EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders could be about to implode one of its biggest secrets of the year on Christmas Day, when Rocky's incriminating letter is finally found.
Viewers know that the truth behind Rocky's true identity has been a ticking timebomb for months now after his scheming niece Dotty concocted a plan to con Sonia out of her inheritance money.
Despite his hopes for a happy family Christmas, Rocky's world will crumble when Stuart Highway rocks up in the morning and innocently hands his confession note to Sonia. Could Rocky's secret be out before they've even had a chance to tuck into the turkey?
That remains to be seen, but we recently caught up with Brian Conley – who plays Rocky – to hear all about those big Christmas episodes, Rocky's future and what scene made him cry.
How did you feel when you learnt Rocky would be a big part of EastEnders' big Christmas episodes?
"I was very honoured. I’m very aware that Christmas is such a big event, the shows are longer, they plough a hell of a ton of money into it, a lot of thought and the stories are building up – they probably get another million people at Christmas. We filmed it all about six weeks ago and I was standing there in a suit with a big coat on and everyone wearing sunglasses – it was a really flukey, hot day. I was thinking, 'are we supposed to pretend it’s Christmas because it’s absolutely boiling'.
"It was very surreal, though, and it’s a wonderful honour. I think I’ll just have to have two Christmases: I’ll have that one and then the real one, that's what Danny Dyer said to me. But it's wonderful to be part of it, knowing how special it is and how these stories over the years have come to a head at that time. It's brilliant."
You’re in the centre of a juicy storyline. What was your reaction when you first read the scripts?
"Just how exciting it was, and yes, it’s been gearing up for some time now. It’s a real page turner and when I was reading it I was like 'Oh my God'. Of course, I do tell my wife but it’s exciting to be very much a part of the show over Christmas and having a really good story that's really meaty. I want to say so much but I can't and that’s what I find difficult as well because I’m rubbish with secrets."
How does Rocky feel about spending Christmas with Sonia and Kathy?
"Rocky always backs himself into a corner where he’s suddenly a bit like Laurel and Hardy. You're thinking, 'Rocky, why didn’t you just say something?' but it’s perpetuated and he’s back into a corner, Sonia has invited him over and he’s making the food, Kathy’s invited him and she’s making the food, they’re both excited and he’s thinking, ‘What am I gonna I do now?’ So then he comes up with another plan. I’d say ‘Why don’t you just sit them down and totally confess as to what’s going on?’ And that's just regarding the food! One thing thing leads to another, though."
Do you think Rocky regrets conning Sonia now, especially after his health scare?
"Yes of course. He is very reflective now, realising he could have lost his life. I think in a moment like that you do sit there and ask what is important. For him, it's this family that he has been a part of and very much wants to be a part of now. I think all the way along he has had a heart, and it doesn’t feel right. In terms of Dotty, what is the point of having this money if you haven’t got family? This is a man who didn’t have a family and he's got one now. He loves them dearly.
"I remember when Sonia had made a lovely meal for Father’s Day, laid it all out even had a Father’s Day card, meanwhile Rocky is getting drunk with Shirley and he forgot. I actually really felt bad and when I read it – I started crying! Rocky is a jack the lad but he has a heart. He was brought into help Dotty and it’s nothing like 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, it’s so full on. There's also the letter and it’s... just been building up for weeks and weeks. He's also got this relationship with Kathy and now thinking how deep it has all gone. He doesn't want to hurt anyone. I think being in hospital has also given him a chance to reflect of how awful he has been. He’s been trying to tell Dotty this, but it's all about to spiral."
Is his goal to get Dotty out the way so she doesn’t reveal anything?
"I think he is more worried about Sandy; she’s a live wire and one thing could easily lead to another. He hasn't wanted to push her over the edge and he will do anything to not ruin everything that he has got. Right from the off, I have been very aware of how it was mapped out a year ago. Rocky found himself in this situation and he’s backed into a corner and he doesn’t want to give any of it up."
Things are pretty sour between Dotty and Rocky over Christmas and in the lead-up. How does he feel about their relationship?
"He is fond of her. The relationships have switched; he's the older mature man and Dotty is the young girl – but really, in terms of the dynamic, it is the other way round. He’s very fond of Dotty in so many ways and he does love her, otherwise he wouldn’t have done this for her in the first place.
"Initially, he thought that he’d come in, do what she wants him to do and go and take a nice share of the money. He's very frustrated with her at the moment but he does love her. He really does."
Stuart finds the note for Sonia on Christmas morning, how does Rocky feel to see it?
"They all thought it had gone, that Dotty had taken it with various spam mail so they never expected this. It's a total surge of anxiety and panic and a real ‘Oh my god, is going to ruin everything' moment. It could ruin Christmas, his relationship and it's all coming to a head. He's desperate for no one to read it. It's total panic."
How will he explain himself to Sonia and Kathy if the truth comes out?
"The only way I can play it is, he can’t go there. I think he’s backed in this corner, gone down this rabbit warren, and for his own health, he can't even think about it. He's thinking one day at a time, he wants to try and get through this bit and then that bit.
"If he sat down and realised the implications of how everything was going to pan out, he might be able to think more clearly. But he’s not thinking about it, he can’t, otherwise it's just going to escalate into him having another heart attack. It's just terrible."
Are Rocky’s feelings for Kathy genuine?
"Yes, he loves her to bits. Who wouldn’t? She’s a real diamond. We gel as actors and I think on screen, he’s distraught. He loves her. When she gave him the investment money, he thought ‘God, what am I doing?’ I hope it's obvious cos he genuinely loves her to bits. He doesn’t want to hurt her."
Would you prefer truth to stay hidden or do you relish the idea of a big Christmas reveal scene?
"I relish it! I’d love it and I am getting better at keeping things secret. We kept it quiet that I was Tom Cotton and when it came out the internet lit up – I loved it! I love that there is a bit of darkness there, everyone knows me as a comedian/entertainer, everyone assumes 'He’s funny, that’s it, that’s Rocky' but I would go darker.
"It's a lot easier being dark, if you come in o a room being fun and happy and doing quips – you’ve got to get a feel of the place and have your comedic timing. But if you come in evil, you haven’t got to do anything. You just come in, deep voice and go, 'Shaaaat up!'
"It's a lot easier acting that than being funny. I love the revelations, it's been a long time coming and think Rocky deserves his comeuppance now. I'm glad they have given Rocky some other sides, which is great to perpetuate the character and move him forward. I love it!"
Can Rocky be redeemed and stay on the Square once the truth is out?
"It will take a long time to recover from this on all sides. He keeps telling Dotty how wrong it is, especially after his heart attack and he's said that he doesn’t want to do it anymore. It's obvious that he does care.
"Once it comes to a head, you will realise how much he cares and how much he realises what a terrible thing he has done. Can he come back from it though? Well, he probably can’t live at Sonia’s for a while. I think she’d have the right hump! So would Kathy. But once again, that’s great. You need that. There’s no point it being 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 an honour! I couldn’t believe it. We all know of Nasty Nick… how many years ago was that? I’ve done charity things with him. It's so nice be part of Dot and Nick's family. It's incredible. It's not as if he’s just turned up and you’re a brand new character – he's got some big history. It meant a lot that I’m part of that history, Dot and Nick, wow!"
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 an 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 think he’d make a good cup of tea for Dot and he’d be constantly saying to Nick, 'Don’t do this, we don’t need this, you’re going to upset Dot, she ain’t going to like this'. And then he'd be like. 'Alright Dot, have another fag. No Nick, don’t do this', you know?"
Do you have any other favourite 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 that moment you see Den give the divorce papers to Ange? I’m stood there with that little phone to the side and that dooberry on the stairs thinking that over 30 million people had watched this once. It was such an iconic moment. I am aware of how important Christmas is to EastEnders and what an honour it to have a nice storyline. I’m so grateful."
What’s planned for the Conley Christmas. Will you be gathering around the TV and watching EastEnders together?
"Yes of course , and in the lead-up and after Christmas Day. I usually do pantomime and my family come down to Southend. Southend means a lot to me as my mum and dad met in there on a beano where you used to get a little coach in London – you’ll all get on it down to Southend, and they met on this.
"But of course I’ll be watching it. I genuinely am honoured to be part of it and I have to say everyone is so lovely. When you are given scripts constantly, they know that the crew so they are very encouraging and there is no vibe if you mess a line up. Once I realised that I just grew with that as we’re all part of something we really care about. It’s lovely and I’m not just saying that."
EastEnders will air a 45-minute long episode at 9.45pm on Christmas Day on BBC One.
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