Gavin Sullivan



Gavin Sullivan is the controlling, manipulative third husband of Kathy Beale, stepfather of Ben Mitchell and an antagonist in British soap opera EastEnders, making his first appearance in August 2015.

He is played by Paul Nicholas.

Gavin was first mentioned in 2000 after Kathy left Walford for South Africa with her and Phil Mitchell's son Ben. It was later believed that in 2006, Gavin and Kathy were killed in a car crash which resulted in Ben returning to Walfordd to live with his half-brother Ian Beale and later Phil.

However in February 2015, it was revealed that Gavin and Kathy were alive and that the car crash was a way to escape an insurance scam and that Kathy had been in contact with Phil for sometime. Kathy planned to fake her death in order to escape the controlling Gavin and return to Walford to be with Ian and Ben. However in August, after a botched money handover from Phil at St. Pancras station, Kathy runs into Gavin who reveals that he was aware of her plan to escape him and attempts to drive her to a small airfield so they can leave England. But Kathy causes the car they're in to crash, which puts them in hospital, but later Kathy discharges herself and disappears.

After leaving hospital, Gavin comes to Walford, believing Kathy will contact Phil. He follows Phil and his cousin Ronnie to a small hotel where he grabs Kathy and flees to the airfield, but is stopped by the Mitchells and Kathy returns to Walford with Phil. A week later, it is revealed that Kathy has snuck Gavin into her hotel room and he is controlling her again. Sometime later, Gavin along with two armed men kidnap Phil and Gavin threatens to kill him if Kathy doesn't follow his instructions and give him money. Kathy takes money from Ian's safe before going to the police to report on the kidnapping.

Ian contacts Gavin and tells him that he knows what he's been doing. It is revealed that Gavin locked Phil in a closet, but by the time the police arrive, Phil is not there.