Colin Russell List of EastEnders characters (1986)

colin russell, played michael cashman, middle-class yuppie described amiable chap kind heart ends being used less considerate locals. walford s first on-screen gay resident , when sexuality revealed causes shockwaves around square. colin eastenders first homosexual character. introduced in august 1986, colin 1 of more popular characters in years of programme. @ first audience , residents of walford kept in dark fact colin gay. changed end of year, @ time colin acquired young boyfriend named barry clark (gary hailes). colin 1 of controversial characters of time – because gay-orientated content still relatively rare on prime-time television during mid-1980s. gay characters existed farcical, camp parodies, created purely comic relief, such mr humphries in situation comedy, being served?.