EastEnders confirms surprising new storyline as dead character revived with AI
The storyline forms part of a wider AI Unpacked Week across the BBC.
A surprising new EastEnders storyline will see Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker) become reliant on artificial intelligence in the wake of son Anthony's (Nicholas Bailey) death.
The general practitioner was killed off at Christmas, kickstarting a new 'whodunnit' plot involving Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan). As seemingly the last person to see him alive, she was wrongly accused of the murder and placed behind bars.
Viewers have since discovered that their daughter Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness) was the one responsible, and she will be arrested for the crime in next week's episodes.
Following Anthony's funeral, Patrick will be introduced to the software to help him cope with his grief. In the weeks that follow, the pensioner will become increasingly more reliant on the fake version of his son, which will undoubtedly concern his loved ones.
Forget ChatGPT, this is Chat GP Trueman.
This isn't the first time that a soap has 'revived' a dead character using AI – in 2024, a Coronation Street story saw Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) chat with her late son Oliver using the technology after becoming entwined in a cult.
The EastEnders story forms part of a wider AI Unpacked Week across the BBC, which will take place between 2nd and 8th March.
Speaking of the initiative, Kate Phillips, BBC chief content officer, said: “AI Unpacked Week builds on the BBC’s work on educating UK audiences about AI and its place in society. Across TV, radio and digital we have a range of dedicated AI programming to inform and excite audiences about the rise of this new technology.
"From grief tech in EastEnders, to a Panorama special on the advance of robotics, to BBC Bitesize guides for teenagers."
She concluded: "As we stand at the brink of a major technological revolution, the BBC will play a vital role in being a trusted destination for advice, insight and engagement for all audiences."
Aside from the Albert Square drama, a Panorama investigation will ask 'Will Robots Take My Job?', while the third series of conspiracy thriller The Capture will explore the use of deepfakes.
There will also be dedicated programming across BBC Radio, as presenters join in the conversation about its usage. Even CBeebies is getting involved, educating parents on how they can use AI responsibly at home.
Read more:
- 5 EastEnders spoilers next week: Shock arrest made after Anthony Trueman's funeral, as Max Branning professes his feelings
- EastEnders' Kat Moon and Vicki Fowler make risky move to secure Zoe's freedom in BBC iPlayer release
- EastEnders reveals Mark Fowler Jr's secret and surprise connection to Walford local in BBC iPlayer release
- EastEnders airs dark Ravi Gulati scenes amid revenge story in early BBC iPlayer release
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Authors
Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at Radio Times, covering all of the hot gossip and spoilers from Weatherfield to Walford, Emmerdale to Hollyoaks and everywhere in-between. He joined the team from Metro, where he spent two years as a Soaps Reporter and previously worked on the sets of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
