EastEnders has announced an airdate for its spin-off exploring misogyny among male teenagers through the character of Joel Marshall. The Walford newcomer, introduced earlier this year alongside dad Ross and stepmum Vicki Fowler, has been involved in a harrowing toxic masculinity subplot.
His story is exploring the radicalisation young men face when they are exposed to anti-women arguments online, and how those views translate into everyday micro and macro-aggressions.
Now, on and off-line misogyny will be at the centre of a one-off special titled EastEnders Investigates: The Manosphere.
The documentary is coming to BBC Three next month, airing on Thursday, 9 October at 8pm. The spin-off is to coincide with the soap airing relevant scenes in the Marshalls’ storyline.
Since his arrival on the Square, Joel has sexually assaulted a stranger on a train while getting his friend to film it, recorded his encounter with Avani Nandra-Hart without her permission, and leaked adult footage of Stacey Slater online.
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While at first the real reason why Joel and his family had left Australia was kept under wraps, it was later revealed that they were forced to move because of Joel.
The teen had taken an underskirt picture of a girl without her consent. His dad Ross paid the girl’s family to avoid criminal charges.
Joel’s misogynistic attitude has affected other characters in Walford, including the impressionable Tommy Moon.
It has been announced that Sharon Watts, who is returning to the Square after a short absence, will also cross paths with Joel’s radicalised ways. How will she deal with him?
Earlier this month, Joel star Max Murray reflected on playing an unlikeable character in a chat with Digital Spy at the National Television Awards, where EastEnders went home with the award for Best Serial Drama.
Murray said he noticed “a pretty positive response from the audience” despite Joel not being “the most likeable”.
“The character isn’t meant to be liked,” he continued.
“It’s very challenging, but equally I’ve got the best support I can possibly have with [Ross and Vicki actors, Alex Walkinshaw and Alice Haig], and the whole team,” he added.
EastEnders Investigates: The Manosphere airs Thursday, 9 October at 8pm on BBC Three.
EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
