EASTENDERS fans were surprised to see former Peter Beale star Thomas Law on The Bay last night.
The actor left the BBC soap 11 years ago and now plays DC Eddie Martin in the ITV show.
Thomas, 28, stars as the detective who will work alongside Morven Christie’s Lisa Armstrong to solve a brutal murder within a seemingly loving family.
One surprised viewer wrote on Twitter: “Omg is that the original peter beale???#TheBay”.
Another added: “Previous and normal sized Peter Beale got a job as a policeman!”
“It’s the original Peter Beale! I knew he looked familiar…,” commented a third.
Previous and normal sized Peter Beale got a job as a policeman!
— Benj (@BenjaBitch) January 20, 2021
#TheBay
While one explained: “That guy who was sat round the detectives table was the guy who used to play Peter beale in eastenders years ago, as soon as he spoke I recognised him.”
And Thomas is not the only EastEnders alumni in the show – Joe Absolom who played Matthew Rose and Lindsey Coulson who starred as Carol Jackson both make appearances in the ITV crime drama.
Last summer Thomas showed off his impressive physical transformation as he went topless for an Instagram picture.
Strict workouts with his personal trainer made him almost unrecognisable from the skinny youngster in Walford.
He was the fifth actor to take on Ian Beale’s son in the BBC One soap, playing the character between 2006 and 2010.
The role has been played by two more stars since then – Ben Hardy, who later left for Hollywood success, and newbie Dayle Hudson who made his debut last year.
In one of his gym photos, Thomas can be seen sweating in an exercise studio, with his blue T-Shirt wrapped around his fists.
He captioned the buff post: “#tbt to when I fully listened to everything that @billybwfit told me to do, lol”.
Needless to say, his followers were blown away by the snap, with one flirting: “Dammmmmmmmnnnnnnn, [you] got so sexy”.
omg is that the original peter beale???#TheBay pic.twitter.com/hlnL0tYHBz
— ruby (@rubynaldrett) January 20, 2021
It’s the original Peter Beale!
— Abiee Oliver (@AbieeOliver) January 20, 2021
I knew he looked familiar…#TheBay
Another swooned: “Seriously when are we getting married!?”
A third tagged a pal, writing: “I told you Peter from EastEnders was one to watch when he got older!!”
After finding fame as Peter, Thomas went on to appear in medical drama Casualty.
He is also an avid singer and plays guitar, regularly sharing videos of his jams with followers.
