Joe Absolom’s role as Matthew Rose was at the center of one of the most memorable storylines in EastEnders history during his tenure on the series.
In February 1999, Steve Owen (played by Martin Kemp) killed his girlfriend, Saskia Duncan (Deborah Sheridan-Taylor), by hitting her over the head with an ashtray.
Former EastEnders actor Joe Absolom looks almost unrecognizable in his latest role, 25 years after departing Walford. Now 46, he stars as Braden Moore in ITV’s compelling new drama Code of Silence.
Joe originally rose to fame playing Matthew Rose on EastEnders from 1997 to 2000, a role that made him a household name. His character was at the center of one of the 1990s’ most unforgettable storylines when Matthew was wrongfully convicted for the murder of Saskia, while the real culprit, club owner Steve, evaded justice.
The gripping plot captivated viewers nationwide, with media campaigns pushing for Matthew’s release after he was sentenced for manslaughter. Since then, Matthew Rose has never returned to Albert Square.
Hailing from South East London, Joe left the soap in 2000 and built a successful career, including roles in the British horror movie Long Time Dead and the ITV series Vincent.
However, it was his role as Bert Large’s son, Al, in Doc Martin, where he felt most at home. Joe, who played plumber-turned-restaurateur Al in the ITV comedy-drama series for 18 years, decided to leave his native London when his eldest daughter, Lyla, was five.
Chatting to The Mirror about his past experiences, Joe Absolom reminisced: “I remember sitting on the beach in Cornwall with [Lyla] on a day off from filming. She was asking where the tide had gone. I made up some sort of hare-brained father’s explanation.
“We drove back to London the next day and unfortunately a teenager had just been murdered outside our local supermarket.”
Joe’s decision to move his family to Cornwall was solidified following a distressing incident in 2013 when their South London home was targeted by a teen burglary gang while his wife remained at home with their two eldest children as Joe worked on location in Romania.
The family then embraced Cornish life in 2014 near the scenic locale of Port Isaac, where Doc Martin is shot. Reflecting on his kids’ new roots, Joe proudly said: “My children’s lives are in Cornwall now. Daisy was born here – she’s got clotted cream in the blood.”
Currently, you’ll find Joe Absolom stepping into the shoes of Braden Moore on the ITV drama Code of Silence. The series sees the talented Rose Ayling-Ellis take on the role of Alison, a deaf waitress with an uncanny lip-reading talent that draws her into a complex police case.
Delving into the plotline, the official synopsis reveals: “Having spent years working in a police canteen and secretly observing conversations, her life takes an unexpected turn when her exceptional lip-reading skills catch the attention of DS Ashleigh Francis (Charlotte Ritchie) and DI James Marsh (Andrew Buchan).
“Alison’s life becomes even more complicated when she meets and forms an “unexpected and dangerous bond” with recently recruited gang member, Liam Barlow (Kieron Moore).
“Recruited for a covert operation, Alison is tasked with surveying a dangerous gang as they plot a high-stakes heist, thrusting her into a world of crime, deception, and risk like never before.”