Vincent Hubbard
| Vincent Hubbard | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||||||||||
| EastEnders character | |||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Richard Blackwood | ||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2015– | ||||||||||||||
| First appearance |
Episode 5015 17 February 2015 | ||||||||||||||
| Created by | Dominic Treadwell-Collins | ||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Dominic Treadwell-Collins | ||||||||||||||
| Classification | Present; regular | ||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||
| Occupation |
Businessman Police informant | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
Vincent Hubbard is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Richard Blackwood.[1] He was first introduced by executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins during the show's 30th anniversary celebrations, and was later revealed to be the husband of Kim Fox (Tameka Empson). He made his first appearance live on 17 February 2015 during the show's 5015th episode, and returned on two separate occasions on 19 February, one of which was in a flashback episode in which he gives Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Womack) a gun. During these appearances, he is only credited as "Vincent". He returned as a regular character on 21 April 2015.[2]
Blackwood praised bosses for the character of Vincent, stating he knew that his portrayal would surprise viewers given his comedy background.[3] He is described on the BBC website as a smooth operator, whose easy charm and quick wittedness covers a steely, ruthless streak and a reputation as a bit of a bad boy. They also state that Vincent believes himself to be the "main man" in the room, and knows how to play people to his advantage. Despite not appearing until February 2015, the character received subtle mentions when his wife, Kim, mentioned her surname as being "Fox-Hubbard" on several occasions throughout her appearances the prior year.
Storylines
Vincent arrives in Albert Square having followed Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) home, confronting him and Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) about the whereabouts of Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Womack), a former flame; Phil recognises Vincent and warns Billy that he's bad news. Billy reveals to Vincent that Ronnie is in a coma at Walford General Hospital following a car crash on New Year's Day, and upon visiting the hospital, he leaves a single white rose for Ronnie so she knows he has visited. During the wedding reception of Ian (Adam Woodyatt) and Jane Beale (Laurie Brett), Denise Fox (Diane Parish) mocks her sister Kim Fox's (Tameka Empson) relationship with Vincent, who is her husband, and she goes into premature labour with Vincent's child. Vincent watches from afar as she is taken to hospital, and Kim later explains to her family friend Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker) that she ran away from Vincent after walking in on him covered in blood, and thus chose not to tell him that she was pregnant. She becomes wary when he tries to get in contact with her again after witnessing her with their daughter, Pearl Fox-Hubbard, and is scared when she finds that someone has given Pearl a toy, instantly believing that it was Vincent, though it is later revealed that it was Denise. Kim tells Denise that Vincent never existed and Pearl was the result of a one-night stand, but later admits the truth and explains her experience when she went to tell him she was pregnant.
The following month, Vincent sends Ronnie a "get well soon" card after hearing that she has awoken from her coma, and later visits her. He reminds her of the times they spent with each other when he owned a bar and attempts to romance her, but she quickly informs him that she is married to Charlie Cotton (Declan Bennett). He leaves, and Ronnie later explains to her sister Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons) that she and Vincent were in a relationship before they left for Ibiza. Vincent visits Kim, who reveals what she saw him getting up to at his flat and he explained that he was helping a victim of a mugging, giving her a news article stating that he saved the man's life. Kim is still shaken after he leaves, believing that there is something strange about the article. However, she shrugs it off. Whilst in Albert Square, Vincent decides to pay a visit to his foster sister, Donna Yates (Lisa Hammond), and reveals to her that he is Pearl's father, leaving her shocked as she did not see Kim as his type. He also confesses to her that he is close with Ronnie. Following their conversation, he decides that he wants to repair his marriage with Kim for the sake of their baby, but is thrown when Ronnie requests that he finds some way to prevent a drug dealer from testifying against her former grandmother-in-law Dot Branning (June Brown) during her murder trial, and he refuses. However, Ronnie reminds him that she still has the gun he gave her, so he lends her the favour. Ronnie begins to repel Vincent and he begins visiting her more often in hospital, eventually revealing to her that he believes that it was Ronnie's cousin, Phil, who killed Carl White (Daniel Coonan), when it was actually her. When Ronnie finds out that he has got the wrong end of the stick, she asks Phil to confront him. Phil approaches Vincent, threatening to kill one of his family members if he refrains from leaving Ronnie alone. However, Vincent punches him and warns him to back off. Vincent later visits Kim and pledges he wants to be a father to Pearl, but is interrupted when the police arrest him in connection to the assault of the drug dealer, and later convinces Kim to give him a false alibi for the encounter. Following this, Kim forces Vincent to promise her no more lies, and Donna is disheartened to find that they have reunited, bitterly revealing to Kim that Vincent had dated Ronnie.
Vincent reunites with Kim having promised her that he and Ronnie are no longer together. He later approaches Phil after finding out that he was the result of his arrest and blackmails him, threatening to reveal Ronnie as Carl's murderer if he does not hand The Albert over to him. Phil's wife Sharon Mitchell (Letitia Dean) disapproves of this, and she and Vincent are forced to share the business. Phil grows irritable about Vincent's involvement in the business, and when Vincent changes the name of The Albert to "Pearl's", Phil attacks him. Kim decides to end their marriage after seeing him covered in blood, but he soon is able to change her mind. Patrick is initially distrusting of Vincent, but they soon begin to bond slowly, especially after Vincent finds an old record Patrick recorded with his former band. Soon after, Vincent kisses Ronnie, but says it was only to show he still could.
After Ronnie and Vincent have sex, Ronnie tells Charlie that their marriage is over. When Charlie fights for custody of their son Matthew, he disappears after being confronted by Ronnie and Vincent. Kim becomes suspicious when Vincent spends long periods of time away from her, and Ronnie unintentionally arouses her suspicions while trying to assure her that she and Vincent are no longer together. Kim confronts Vincent, who later reveals to Kim that he has bought a new house for them and Pearl. Denise and Patrick believe it to be a way of keeping Kim quiet, and force him to leave. Kim misses Vincent, and although they initially agree to give each other some distance and share joint custody of Pearl, they rekindle their marriage and Kim moves in with him. Some time later, Roxy confronts Ronnie over Charlie's disappearance, so Ronnie calls Vincent to get Charlie to call Roxy, revealing that he is alive.
Ronnie is arrested for Carl's murder, but it emerges that the men who arrested her are not real police officers. Ronnie discovers that Vincent is working with the police as an informant, and used his contacts to stop her being arrested, and urges her to leave the country before she is arrested. Vincent reveals he is helping the police take down Phil, and Ronnie agrees to say nothing. When Kim finds Vincent has taken delivery of a large amount of drugs, Vincent tells her he is planning to plant them at Phil's house as revenge for Phil's father Eric killing his own father, Henry. Phil has Vincent beaten up by a group of thugs following which Vincent blackmails Ronnie with a recording he took of her confessing to killing Carl to make her go along with the plan, but at the last minute, Ronnie turns on him, destroys the recording, and tells Phil the truth.
A feud erupts between Phil and Vincent, culminating in Phil kidnapping Pearl and Vincent threatening to shoot the Mitchells. When Pearl is found at the community centre, Vincent pretends to end the hostilities, but attempts to strangle Phil in his home the following night. He is stopped by his friend Fatboy (Ricky Norwood), so Vincent orders him to leave Walford in response. Ronnie tries to get rid of Vincent by hiring some men lock him in his car boot and have the car crushed, but Vincent is not driving the car so they get the wrong person. Assuming Claudette is in the car, Vincent attempts to rescue her but finds Fatboy's phone and necklace amongst some blood in the boot of the crushed car at the scrapyard. He tells Ronnie the car was empty and Claudette that their feud with the Mitchells killed Fatboy and they should end it now. However, this infuriates Claudette who then compares him to his father and accidentally lets slip that Henry did not die when she said he did. When Ronnie's mother Glenda Mitchell (Glynis Barber) visits, she recognises Claudette and Vincent, and later tells Ronnie that Eric did not kill Henry because he was drunk that night and did not leave the house. Ronnie then blackmails Claudette with the information, so Claudette agrees to end the feud.
Vincent is suspicious when Claudette asks for money, and he later sees Claudette with an unconscious Gavin Sullivan (Paul Nicholas). Claudette lies that Gavin was an intruder but after Gavin escapes, Vincent finds an old photograph with Gavin, Henry and Eric, and Vincent works out Gavin was blackmailing her and she killed Henry. She also reveals that she knew Vincent would be killed so sent Fatboy in his car. When she insults Henry, Vincent chokes Claudette, as Patrick arrives and stops him before learning the truth about Henry. As Patrick tries to call the police, Claudette tries to snatch the phone off him, but falls down the basement stairs, hitting her head on a brick. Patrick leaves to get help but when he returns, Vincent has buried Claudette underneath the basement, and tells Patrick to forget it happened or they will both be arrested for murder. However, unknown to Vincent and Patrick, it is revealed Claudette is alive when she arrives in hospital brought in by paramedics after she was found by the side of a road. When Patrick says he cannot cope with covering up Claudette's death, Vincent says he can go to Trinidad until things settle down. When Patrick sees Claudette in the Square, he tells Vincent she is alive. Vincent visits Donna, and she reveals that Claudette is there and has told her that he buried her. Vincent reveals to Donna that Claudette killed Henry. He then tells her that Claudette caused Fatboy's death. Donna tells Vincent and Claudette to leave but Patrick arrives, confirming that Claudette killed Henry. Donna accuses Claudette of only fostering her as a way to ease her guilt, and Vincent tells her to leave or he will tell Gavin where she is. Patrick makes Vincent vow to protect his family and stop being involved in crime. Later, Vincent gives Donna Fatboy's necklace and she says they should stick together as he is the only family she now has.
Creation and development
Casting and introduction
Vincent is the son of Claudette Hubbard (Ellen Thomas) and has many ties to other characters. He was born and brought up in Walford and knew the Mitchell family, including Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden). His father was infamous in the area and knew Eric Mitchell and Den Watts (Leslie Grantham). Vincent had a relationship with Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Womack), who he had a lot of history with, said to have happened in 2013. It ended abruptly when Ronnie departed Walford for Ibiza, although they meet once more when Vincent gives Ronnie a gun on Good Friday 2014 (as seen in a flashback episode broadcast on 19 February 2015).[4] Around this time, Vincent meets Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) in the queue at a kebab shop, and after a whirlwind romance, they marry. Kim departs on a cruise for several months and when she returns she visits Vincent to inform him that she is pregnant. However, she sees him covered in blood and flees the scene, scared, eventually returning to Walford alone in December 2014.
Richard Blackwood's casting was announced on 17 January 2015, where it was revealed that Blackwood would make his debut in the show during a live scene on 17 February 2015.[5] He admitted to being nervous, but welcomed into the show with open arms. "I've got to say Jessie [Wallace] and Letitia [Dean] and all the guys, they really made me feel at ease. Adam [Woodyatt] is the nicest guy. He was checking I was alright and all of them made me feel at home."[6] When asked about rehearsing for his live debut, he explained: "They are very pedantic here. The opening scene you saw us do, we rehearsed 20 times. They don't play around and you've got to hit your mark. It has got to be spot on."[6]
Vincent was described as being "connected to everybody" on the square.[5] Commenting on his role, Blackwood said: "I [want to] thank Dominic [Treadwell-Collins] and Julia [Crampsie] for giving me this amazing opportunity. EastEnders is a show I've grown up watching, so to film on Albert Square is something I'll never get used to! To know my first-ever scene will be a live one hopefully means the team believe in me and I won't let them down!"[7] Treadwell-Collins said that Blackwood would bring "warmth, humour and energy, which will add so many layers to this 21st century EastEnders villain."[7] The character was described as "your best friend, and your worst enemy", with Blackwood adding that "he has just got layers, villain is just too basic of a word. He is connected to enough people."[5] Blackwood later stated that Vincent isn't a psychopath, but said that he has a "dark side". He added: "If you are in that world, then he will be dark with you, but to anybody else he's cool. He has got a heart but to the villains, he is villainous."[6]
Storyline development
On 14 April 2015, it was revealed that EastEnders would be revisiting Vincent's backstory.[8] Following the character's permanent return to the square on 21 April, it transpired that he was the son and foster brother of established characters Claudette Hubbard (Ellen Thomas) and Donna Yates (Lisa Hammond) respectively. Blackwood told Radio Times that the character will get darker as his time on the show progresses. "There's a lot more. Wait until you see some of the scenes coming up - they raise the hairs." He began. "The writers on EastEnders know what they're doing. They grab you and keep you watching. I've just spoken to them actually and they said, 'we've got a lot more you'. So the audience is in for some trouble!"[9] Speaking about the future of Vincent on the show, Blackwood said: "The thing about Vincent that I love is that he’s very human. He’s got a dark side, but he only acts that way with people who are in the same realm as him. So if you’re in the underworld, he’s very much like that. But if you’re an innocent person, then he won’t mess with you."[9]
Notable relationships
Vincent's relationship with Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Womack) was originally alluded to during his first screen appearance after he visited her whilst she was in a coma. It later transpired that he was married to established character Kim Fox (Tameka Empson). His relationship with the two characters added to the contrast of his dark and light personality, which was made clear following his original appearances.[6] With Ronnie, he was shown to be more villainous having given her a gun and committed to several dirty deeds prior to meeting Kim; his scenes with Kim showed him to be more caring and laid-back, wanting to be a father figure for their daughter, Pearl.
Reception
Ryan Love from Digital Spy said that Vincent's backstory with Ronnie and Kim has been a "fascinating introduction", adding that "two separate characters are now linked and both under very different circumstances."[10] He went on to say that "[the show] clearly has big plans for Vincent, and I for one can't bloody (sic) wait to see what these are after one of the most intriguing, slow-burn entrances in a long time."[10] Jim Shelley from Mail Online commented on the character's "accidentally comical" portrayal. "'Vincent' isn't much of a name for a thug for a start, particularly as the scriptwriters have also allocated him the surname 'Hubbard.' This was a strange choice. 'Vincent Hubbard' sounded even less intimidating, almost comical – particularly as it meant his mum was basically 'Old Mother Hubbard.' Then there was Vincent's bizarre penchant for dressing almost exclusively in the black leather jacket/white t-shirt favoured by Michael Jackson – an image presumably designed to reinforce the idea he was Bad."[11] Shelley further examined that the principal problem with Vincent was the casting of Richard Blackwood. "This was certainly ambitious, especially as Vincent's hard case credentials include: decking Phil Mitchell, supplying Ronnie with a shooter, and beating up a drug dealer so badly he elected not to testify against Dot and lost his spleen."[11] Laura-Jayne Tyler from Inside Soap also commented on the character's name, saying "We love how EastEnders' Richard Blackwood still manages to be all brooding and sexy, even though he's been saddled with surely the most unsexy name in soap".[12]
Richard Blackwood was nominated for Best Newcomer at the TV Choice Awards and Inside Soap Awards in 2015 for his portrayal as Vincent.[13][14]
See also
References
- ↑ "17 February Credits". BBC. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
- ↑ Executive producer: Dominic Treadwell-Collins; Director: Steve Finn; Writer: Pete Lawson (21 April 2015). "Episode dated 21/04/2015". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
- ↑ Dainty, Sophie. "Richard Blackwood: "EastEnders was smart with Vincent role"". Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ↑ Hardman-Gill, Tara (20 February 2015). "EastEnders spoilers: Is Vincent the father of Kim Fox's baby? And how does he know Ronnie?". Metro. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- 1 2 3 Finbow, Katy. "Richard Blackwood on EastEnders role". Digital Spy. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 Dainty, Sophie. "Richard Blackwood star on 'villainous' character". Digital Spy. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
- 1 2 Kilkelly, Daniel. "Richard Blackwood cast as new Albert Square villain". Digital Spy. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ↑ Dainty, Sophie. "Vincent's backstory to be revealed". Digital Spy. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
- 1 2 Brown, David. "Richard Blackwood on Vincent's dark side - new scenes will "raise the hairs"". Radio Times. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
- 1 2 Love, Ryan. "Soap Spy: Has Richard Blackwood been an EastEnders success?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
- 1 2 Shelley, Jim. "Richard Blackwood has taken over EastEnders, by Jim Shelley". Mail Online. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
- ↑ Tyler, Laura-Jayne (2–8 May 2015). "Hits & Misses!". Inside Soap (17): 98.
- ↑ "TV Choice Awards 2015 nominations: Poldark and Broadchurch head up longlist". The Independent. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
- ↑ Inside Soap Awards 2015 longlist revealed: Who's in line for Best Actor, Actress and Newcomer