page_title: Paul Coker (EastEnders)
section_title: Storylines and relationships
hierarchical_section_title: Paul Coker (EastEnders) / Development / Storylines and relationships
caption_attribution_description: English: Actor Harry Reid at the EastEnders Meet and Greet event at BBC Elstree Centre.
context_page_description: Paul Coker is a character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Jonny Labey. He first appeared in episode 5077 of the show, originally broadcast in the United Kingdom on 1 June 2015. Paul, a gay character, is the grandson of established characters Les Coker and Pam Coker and boyfriend of Ben Mitchell. The character's final appearance is in episode 5347, shown on 8 September 2016, following the character's death after an off-screen homophobic incident on 18 July 2016.
  Kissing scenes between Paul and Ben received a mixed reaction from viewers, though the character has received positive comments from reviewers. Ofcom received 76 complaints from viewers when the couple were seen topless together in a funeral parlour with a corpse in the room, but decided not to investigate the complaints as the scenes were "justified in the context" and sexual contact was "implied". The relationship was longlisted at the Inside Soap Awards in the "Best Affair" category.
context_section_description: Treadwell-Collins revealed that Paul would cause trouble for his grandparents "as he uncovers some secrets from the past", and that he "sets one heart in particular racing." It was later revealed that he would be a potential love interest for established character Ben Mitchell. Labey said that Paul's usual type of men was "harder, bigger, muscly tattooed guys", but said that Ben has a "Mitchell persona", which excites Paul, and he enjoys the "tease of trying to get Ben to come out", because he has a girlfriend in Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald). He also said that Paul is drawn to the fact that Ben has a girlfriend because "it's all part of the chase" and their relationship is "playful and mischievous", but said that Paul respects that Ben struggles with coming to terms with his sexuality. Harry Reid, who plays Ben, said that Paul is "an outlet for Ben's true feelings", and that "Paul is much softer than Ben". Labey said that "Paul is excited by Ben." Labey went on to explain that Paul and Ben's relationship starts of as flirting and "blossoms over the summer", but he hoped it would be a "slow burner" that would "work on different levels", instead of "Ben's desperation and [Paul] feeling fed up", saying he hoped they would learn to trust each other and Ben would feel safe and comfortable with Paul. He said that Paul's attraction to Ben changes over time: initially he is attracted to Ben's "bad-boy reputation" but then sees a "more fragile" side to him and they discover they have more in common. Ben and Paul's relationship was given the portmanteau "Baul" by Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy.
  Labey said that Paul loves Pam, his grandmother, calling their relationship "beautiful". He called Paul a "nana's boy" who would cry to her while putting on a persona with everyone else, revealing that he never had to come out to her as gay. Paul favours Pam over Les and wants to protect her, especially when he discovers Les's supposed affair, though Labey said that Paul and Les once had a "lovely relationship". Labey also said that Paul's relationship with his grandparents can be "a bit difficult" because their son and Paul's father is dead and they want him to be a part of Les's funeral business. When Les and Pam's relationship breaks up, Labey said that Paul is "stuck between them both, trying to reason with one and convince the other", and they "need Paul there to remind them of how they were as a couple." Labey said Lola would be someone Paul confides in, as they have the same characteristics, though they would be in competition at work.
  In July 2016, Paul's mother, Jenny Rawlinson, played by Amy Marston, was introduced.
caption: Paul became a love interest for Ben Mitchell (played by Harry Reid, pictured).
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