On Christmas Day, when Rocky’s incriminating letter is eventually unearthed, EastEnders could be about to implode one of its biggest secrets of the year.
The truth of Rocky’s true identity has been a ticking timebomb for months since his cunning niece Dotty devised a scheme to defraud Sonia of her inheritance money.
Despite his best intentions for a perfect family Christmas, Rocky’s world will come crashing down when Stuart Highway shows up in the morning and hands Sonia his confession note. Could Rocky’s secret be out before they’ve even finished their turkey?
That remains to be seen, but we just spoke with Brian Conley, who plays Rocky, about the upcoming Christmas episodes, Rocky’s future, and which sequence made him weep.
How did you feel when you learned Rocky would be a big part of EastEnders‘ big Christmas episodes?
“It was a great honor for me. I’m quite aware that Christmas is such a huge deal; the shows are longer, they invest a lot of money, they put a lot of care into the stories, and they probably get another million people around Christmas. We shot it all about six weeks ago, and I was dressed up in a suit with a large coat on and everyone was wearing sunglasses since it was such a hot, windy day. ‘Are we supposed to pretend it’s Christmas because it’s absolutely boiling?’ I wondered.
“But it was bizarre, and it’s an incredible honor. Danny Dyer said to me, “I believe I’ll just have to have two Christmases: that one and then the actual one.” But it’s fantastic to be a part of it, knowing how unique it is and how these stories have built up through time to that point. It’s fantastic.”
You’re in the center of a juicy storyline. What was your reaction when you first read the scripts?
“Just how thrilling that was, and yeah, it had been building for quite some time. It’s a page-turner, and I kept thinking to myself, ‘Oh my God,’ as I read it. Of course, I tell my wife, but it’s thrilling to be a big part of the show around the holidays and have a really terrific, meaty tale. I want to say so much but can’t, which is difficult for me because I’m terrible with secrets.”
How does Rocky feel about spending Christmas with Sonia and Kathy?
“Rocky is usually backed into a corner, and he looks a little like Laurel and Hardy. ‘Rocky, why didn’t you simply say something?’ you wonder. Sonia has invited him over and he’s making the food, Kathy has invited him over and she’s making the food, they’re both excited, and he’s wondering to himself, ‘What am I going to do now?’ As a result, he devises a new strategy. ‘Why don’t you just sit them down and completely admit what’s going on?’ I’d say. And that’s just in terms of food! However, one thing leads to another.”
Do you think Rocky regrets conning Sonia now, especially after his health scare?
“Of certainly,” she says. He’s becoming more thoughtful now that he realizes he could have died. In a situation like that, I believe you should sit down and consider what is most important. For him, it’s this family, which he’s been a part of and continues to want to be a part of. I believe he has had a heart the entire time, and it doesn’t feel right. What’s the use of having all this money if you don’t have family, Dotty? This is a man who grew up without a family and now has one. He is devoted to them.
“I remember when Sonia had prepared a magnificent Father’s Day lunch, laid it all out, and even had a Father’s Day card, but Rocky was getting drunk with Shirley and he forgot. I was in a foul mood, and when I read it, I burst out laughing! Rocky may be a jackass, but he has a heart. He’s been called in to assist Dotty, and it’s not what he expected.
“He thought he’d be there for a little while and then he’d be gone with a cut of the money, but now he’s in too deep and has fallen in love with so many people.”
Is the guilt of what he’s doing starting to take a toll on his health?
“Yes, the anxiety is all-consuming. There’s also the letter, which has been accumulating for weeks and weeks. He also has this bond with Kathy, which he is now realizing is quite profound. He doesn’t want to cause anyone any harm. I believe that being in the hospital has allowed him to reflect on how bad he has been. He’s been trying to inform Dotty about it, but things are about to get out of hand.”
Is his goal to get Dotty out the way so she doesn’t reveal anything?
“I believe he is more concerned about Sandy; she is a high-wire act, and anything might happen at any time. He doesn’t want to push her over the edge, and he’ll go to any length to keep what he has. I’ve been quite aware of how it was laid out a year ago from the beginning. Rocky has found himself in this circumstance, forced into a corner, and he refuses to give up any of his possessions.”
Things are pretty sour between Dotty and Rocky over Christmas and in the lead-up. How does he feel about their relationship?
“He likes her a lot.” The relationships have flipped; he’s the older, more experienced man, and Dotty is the young girl – but the dynamic is actually the other way around. He adores Dotty in so many ways, and he truly loves her; otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths for her.
“Initially, he assumed he’d come in, do what she wanted, and then go with a nice chunk of the money. He’s annoyed with her right now, yet he still loves her. He genuinely does.”
Stuart finds the note for Sonia on Christmas morning, how does Rocky feel to see it?
“They all assumed it vanished, that Dotty had grabbed it along with a slew of spam emails, so this was unexpected. It’s a complete rush of fear and terror, with a real sense of ‘Oh my gosh, this is going to wreck everything. It has the potential to ruin Christmas, as well as his relationship, and it’s all coming to a climax. He’s hoping no one will read it. It’s complete panic.”
How will he explain himself to Sonia and Kathy if the truth comes out?
“The only way I can play it is for him not to be able to go there.” I believe he’s cornered himself, gone down this rabbit hole, and he can’t even think about it for his own good. He’s taking things one day at a time, hoping to get through this and then that.
“He might be able to think more clearly if he sat down and realized the consequences of how everything was going to turn out.” But he’s not thinking about it because he can’t; else, it’ll spiral into another heart attack. It’s really dreadful.”
Are Rocky’s feelings for Kathy genuine?
“Yes, he is madly in love with her. Who wouldn’t want that? She is a true gem. We work well together as performers, and I believe he’s distressed on screen. He is smitten with her. ‘God, what am I doing?’ he wondered as she handed him the investment money. I’m hoping it’s clear because he actually adores her. He doesn’t want to cause her any harm.”
Would you prefer truth to stay hidden or do you relish the idea of a big Christmas reveal scene?
“I adore it!” I’d be thrilled, and I’m becoming better at keeping secrets. We kept the fact that I was Tom Cotton a secret, and when it was revealed, the internet went crazy – I loved it! Everyone knows me as a comedian/entertainer, and everyone assumes ‘He’s hilarious, that’s it, that’s Rocky,’ but I’d go darker.
“It’s a lot simpler being dark, but if you walk into a room being cheerful and happy and making quips, you have to acquire a feel for the area and have your comedic timing.” But if you come in as a bad guy, you don’t have to do anything. You just walk in and say, ‘Shaaaat up!’ in a deep voice.
“It’s a lot easier to act than it is to be humorous. I love the discoveries; they’ve been a long time coming, and I believe Rocky has finally gotten his comeuppance. I’m delighted they’ve given Rocky some more aspects to play with, as it helps to keep the character alive and moving forward. It’s fantastic!”
Can Rocky be redeemed and stay on the Square once the truth is out?
“On all fronts, it will take a long time to recover.” He continually tells Dotty how wrong she is, especially since his heart attack, and he has stated that he no longer wants to do it. It’s clear that he is concerned.
“When it all comes to a head, you’ll see how much he cares and how much he realizes what he’s done is bad. But will he be able to recover? Well, he won’t be able to stay at Sonia’s for long. She’d have the perfect hump, in my opinion! Kathy would agree. But, one more, that’s fantastic. You’ll require it. It’s pointless to be all rosy.”
Could Rocky make new friends?
“I probably can’t say, can I? I will say that there are other friendships on the horizon, so that’s nice.”
What does it feel like being part of the Cotton family?
“What a privilege! I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Nasty Nick is a name we’re all familiar with… How long has it been since it happened? I’ve volunteered with him in the past. It’s wonderful to be a member of Dot and Nick’s family. It’s fantastic. It’s not like he’s just appeared and you’re a completely new character — he’s got a lot of baggage. Dot and Nick, wow! It meant a lot to me to be a part of that history.”
But Rocky is not your average Cotton, he has a conscience…
“Yes, he does, especially leading up to Christmas. Nick did some bad things. Dot is very religious. There’s air with Dot, but I think he’s a lot nicer than Nick for sure.”
How would he get on with Dot and Nick?
“I suppose he’d pour Dot a nice cup of tea and keep telling Nick, ‘Don’t do this, we don’t need this, you’re going to upset Dot, she ain’t going to like this.’ Then he’d say something like. ‘OK, Dot, have another cigarette.’ ‘No, Nick, don’t do it,’ you understand.”
Do you have any other favorite Walford Christmases of the past?
“The very first day I was there, I went in for a fitting and asked if I could just go onto the set as I knew my second scene was going to be in The Vic. I made an absolute beeline for those stairs round the back.
“You know when you saw Den handing Ange the divorce papers? I’m standing there with that little phone at my side and the dooberry on the stairwell, thinking that this had been seen by almost 30 million people. It was such a memorable occasion. I understand how important Christmas is to EastEnders, and what a privilege it is to be a part of such a wonderful plot. I’m quite appreciative.”
What’s planned for the Conley Christmas. Will you be gathering around the TV and watching EastEnders together?
“Of course, and in the days leading up to and following Christmas Day.” My family and I usually perform a pantomime in Southend. My mother and father met in Southend on a beano, where you used to get a little coach in London and everyone would board and ride down to Southend, and they met on this.
“But, of course, I’ll be there to watch it. I feel truly privileged to be a part of it, and everyone is so wonderful. When you’re continually given scripts, they know you’re part of the crew, so they’re extremely supportive, and you won’t get a vibe if you botch up a line-up. I just evolved with it after I realized that we’re all part of something we care about. I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s amazing.”
EastEnders will air a 45-minute long episode at 9.45 pm on Christmas Day on BBC One.