  |
This article's content is marked as Mature Matthew Rose contains mature content that may include coarse language, sexual references, and/or graphic violent images which may be disturbing to some. Mature articles are recommended for those who are 18 years of age and older. If you are 18 years or older or are comfortable with graphic material, you are free to view this page. Otherwise, you should close this page and view another page. |
| “ | Raise the stakes, to finish the game! | „ |
| ~ Matthew Rose to his former boss-turned-enemy Steve Owen as he takes revenge on the latter over the murder of Steve's ex-girlfriend Saskia Duncan, whom Steve had killed before framing Matthew for the crime. |
Matthew Rose is a fictional character and major protagonist of the BBC British soap opera EastEnders. He served as a central character in 1997-1998 and one of the main protagonists in 1999-2000, as well as a mentioned character in between 2001-2002 and then in 2018.
In his most notable storyline, Matthew had briefly worked for nightclub owner Steve Owen until the latter killed his ex-girlfriend Saskia Duncan in self-defence. Steve thereafter coerced Matthew into covering up the crime before framing him for Saskia's murder, which consequently led to Matthew being wrongfully imprisoned for the crime. Eventually, he is released for good behaviour and ultimately takes revenge on Steve before exiting the show.
He was portrayed by Joe Absolom.
Biography[]
Matthew Rose first came to Albert Square in 1996. He originally started off as an ordinary teen who is not pleased to get reacquainted with his father Michael Rose, but they eventually bond over the next few years. Soon enough Matthew befriends local resident Robbie Jackson along with fellow adolescent Jamie Mitchell; at one point Matthew and Jamie attempted to buy drinks in The Queen Victoria public house, but were foiled by Jamie's relative Grant Mitchell when the latter chucks them out of the pub.
By 1999, Matthew has been employed by a shady businessman named Steve Owen. They first met when Steve, a nightclub owner and part-time gangster, came to buy a couple of CD's from the market stall that Matthew is holding on his father's behalf. Steve soon employs Matthew to work for him as his DJ at the E20 nightclub, which is set to open on Valentine's Day that year.
On the opening night, things initially start off well as Matthew manages to impress Steve with his progress. But complications soon emerge when Steve gets hassled by his ex-girlfriend Saskia Duncan, who seeks to confront Steve over their break-up after she got pregnant and had an abortion at his insistence. Tensions quickly erupt when Saskia attacks Steve by hitting him over the head with a bottle, just as Matthew walks inside Steve's office to see the confrontation. Matthew attempts to intervene but he gets shoved away; Matthew could then only watch helplessly as Steve ends up hitting Saskia over the head with an ashtray, killing her in front of his shocked young employee.
Shortly afterwards, Matthew wishes to call the police over the incident - only for Steve to instantly stop him from doing so. Steve then pressures Matthew into covering up the murder by burying Saskia's dead body in Epping Forrest. For the next few months, Matthew finds himself tormented by Steve over the ordeal. By then, Matthew has begun a relationship with a young girl named Teresa Di Marco and eventually reveals the truth to her.
The couple attempt to flee the country, only for Teresa's family to intervene and for Steve to obstruct their getaway. Steve then calls the police and frames Matthew for killing Saskia by telling them that the latter is the killer. Despite their efforts to escape, Matthew is arrested and remanded in custody; he is charged for murder along with Steve. For the next few weeks, Matthew is implicated for Saskia's murder and he realizes Steve's resolve to framing him. He later confronts Steve and they have a quarrel before the prison guards separate them. Soon life behind bars grows tough on Matthew but is helped by cellmates telling him to toughen up.
In October 1999, both Matthew and Steve are put on trial for the crime. They both plead not guilty to the crime and later receive their verdicts to the charges of both murder and manslaughter respectively; both are cleared of murder, but only Matthew is found guilty of manslaughter whereas Steve is acquitted with a not guilty verdict. Months later, however, the police search team find an ashtray in Steve's office - the place where Saskia was killed - and identify the fingerprints belonging to Steve Owen. As a result of this, Matthew is released from prison and he reunites with Teresa. He later approaches Steve and vows to settle their score once and for all.
In 2000, Matthew begins plotting to get one over his former boss. Steve later finds his club vandalized and sees a tagging written on a wall saying "Dead Man Walking!". Eventually, the pair have a final confrontation when Matthew encounters Steve at the E20 nightclub. Matthew appears to get the upper hand when Steve brandishes a handgun from his safe, only for Matthew to reveal that he had earlier unloaded the gun after breaking into his nightclub. They eventually fight, but Matthew knocks Steve to the ground and later reveals incriminating evidence over Saskia's sister Claudia Fanning - whom Matthew implies to have murdered himself in the same way Steve killed Saskia.
When it appears to emerge to Steve that Matthew is implicating him for killing Saskia's sister in the same manner how Steve framed Matthew for Saskia's murder earlier on, Steve is reduced to a nervous wreck and begins to plead for his life as Matthew is set to kill him with gasoline and a lighter. Both Steve's sister Jackie Owen as well as Teresa herself rush in to stop Matthew, but he drops the lighter anyways - only nothing happens. Matthew then reveals that his plan to kill Steve was a complete hoax; in reality, Matthew had wanted to humiliate Steve as payback for the way how the latter tormented him over the past year.
Having gotten revenge over Steve and closed the chapter over the Saskia murder incident for good, Matthew prepares to leave the square; Teresa begs him to stay, but Matthew refuses and wishes Teresa the best of luck for her future. Matthew then leaves Steve's nightclub and is never seen again upon departing the country on his own.
The follow-up of Matthew's departure saw Steve developing a drug addiction to overcome his trauma and humiliation. This works successfully and Steve proceeds to marry his future wife Mel Healy, despite his mother Barbara Owen nearly ruining the ceremony for him. Later on when Mel is kidnapped by her former boyfriend Dan Sullivan over his grievances with Steve, she is told about her husband's illicit activities; Dan even reminds Mel that Steve had killed Saskia and framed Matthew for the crime. Although Mel is eventually rescued, she confronts Steve over his lies and their marriage begins to collapse as a result of this.
In 2002, Steve is killed after a car chase with Grant's brother Phil Mitchell - also his archenemy - upon kidnapping the latter's infant daughter Louise amid the climax of their long-running feud. Later on at Steve's funeral, Mel finds out that Matthew sent a letter to his grave saying "Dear Steve, rot in hell!"
Quotes[]
| “ | I'm better than you think...I'm smart enough to know... that a gun without bullets isn't much of a threat. Then that's how I've been busy, think about it. If I can break into your flat, then I can break into here! You still fancy the odds? | „ |
| ~ Matthew standing up to Steve during their final showdown, amid which Matthew reveals that he unloaded Steve's handgun that the latter used to try and threaten him with moments ago. |
| “ | One thing I can't have. But this..... this will do. | „ |
| ~ Matthew's last quote on the show as he says goodbye to his girlfriend Teresa Di Marco before leaving the square, having successfully exacted revenge upon Steve over being wrongfully imprisoned by the latter for Saskia's murder nearly a year ago. |
Trivia[]
- Television Viewers were angered and disgusted over Matthew's guilty verdict. This is how the campaign of "Free Matthew Rose" officially began.
- Joe Absolom won an award for his portrayal of Matthew Rose.
[]
| Soap Opera Heroes | ||
|
EastEnders Coronation Street Emmerdale Hollyoaks Casualty | ||