Christmas killing for EastEnders

Reports have emerged that EastEnders character Paul Trueman will not have such a happy Christmas this year.

11:57 29 October 2004

Reports have emerged that EastEnders character Paul Trueman will not have such a happy Christmas this year.

There are plans to kill off the character in the Christmas Day special, in an attempt to boost flagging ratings.

Actor Gary Beadle, who plays Paul, said he asked bosses to finish him off in a particularly gruesome way.

According to The Sun, Beadle said: "I won't be coming back. The door is firmly shut."

The 38-year-old actor got the axe back in May after the soap's producers felt the character had run out of steam.

Speaking about his final storyline, Beadle said: "I wasn't happy with the subject matter but the execution of the story is brilliant. You find out a lot about Paul before he goes."

It comes only a couple of weeks after the axing of an entire family. Dubbed too "dull", the square's Asian family, the Ferreiras, will be leaving in the near future.