Jake Moon

Jake Moon
EastEnders character
Portrayed by Joel Beckett
Duration 2004–2006
First appearance Episode 2863
30 December 2004 (2004-12-30)
Last appearance Episode 3243
20 October 2006 (2006-10-20)
Introduced by Kathleen Hutchison
Classification Former; regular
Profile
Occupation Bar manager

Jake Moon is a fictional character from the British soap opera EastEnders, played by Joel Beckett. Jake appears in the show in episodes originally broadcast in the United Kingdom between 30 December 2004 and 20 October 2006. His casting was announced by executive producer Kathleen Hutchison on 20 October 2004. Jake is introduced alongside younger brother Danny Moon (Jake Maskall) and upon his arrival was described as "the sensitive brother who had an eye for the ladies", while Beckett expressed his happiness at joining the show . In March 2005, Beckett and Maskall were axed[1] but Jake was reintroduced to the show later in the year.[2]

Jake and Danny are cousins of established character Alfie Moon (Shane Richie). Jake is involved in several major storylines, including his strained relationship with Danny, relationships with murderer Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman) and Carly Wicks (Kellie Shirley), various criminal schemes and making several enemies. On 7 May 2006 Beckett announced that he was quitting the show and departed on 20 October 2006. His last scene saw him being confronted by a gang of thugs, and his fate has never been revealed although he is presumed dead.

Storylines

Jake makes his first appearance on 30 December 2004 with his brother, Danny (Jake Maskall), as the second cousins of Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) and Spencer Moon (Christopher Parker). He is a witness to the murder of his boss, Andy Hunter (Michael Higgs), by Johnny Allen (Billy Murray). Jake is employed by Johnny for several months after this, along with Danny. Both of them are fired in June 2005 because a reformed Johnny decides they are a part of his former life as a gangland boss.

Jake has a brief fling with Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman), but in July 2005, Jake and Danny plan to leave Walford after Danny sets fire to Johnny's house. Whilst Jake is saying goodbye to Chrissie, Johnny forces Danny into his car. He gives Jake a chance to leave, but Jake gets into the car to stay with Danny. Johnny drives them to a forest and locks Jake in the car as he prepares to shoot Danny, however Jake kicks the car window out and escapes into the woods to find them. He tries to persuade Johnny not to kill Danny. The episode ends with Johnny raising the gun at both of them, however, their fate is not revealed until a few months later when Jake turns up, where it turns out that Johnny let them go: under the agreement that they were not seen again.

Jake and Chrissie reconcile. He also tells Johnny that he will not be starting trouble, and is there for personal reasons, and his ex-boss allowed him to stay. Meanwhile, Chrissie confesses to Jake that she murdered her husband, Den Watts (Leslie Grantham), whose body had been uncovered from the cellar of The Queen Victoria pub several weeks before. Jake and Chrissie decide to make an escape after it becomes apparent that most people doubt Chrissie's innocence. But they are both unaware that the confession was caught on CCTV at Johnny's club, Scarlet. Chrissie is arrested as she and Jake are at the airport ready to flee abroad. Chrissie is remanded in prison pending her trial, but Jake promises never to ditch Chrissie, and he proposes marriage to her. Chrissie tells Jake that she doesn't want Jake to put his life on hold for all the years that she will be in prison. She tells him she is going to plead guilty to the murder and let Jake go. She makes him promise that he will never visit her again.

Sometime later, Jake discovers Danny has been living in Johnny's mansion in Essex, and tracks him down. He tries to persuade Danny to return with him to Walford but Danny says Johnny's home is also his home now. Jake realises Danny has become mentally unstable since his time away from Walford and that Johnny is just using him to do his dirty work. Danny then reveals that he owes Johnny a favour, and in order to gain his approval, he has to do something. Danny then shows Jake a mobile phone recording of Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman) being killed on New Year's Eve 2005. Jake is shocked when he realises Danny had killed Dennis on Johnny's orders. He tries to stop Danny from doing any more, and Danny knocks him unconscious. Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) and Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) find Johnny and want him to confess to Dennis's murder. Johnny orders Danny to kill the Mitchells, but just as he is about to shoot Grant with a shotgun, Jake appears with the pistol and shoots his brother dead. Jake had only meant to wound his brother, not kill him. Jake buries Danny in the woods where he died, with only the spade to mark his grave. After Johnny is arrested for Dennis' murder, Jake then takes Johnny's daughter Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton) back with him to Walford and looks after her.

Jake and Carly Wicks (Kellie Shirley) have a brief relationship in August 2006, however Jake ends it after a week. Jake then becomes concerned for Ruby after she starts a relationship with Sean Slater (Robert Kazinsky). Jake rightly guesses that Sean is using Ruby, and is only interested in her money. He and Sean become bitter enemies, but Sean convinces Ruby that he loves her and that Jake is trying to cause trouble between them. Ruby even tells Sean that it was Jake who had murdered Danny - giving Sean a hold over Jake. In October 2006 Jake turns to Johnny (who has been paying Jake to look after Ruby since he has been in prison) and tells him what Sean is doing. When Sean visits Johnny in prison, he ignores his threats and tells Johnny there is nothing Johnny or Jake can do to stop him. Johnny attempts to phone Jake to order him to kill Sean, but he has a heart attack before he can dial, and only manages to whisper "Jake... kill him for me", mistakenly thinking he is speaking to Jake. Johnny's cellmate assumes that Johnny wants Jake killed, and Johnny dies soon after in hospital. Jake decides to leave Walford, but as he walks out of Albert Square, he is confronted by a stranger who asks if he is Jake Moon, but what happens is not revealed.

Creation and development

The character's arrival was announced on 20 October 2004,[3] and Beckett was quoted as saying "I've watched the programme since the beginning and I'm very excited to be joining such a successful television institution".[4] Three months after their on-screen arrival, Jake and his brother Danny were axed from the show.[5] However, producer Kate Harwood gave Jake a reprieve, and the character subsequently took a short break from the show which coincided with Danny's exit and then returned.[6]

Jake and Danny always tried to imitate the Mitchell brothers, but second-rate gangsters is all they were.[7] Jake is described, the sensitive brother who had an eye for the ladies.[7]

It was announced on 7 May 2006 that Beckett had quit the role to move on and further his career,[8] and the character made his final appearance on 20 October 2006.[7] Jake ended up with a contract out on his life, after Johnny Allen's dying words were misconstrued. He was last seen leaving Albert Square being confronted by a sinister looking stranger.[7]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a19929/eastenders-axes-new-moon-brothers.html#~oBlrjF6JFA6IF1
  2. ↑ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a20744/eastenders-joel-its-just-a-break.html#~oBlrKnkRymYh5f
  3. ↑ Saney, Daniel (20 October 2004). "'Office' star to be in 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  4. ↑ Wilkes, Neil (16 November 2004). "New Moon brothers join 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  5. ↑ Wilkes, Neil (16 March 2005). "'EastEnders' axes new Moon brothers". Digital Spy. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  6. ↑ Green, Kris (19 April 2005). "EastEnders' Joel - It's just a break". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  7. 1 2 3 4 'Jake Moon played by Joel Beckett EastEnders 2006 Retrieved 21 October 2012
  8. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (7 May 2006). "Joel Beckett quits 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
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