Bobby Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, who made his first appearance in episode 2557, originally broadcast on 24 July 2003.

Carrington reprised the role in 2017 for a cameo appearance in episode 5582, originally broadcast on 17 October, as part of Jane's exit from the series.

Following his return, Bobby's storylines have included exploring the Islamic faith, being bullied by Dennis Rickman Jnr (Bleu Landau) which leads to his being hospitalised in a racial attack, a feud with his older brother Peter Beale (Dayle Hudson), being infatuated with Dotty Cotton (Milly Zero), becoming a suspect in his father's attack, a relationship with Dana Monroe (Barbara Smith), a friendship with Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier), falling in love with Anna Knight (Molly Rainford), unaware that she is Lucy and Peter's half-sister, a feud with Peter and Anna's mother Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins), being involved in a love triangle with Anna and Freddie, and discovering that Anna had aborted their child, leading to his departure from the square.

Ian's girlfriend and later wife Jane Beale (Laurie Brett), joins the household; she becomes Bobby's stepmother and values him as her own child, increasingly so following an emergency hysterectomy.

Cindy snaps at Ian when Bobby leaves the room and her words convince Jane to confess to Carol the truth of Lucy's death.

Left alone, Cindy then tells her boyfriend Liam Butcher (James Forde), who is Tiffany's brother and Carol's grandson, that Bobby had killed Lucy.

After she regains consciousness, Kathy arrives and Jane lies that she tripped and fell when helping Bobby move the last items from his bedroom.

Ian decides against selling the family restaurant when he comes under pressure from the market traders which means they cannot afford to continue paying Bobby's school fees.

In court, Bobby pleads guilty to causing grievous bodily harm upon Jane with intent and unlawfully killing Lucy.

However, upon returning to Walford, he is not given a warm welcome back by the residents, especially Max, who never forgave him for watching him being wrongly sent to prison for Bobby's crime of killing Lucy, which led to ruining his relationship with his daughters Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) and Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald), ultimately causing Abi's death and Lauren's departure.

Bobby begins to hallucinate Lucy around the Square and in the Beale house, and almost resorts to committing arson in his home, but Max stops him.

After a conversation with Rainie Branning (Tanya Franks), Bobby takes drugs, and wanders onto the train tracks; he is saved by Callum "Halfway" Highway (Tony Clay).

Bobby beings a friendship with Habiba (Rukku Nahar) and Iqra Ahmed (Priya Davdra), who encourage him to embrace Islam, and invite him to celebrate Eid with them.

Peter (now played by Dayle Hudson) returns after being contacted by Kathy, but he struggles to forgive Bobby for murdering Lucy.

He decides to set up a charity named Lucy Beale Foundation, in honour of his deceased sister and is helped by Max, which angers Ian.

Bobby and Dana’s relationship develops and he worries about sleeping with her as he is a virgin and sex outside marriage is a major sin in the Islamic faith.

Aaron is revealed to be an Islamophobe with the intention of bombing the new mosque, and when Bobby discovers this and tells Dana, she refuses to believe him, ending their relationship.

It is revealed that Ian's first wife, and Peter and Lucy's mother, Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins), is still alive, having been presumed dead for 25 years.

Bobby becomes concerned about Anna’s frequent sickness, and after a conversation with Ian, Peter and Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa), he learns that she could be pregnant.

Not to mention enduring the revolving door of his father's love life...Bobby's biological mum, Laura, died in dubious circumstances.

[2] Garry mistakenly believes that Laura's unborn child is his but it is in fact Ian Beale's (Adam Woodyatt) who is oblivious to this information.

[3] An EastEnders insider said in May 2004 "Garry's grown to love Bobby despite all the trouble caused by his night of passion with Ian's wife Laura".

[16] Minimal people knew about the identity of Lucy's killer to avoid any leaks with more members of the cast and crew being informed over the course of the storyline.

[14] Treadwell-Collins sought permission from Carrington's father before agreeing to make Bobby the murderer and told Mark Jefferies of the Daily Mirror that if he had objected to the story, he planned to recast the character again.

[17] Bobby is unaware that he caused the death of his sister, which Treadwell-Collins thought was important because he did not want to make a child an aware murderer.

In the scene, Bobby is featured on footage, filmed by a fellow prisoner, and shown to Jane by Max Branning (Jake Wood) as a threat.

[25] The character was referenced in scenes first broadcast in February 2019 as Ian receives a letter about Bobby's release date, sparking speculation that he could return.

[29] Bobby returns in episode 5937, originally broadcast on 13 June 2019, after being released from prison and is greeted by his grandmother, Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth).

He explained that he wanted to "challenge preconceptions and prejudices" about faith in young people and "demonstrate the positive impact of religion in modern society".

[31] A reporter from the EastEnders website said "We feel for cute-as-a-button Bobby Beale, whose home life is about as stable as Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) in stilettoes after ladies' night at R&R.