EastEnders star Toby-Alexander Smith, best known for his role as the serial killer Gray Atkins, is set to captivate audiences in a new film before making a dramatic return to the BBC One soap. The actor will star alongside legendary actress Dame Joan Collins in the upcoming whodunit film A Murder Between Friends, where he plays the character Sydney.
New Film Role
The film, described as a 'stylish and fun' whodunit, follows six old friends who become entangled in a deadly mystery while staying at the grand country estate of a true-crime TV star. The synopsis reveals that one of the six is killed under the strangest of circumstances, leading to mounting suspicion and rising tensions. The group must determine who has the means, motive, and opportunity to murder, turning to their celebrity hostess for help before the killer strikes again.
Toby-Alexander Smith will star opposite a talented cast including Nadia Bjorlin, Jacob Young, Trent Garrett, India Thain, Hana Vagnerova, Jim Borstelmann, Espen Hatleskog, and Emmerdale's Simon Cotton. Dame Joan Collins plays 'showbiz sleuth' Francesca Carlyle and also co-produced the film with Percy Gibson and writer Mark Rozzano.
Release Details
A Murder Between Friends will have its UK premiere in London on June 2, followed by a digital release on June 15. Fans can look forward to seeing Smith in a different light before his anticipated return to Walford.
EastEnders Return
Earlier this month, it was confirmed that Toby-Alexander Smith will reprise his role as Gray Atkins in EastEnders. Gray first arrived in Walford in 2019 with his partner Chantelle Atkins (Jessica Plummer) and their two children. A successful solicitor, Gray hid a dark secret behind closed doors: he was physically and mentally abusing Chantelle. In 2020, Chantelle plotted to leave him but tragically died after being pushed onto an open dishwasher, fatally impaled on a knife.
After covering up Chantelle's death, Gray spiraled into becoming a serial killer. He murdered Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White) three months after killing his wife, as she had discovered his abuse. He then killed Kush Kazemi (Davood Ghadami) by pushing him in front of an approaching Underground train, driven by jealousy over Kush's relationship with Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty). Gray was arrested for his crimes in 2022 and has been serving a long prison sentence since.
Drama Ahead
Despite his incarceration, Gray's upcoming return is set to cause serious drama for Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams), who shares a son with him. The storyline promises to reignite tensions and bring new conflicts to Albert Square. Fans are eager to see how the serial killer's presence will impact Chelsea and others in Walford.
With his film role and soap comeback, Toby-Alexander Smith is poised for a busy and exciting period, showcasing his versatility as an actor. A Murder Between Friends offers a glimpse of his talent in a different genre, while his return to EastEnders ensures continued intrigue and suspense for viewers.
