The EastEnders star who has died was one of Walford's longest-serving patriarchs

The head of the Slater household

Martin arrived in Walford in 2000, when the Slater family moved onto the Square and changed the show's chemistry overnight. As Charlie — widowed taxi driver, endlessly patient father to a houseful of daughters including Kat, Lynne, Little Mo, and Zoe, and long-suffering son-in-law to Big Mo — he anchored the family for more than 15 years.

His final appearance came in 2016, when Charlie died of a heart attack. An EastEnders spokesman paid tribute after the news of Martin's death:

"From the moment he arrived, Derek's portrayal of Charlie Slater instantly cemented him in the hearts of the audience," the statement read.

It described Charlie as the head of one of the show's most iconic families, adding that, like his character, Derek would do anything for those around him.

A career that started with stunts

Charlie was the famous role, but far from the whole story. Born Derek William Rapp in Bow, east London, in 1933, Martin began in the business as a stuntman — including work on Doctor Who — before building a five-decade acting career. His family's statement called him "a truly authentic working-class voice in British television and film". Highlights along the way:

• Law & Order (1978) — the acclaimed BBC drama series, a career landmark he singled out himself.
• The Chinese Detective — the early-1980s BBC crime series.
• Eldorado — the BBC's short-lived but fondly remembered Spanish-set soap.
• The Governor — two series of Lynda La Plante's prison drama in the 1990s.

The man behind Charlie

Away from set, Martin was a devoted father to his twin sons, an avid golfer, and a long-standing member of the Grand Order of Water Rats, the entertainment industry's charitable fraternity. His family described him as a friend who supported them through highs and lows, and asked for privacy.