Following the traditional credit sequence, the show faded to black with the words: ‘In loving memory of Tony Caunter, 1937 – 2025’ emblazoned across the screen.

His loving family had previously announced his passing in a statement: ‘It is with enormous sadness that we bring the curtain down on our wonderful and hugely loved father, Tony Caunter, who died peacefully yesterday evening, just eight days after his beloved wife of 63 years, Fran, also passed away.

‘Dad was 88 years old. After a long and fulfilling life on and off screen and stage, Tony leaves a daughter and three sons, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.’

‘We would like to thank the NHS staff at Eastbourne District General Hospital for their incredible care during his final hours, and to everyone at Eastbourne Gardens nursing home for the care and compassion they have given dad over the past two months.’ The family brought their statement to a close by requesting privacy ‘at this extremely difficult time’.

EastEnders themselves made a statement in the wake of Tony’s passing.

‘It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of Tony Caunter. Tony will forever be loved and respected by everyone at EastEnders for his warmth, kindness and humour as well as being greatly remembered by all those at home who instantly took Roy to their hearts.

‘Roy will always be remembered for his great love of Pat, despite him famously declaring his distaste in her choice of earrings, which gave us all one of Walford’s greatest love affairs. Tony will never be forgotten by all those who worked alongside him for many years and everyone at EastEnders sends their love and condolences to Tony’s family and friends.’

Roy Evans’ time in Walford

A widowed car dealer, Roy arrived alongside hapless son, Barry (Shaun Williamson) and immediately became attracted to business partner, David Wicks’ (Michael French) mother, Pat Butcher (Pam St. Clement), who’s husband, Frank (Mike Reid) had recently disappeared.

Frank’s return on Christmas Day created a wrinkle in the developing romance and, though Pat had a one night stand with Frank, she ultimately chose Roy and the two got married.

The flame between Pat and Frank was never fully extinguished, though, and the two fell into an affair, which was ultimately exposed by Frank’s wife, Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor) and, although Roy remained with Pat, their relationship never recovered. During a furious argument with her in 2003, Roy suffered a fatal heart attack.

Upon his decision to depart the show, Tony described his time on the show as: ‘the happiest period of my career. We felt we’d done enough with Roy, and it was time for me to move on. I will miss working alongside my screen family and all the team at EastEnders, but I look forward to trying out some new roles.’

Then-executive producer, Louise Berridge said of his departure: ‘The character of Roy has been invaluable to us. He provides a centre of stability it will be hard to replace, and represents a sense of values we must make sure we retain. I agree that it’s time for the character to move on, but we will all miss Tony very much. Apart from being always the consummate professional, he is also a really lovely man, and we all wish him every success in whatever he turns his hand to next.’

Seven years later, Louise described her regret at having killed Roy off: ‘His personality didn’t generate story material, but in his case he was also beginning to stifle Pat. John Yorke and I share a great passion for the old, wild dangerous Pat who wore the white mac and looked as if she chewed up broken bottles for breakfast, but the Pat we had had become too safe and comfortable.

She’d had her affair story with Frank – and since he was and is the love of her life, if she didn’t leave Roy for Frank she wasn’t going to do it for anyone else. To galvanise Pat we had to lose Roy. But I wish now we’d found some other way. Roy had a stability about him that we needed, and losing both him and Mark Fowler (Todd Carty) within a year left us a kind of moral hole in the centre of the show. Those older ‘good’ characters have a role that extends far beyond the immediate gratification of story – as Lou Beale did in the past.’

Tributes to Tony Caunter

Shaun Williamson payed tribute to his on-screen dad via social media: ‘RIP Tony Caunter. He was like a second father to me. He taught me so much about acting and life. A great actor and a great man. I will miss him so much.’

Pam St. Clement described Tony as: ‘not only a lovely man, but a true gentleman to work with’, adding: ‘I am very saddened to hear of Tony’s passing.’

Patsy Palmer, who played Bianca Jackson, said: ‘Beautiful memories of a beautiful man. So kind and funny. God bless you,’ while Lucy Speed, who played Roy’s daughter-in-law Natalie Evans, described him as ‘gentle, kind and classy’.