Ian's hand, asking "has Carl learnt everything he knows from his evil mum?" Coonan said that Nora is "dominating and horrible" and shows that Carl has "demons within his own family" and a "troubled background".
Inside Soap hoped that Carl would "give notorious bad boy Phil Mitchell a run for his money", and Coonan said that he had filmed scenes with Steve McFadden, who plays Phil, saying that "You can only have so many alpha males in one place before it kicks off!" On 11 July 2013, it was reported that Carl and Phil would be involved in a "massive car accident which leaves both men unconscious", caused by Carl. The storyline involves a flipped car and a helicopter, from which a birds-eye view of the crash scene is seen. It is reported to have cost £1 million to make. The crash was filmed over two days and was directed by Michael Owen Morris, who had to create what was originally scripted as "car hits wall" and compared it to a James Bond film. Newman said the crash was "A suitably explosive start to a jam-packed autumn and winter full of love, romance and reprisals", while a show insider said, "The crash is going to change things for many residents in Albert Square. There will be serious repercussions and with the twists and turns we have planned for the aftermath, everything might not be as it seems."
Coonan spoke to David Brown from Radio Times about the crash, where it was said that Carl would "show just how evil he can be" by causing it. Coonan said that Carl causes the crash because he wants to depose Phil as "top boy" in Albert Square, saying it is "such an insane thing to do. You get to see how nuts Carl is. He doesn't care if Phil dies yet he risks damaging himself as well. He realises he will have to get rid of him." He also said that Phil is a "major barrier" for Carl getting what he wants, so he could either go into business with Phil or eliminate him. On filming the crash, Coonan explained that he was inside the car when the glass was detonated, and he suffered cuts on his leg and hand. Brown said the crash looks "visceral and intense" on screen, and said that Phil is not scared of Carl because he sees him as a "wannabe" and a "young pretender", but added that "there is obviously more to than realises."
On 3 September 2013, it was reported in the Daily Star that Carl would be buried in a shallow grave by Phil and Max. Danny Walker from the Daily Mirror said, "if you try and kill a Mitchell and blame Max Branning for cutting the brakes, it will have repercussions."
Coonan revealed that in the run-up to his departure, Carl becomes a "bit of a lone wolf" after giving up trying to win Kirsty back, and said he has no friends because he has threatened everyone. Coonan shares scenes with actresses Samantha Womack, who plays Ronnie Mitchell, and Rita Simons, who plays Roxy Mitchell, but the actor explained that both characters realise that Carl is "a bit too dark to get involved with" and he is "probably going a bit mad because he can't get Kirsty back". It was reported on 1 December 2013 that Roxy would "seek solace" in Carl after her marriage is annulled, but Shane Richie, who plays Roxy's ex-husband Alfie Moon, said Roxy is doing it because she has "her freedom back—and she'll be throwing it in Alfie's face", despite being warned off Carl by Ronnie and Phil. Soaplife said that Roxy is "hooked on the excitement of being with Carl." Ronnie and Carl then start a feud, and it was reported that it would "come to a head with some dark twists", and that "One last showdown then sees Ronnie get rid of Carl forever."