BBC/Comp EastEnders Insider Share By Jade Brown Oct 2 2025 By Jade Brown Oct 2 2025 Steven Beale in EastEnders: What happened to him and how is Max responsible for his death? Cindy's eldest son died in 2017 Max Branning Share By Jade Brown Oct 2 2025 By Jade Brown Oct 2 2025 Following the return of Max Branning this week, Steven Beale has had a namecheck on EastEnders. Peter Beale remarked that Max had better disappear before Cindy turns up, adding: “Well, he did kill her son.” But what happened to Steven Beale? And how is Max responsible for his death? Steven Beale’s life ended badly (Credit: BBC) Steven Beale background in EastEnders – Cindy’s son by Simon Wicks Steven Beale was the son of Cindy Beale and Simon Wicks, and the adoptive son of Ian Beale. He is also the half-brother of Peter and Lucy Beale, Cindy Williams, Gina, and Anna Knight and adoptive brother of Bobby Beale. Steven was born in December 1989 while Cindy was married to Ian. She convinced him that Steven was his son, but he was actually the result of a one night stand with Simon. Article continues below Read all the latest spoilers Cindy told Ian the truth a year later and her, Simon and Steven left together. But in 1992, it was written into the soap that Simon had abandoned Cindy and his son, so Ian brought them back to Walford and raised Steven as his own. Steven was written out of the soap once again in 1996. Cindy hired a hitman to kill Ian, but when the attempt failed she snatched Peter and Steven and fled to Italy. Ian was able to track them down a year later and regained full custody of the children. The hitman involved in the assassination attempt finally admitted Cindy was the person who hired him and she was sent to prison. It was then believed Cindy had died in childbirth in 1998, and Steven was in attendance at her funeral. Steven was part of Max’s plot to destroy Walford and the Beales (Credit: BBC) Steven discovers Ian isn’t his father Steven worried that his array of stepmothers would constantly abandon him. This fear was realised one time when Steven caught Ian kissing Janine despite being with Laura. Steven became rebellious. He would skip school and he started writing poison pen letters to his neighbours. Steven became even more troubled when he overheard Ian and Laura talking and discovered Ian wasn’t his real father. Following the revelation, he opted to move to New Zealand in 2002, so he could meet and get to know real dad Simon. Kidnapping and mental illness Steven returned in 2007 and was revealed to be the mystery person stalking Ian. He pretended to be Ian’s dead wife Cindy and eventually lured Ian to a deserted tower block. Ian was shocked to come face to face with Steven. Steven kept Ian locked up for several weeks, while he headed back to the Square to bond with his siblings – and even made a move on new stepmum Jane! Steven soon started to feel guilty about what he has done and took Lucy to where he had Ian. While Lucy escaped to get help, Steven opened up to Ian about why he had kidnapped him. He said he blamed Ian for his mother’s death and was angry that Ian hadn’t tried to get him to come back from New Zealand. Steven shared that he felt rejected by Simon and in the way. When Lucy returned with Jane, a confrontation ensued and Steven threatened to kill himself with a gun he’s been given by Lucy to get rid of. But he ended up accidentally shooting Jane – as a result, she was unable to have children. Steven was admitted to a psychiatric hospital, but upon his release he continued to struggle. He was rejected by Ian and Jane, with Ian cruelly breaking a snow globe Steven had gifted him as a child. But after Steven attempted to take his own life again, Ian reconciled with his son – though Jane struggled to forgive him. His time in EastEnders was a struggle (Credit: BBC) Sexuality confusion Steven grew close to Stacey Slater as they supported each other. They soon started dating but their attempt at consummation ended in disaster when Steven could not perform sexually. Steven lied about the situation, but Jane’s brother Christian discovered the truth and announced it to everyone, embarrassing Steven. Steven went mad at Christian, but then tried to kiss him. Christian realised that Steven was gay and tried to get him to accept his sexuality. Steven eventually spoke to Ian about his feelings, and things seemed to be looking up for their relationship. Steven was grateful when Ian proved supportive, as Simon had not been. But Steven was secretly helping Lucy escape, and he attempted to smother Pat Butcher when she discovered the truth. Steven left the Square once again in 2008 after Ian told him he was glad that he wasn’t his biological son. Abi was jealous of Lauren and Steven’s relationship and got pregnant by Steven (Credit: BBC) Relationships with Lauren and Abi Branning In 2014, Peter and Lauren Branning moved to New Zealand, where Steven was living again. In 2016, Steven and Lauren returned to the Square together. They initially kept the fact that they were together a secret, but it eventually came out. Despite this, Ian accepted Steven back into the family. Steven became resentful of Lauren’s career and jealous of a work colleague, Josh. Lauren’s sister Abi made Steven feel even more suspicious of Josh. And Steven was outraged when she blurted out that Lauren had aborted his baby. Abi and Steven eventually had an affair, but Steven was determined to save his relationship with Lauren. He even lied to her that he had cancer in order get her not to return to New Zealand. Max pushed Steven (Credit: BBC) Max Branning responsible for Steven Beale’s death Max tried to blackmail Steven into doing his dirty work – such as arson. When it didn’t go to plan, Max told Steven he was on his own and told him to find an alibi. When Jane discovered everything about Max’s revenge plan, Max played mind games with Steven and convinced him Jane was trying to get rid of him. Jane defended herself and even revealed to Steven that Abi was pregnant with his baby. Steven refused to believe her and set fire to the restaurant, leaving her to perish. But thinking Lauren was inside, Max and Steven rushed back in. Max tried to get Steven to kill Jane, but Steven refused. Max then violently shoved him into a countertop, causing Steven to be rushed to hospital. After telling Abi that he loved her, he suffered a cardiac arrest and died from his injuries. The truth about Max’s involvement in Steven’s death was later revealed by Tanya Branning, causing Abi and Lauren to disown their father. He left EastEnders in 2017 (Credit: BBC) Who played Steven Beale in EastEnders? As a baby, Steven was played by Edward Farrell, before Stuart Stevens took over the role. In 1998, Edward Savage took on the role of Steven – appearing in 138 episodes before departing in 2002. The most well known and recent version of Steven was played by Aaron Sidwell, who played the character between 2007 and 2017. Since EastEnders, Aaron, who was born and raised in Kent, has had several screen roles, including in Casualty, Doctors and Father Brown. He also spends a lot of time performing on stage and was the first British actor to play Johnny in Green Day’s musical American Idiot. Read more: Who’s leaving EastEnders in 2025? Share Good to Know Share By Jade Brown Oct 2 2025 By Jade Brown Oct 2 2025
