DI Steve Thompson

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Evil-doer
Full Name	Steve Thompson
Alias	DI Thompson
Origin	EastEnders
Occupation	Detective police inspector
Powers / Skills	Indimidation Police resources
Hobby	Pressuring Callum Highway in his case against the Mitchell Family
Goals	Force Callum Highway to get his boyfriend Ben Mitchell and the latter's father Phil Mitchell jailed for their criminal activities (failed).
Crimes	Police corruption Blackmail Assault Perverting the course of justice Threats of violence Harrasment Unlawful arrest Attempted incrimination
Type of Villain	Corrupt Official

“	"What's this a reunion!".	„
	~ Thompson reacts to being confronted by his protege Callum Highway and their colleague Jack Branning over his own corrupt activities.

DI Steve Thompson is a fictional character and supporting antagonist of the BBC British soap opera EastEnders. He first debuted in late December 2019 and became the show's secondary antagonist throughout 2020 before departing the show in early January 2021.

In his characterisation, Thompson is a corrupt police detective who clashes with several residents in Albert Square due to his threatening and indimidating presence. Soon enough he begins pressuring his protege Callum Highway to help him get the latter's boyfriend Ben Mitchell and his father Phil Mitchell imprisoned for their criminal activities, but is eventually foiled by Callum's other superior Jack Branning when he discovers Thompson's corrupt activities.

He is portrayed by Philip Wright.

Biography

DI Steve Thompson first came to Albert Square in Walford, a fictional borough in East London, towards the end of December 2019 prior to Christmas that year; he is a highly decorated police detective who had been partnered with fellow policeman Jack Branning ever since the latter had been reinstated by the police department nearly a year ago.

In 2020, Thompson begins investigating the square's local hardman Phil Mitchell and his son Ben over their criminal activities. He first questions the pair over the supposed disappearence of their enemy Karen Taylor, as well as questioning the latter's mother Karen about it; Phil denies his involvement and only expresses his resentment towards Keanu over the fact that he had an tryst with Phil's beloved wife Sharon Watts and apparently got her pregnant behind his back. Later on Thompson arrests Phil and Ben for Keanu's murder after Sharon accuses them of killing him, although Keanu is later revealed to be alive. Thomspon later speaks with Sharon about the whereabouts of her son Denny, who she believes Phil has taken abroad; though this is proven to be false later on.

Weeks later, Phil hands himself in the police for causing a boat crash in the River Thames that killed Denny in the end - even though Denny's death was partly caused by Phil's former stepson Ian Beale locking him in a room in retribution for harrasing Ian's son Bobby over the latter's previous killing of his half-sister Lucy months ago. DI Thomspon soon questions Phil about his involvement with Denny's death, and clashes with Phil's lawyer Ritchie Scott when she pauses the interview. To his fury, DI Thompson is forced to release Phil from custody when Sharon changes her previous statement against him.

Soon it becomes clear that DI Thompson is somewhat illegitimate and corrupt from his status as a policeman. This is first proven when he investigates local resident Vinny Panesar and his illegal rave with police officers, and a brick is thrown at a police car. DI Thompson quickly notices Keanu's half-brother Keegan Baker and his lover Tiffany Butcher leaving the scene and questions them about it. Then he impulsively arrests Keegan for criminal damage and obstruction. Jack later confronts him about it and accuses DI Thompson of behaving unethically when the latter tries to justify his actions by showing him Keegen's previous convictions before falsely claiming that Keegan assaulted him while resisting arrest. However, Jack is unswayed by this and Keegan is released from custody; DI Thomspon is left annoyed when Jack informs him about this and warns him over it.

It is then DI Thompson turns his attention to his protege Callum Highway, an up-and-coming police constable whom DI Thompson had previously seen getting arrested by Jack for attacking stalker Leo King over the fact that Leo had been harrasing Callum's ex-fiance Whitney Dean due to her past with his late father and her abuser Tony King years ago. Soon it becomes clear that DI Thompson plans on getting Phil and Ben imprisoned for their criminal activities, such as their recent collusion with gang boss Danny Hardcastle. As such DI Thompson plans to have Callum help out in his campaign against Phil and Ben. However, complications quickly emerge when Callum and Ben embark on a passionate relationship and the former is unsure on whether to betray his boyfriend; when DI Thompson learns about this, he resorts to blackmailing Callum by threatening him into compliance.

In December 2020, Callum finally stands up to his superior and reports him for corruption. DI Thomspon later confronts Callum and punches him in retribution, only for Callum's brother Stuart Highway to witness this and come to his brother's defence by punching DI Thompson back in retaliation. DI Thompson vows revenge against Stuart for his actions. Later on Stuart confronts DI Thompson and attacks him, which supposedly leads to DI Thompson being killed as a result. However, it turns out that DI Thompson survived his encoutner with Stuart and plans on getting him imprisoned in retaliation.

In January 2021, however, Callum reports DI Thompson's corrupt activities to Jack and they confront him about it. Jack forces DI Thompson to stop his campaign and to take an early retirement in order to keep his family safe in case Phil plans on going after him in retribution. Left with no other choice, DI Thompson agrees with the ultimatium and retires from the police; he is never seen again afterwards.

Trivia

• Has made a total of 31 appearances throughout his time on the show.
• It is confirmed during his final appaerence on January 2021 that Thompson has a family.