EastEnders' Joel star Max Murray admits 'challenges' over controversial storyline

EastEnders' Max Murray admits his ongoing Joel storyline has been "challenging" to navigate.

The teenager in recent months has been vocal about his feelings towards women, believing that women are simply around for reproduction and are the inferior gender. It's Joel's social media use which has escalated his views, with the character objectifying women and branding Lily Slater a "sket" for having a baby while pregnant.

But speaking to the Mirror on the red carpet at the National Television Awards, Max, 18, said: "It's challenging, but it's a joy to work with these amazing actors, who I look up to very much," as he looked at his on-screen dad, Ross, played by Alex Walkinshaw and step-mum, Vicki Fowler, played by Alice Haig.

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"It wouldn't work without Max being brilliant; you've got to have a young actor who can take it on, he's been so brave and fearless with the way he's taken on the character," Alice told us.

Alex, who previously appeared on Holby City added: "100 per cent commitment is what you need. And trust. That's one thing that the three of us have had since day one, we all look after each other.

"If you're not enjoying it, if you think he (Max) is terrible as a human being, he's doing his job right, that's exactly what we want to do. Because we're all actors, telling a story that will hopefully hit with people that either want to be entertained by it, learn something from it or notice something.

"With our leading man, leading the way, selling the story the way he's doing it, it makes our lives a lot easier." Reflecting on Joel's social media influences, which is evident in the real world, with the rise of creators such as Andrew Tate, Max admits that it's a "big responsibility" to demonstrate the challenges young men are facing on and off screens nowadays.

"It's a big topic at the minute," he said, adding: "It's a lot to get stuck into, but I've done the absolute best I can, with such an amazing team to look after me, it's been as easy as it can be playing somebody like that."

But Alex teased that "it always gets better" as there's set to be more drama unfolding between Joel. Recently, Vicki stood up to Joel after the teen made a string of sexist comments – but she was left speechless when he retaliated and explained she needed a "proper slapping" after claiming that Vicki had treated Ross like a "doormat" and had apparently been tearing him down.

Alice, however, dropped an almighty Doof Doof and hinted that there's more to this storyline than had previously met the eye. When asked about the "proper slapping" bombshell and whether Vicki will tell Ross, Alice told us: "Hopefully she can do it before it's too late…"

But what could this mean for Joel, Vicki and Ross? While details are yet to emerge of the upcoming storyline, fans can expect to see Joel's controversial views continue to shock Walford residents, as well as viewers at home.

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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