ISAAC’S ANGUISH

Eastenders’ Stevie Basaula on the tragic diagnosis that leads his character to make a very risky decision...

Two bombshells leave Isaac and his dad Patrick reeling in Eastenders this week. Isaac can’t believe he’s been kept in the dark about his drug dealer brother Paul’s murder by gangsters in 2004. Meanwhile Patrick is stunned by Isaac’s confession that he’s been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

‘When Isaac learnt about his new family, he didn’t know what had happened to Paul, so to find out he’d been murdered and it had almost been ignored because of Paul’s troublesome history was hurtful,’ says Stevie Basaula, who plays Isaac.

Later, when Patrick says Paul was ‘misunderstood’ and the siblings had similar characteristics, Isaac wonders if the doctors could be mistaken about him and makes a dangerous decision.

‘The idea that Paul was misunderstood gets Isaac thinking about his diagnosis,’ says Stevie. ‘Isaac longs for what some may describe as a normal life. For him that’s one without schizophrenia, so if he has been misdiagnosed, he’s desperate to know and makes a very risky choice to test out his theory…’

It’s an angst-ridden week for the family, starting when Isaac is left fuming after Patrick agrees to take part in a medical trial for stroke patients. Isaac thinks Patrick’s putting himself in danger. ‘He’s worried about losing his dad,’ says Stevie.

It leads to Isaac asking Kim for information about his brother and the truth comes out. But when Patrick asks Isaac to be honest about why he’s so angry, he’s not prepared for his answer about the schizophrenia.

‘Patrick’s plea to Isaac to be open with him is probably what sways it,’ says Stevie. ‘Isaac always wanted to tell his dad, but was told otherwise

by his mum. Isaac sees it as an opportunity to finally be honest.’

Stevie, who joined Eastenders last year, began acting after watching an interview with actor, writer and director Noel Clarke. ‘I was lost and didn’t know what I wanted to do in life,’ he says. ‘When Noel spoke about his film Kidulthood, a lightbulb went off in my mind. A lot of people of colour in this industry have been inspired by Noel’s work.’

Stevie was a cast member of the Royal Shakespeare Company before

Eastenders came calling. ‘Getting this job blew my head off – I was overjoyed.’ His first scenes were with show legends Letitia Dean and Adam Woodyatt, which ‘was crazy as I’ve watched them for years.’

Stevie says he’d like to follow Noel into writing, directing and inspiring others into the industry. ‘I’d love to help young people who feel lost like I was to achieve their dreams. Until then I’m fully focused on Eastenders, Isaac and telling his story.’ ■