EastEnders legends look unrecognisable in decades-old throwback snap
EastEnders viewers have loved the rollercoaster romance between Patrick Trueman and Yolande Trueman that has been at the heart of many a Walford storyline over the last 20 years, and were thrilled to discover it is not the first time the two actors who play them have worked together.
Rudolph Walker CBE and Angela Wynter, who play Patrick and Yolande, were previously on stage together for a production of Meetings by Mustapha Matura, at the Hampstead Theatre in London back in 1982 and a photo of them together resurfaced this week.
The play tells the story of Hugh and Jean, a middle class Trinidadian couple with busy lifestyles who are drifting apart as they both focus on their careers. Things change with the arrival of a new maid, Elsa, who fills the kitchen with all the food Hugh has been craving.
In the production, Rudolph played Hugh, Angela was Elsa and the role of Hugh’s wife was performed by Corinne Skinner Carter – who EastEnders fans will recognise as the actress who played Patrick’s ex-wife Audrey on the soap between 2000 and 2001. Her character was killed off – she died of a brain haemorrhage – and it was her funeral that first brought Patrick to Albert Square.
Fans rushed to social media to comment on the 42 year old photo of Rudolph and Angela, with one writing: “Wow. That pic. Absolutely wonderful actors. Eastenders is so lucky to have them. Angela has been phenomenal this year.” A second commented: “Great actors. Every scene they’re in, they put so much emotion,” while another added: “Beautiful before and beautiful today.”
Both Rudolph and Angela have had their share of dramatic storylines during their time in Walford. In the 23 years since he joined the soap, Rudolph’s character Patrick reconciled with both his adoptive and biological sons, he had an affair with Pat, he was assaulted in his own shop and married, divorced and then reunited with Yolande.
Angela joined the cast in 2003 as Patrick’s love interest, and her character Yolande has endured racism and a feud with Pat before she left the soap in 2008, divorcing Patrick. She returned in 2017 for two guest appearances, and then rejoined the cast last year.
Since then, Angela has had a tough storyline following Yolande’s sexual assault by Pastor Clayton, and her decision to report him to the police. In May this year, the actress spoke to the press, as reported by Radio Times, about what it was like filming the episode in which Yolande told Patrick about her assault that featured just her and Rudolph onscreen.
"I feel very comfortable with Rudolph – he’s my brother, my friend, my uncle, he’s everybody!” she said. “There’s a bit of every relative I have in him. We’ve known each other for so many years. I played his maid first, when I was a young girl in a play, then I played his daughter in a TV movie, and then I came to play his girlfriend and then wife at EastEnders.”
"It’s a long relationship of love and respect, and I could play any character with him. There is a deep friendship between us; we trust each other and have each other’s back. It’s all very natural with him."
