Eastenders becomes first British soap to cast trans actor

Eastenders

has made history after becoming the first British soap to cast a transgender actor in a regular role.

Soap newcomer Riley Carter Millington has joined the BBC One drama as Kyle, a transgender character who will make a brief appearance on Albert Square this month before returning permanently towards the end of the year, DigitalSpy reports.

The 21-year-old said of his casting: “I am extremely excited to be joining EastEnders. I can honestly say that I have now fulfilled my two biggest dreams – to be living my life as a man and to be an actor.

“I cannot wait to really get stuck in with filming and I look forward to seeing what is in store for my character.”

EastEnders‘ executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins first announced plans to create a transgender character in February, promising that transgender actors would be sought out for the role. The character of Kyle was written specifically for Riley after he was discovered through a series of workshops seeking trans talent.

“In Riley, we have found not just a talented actor but also an inspirational young man whose warmth immediately comes through the screen,” Treadwell-Collins said.

“And this isn’t about tokenism. Alex Lamb and his story team have worked with Riley to create an EastEnders character who is fresh and relatable – but also comes with his own stock of secrets and is going to be thrown right into one of our biggest stories for the end of the year.”

He added: “From Mark Fowler’s HIV to Colin and Barry’s first gay kiss, EastEnders has always led the way in changing audience’s perceptions about ‘difference’ – and ultimately making the world a better place.”

From Coronation Street’s Hayley Cropper to Hollyoaks’ Blessing Chambers, transgender soap characters are no stranger to UK screens, but Millington’s casting represents the first time an openly transgender actor has been cast in a UK soap – in a trans role or otherwise.

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