List of East Enders Characters (2009) - Theo Kelly

Theo Kelly, played by Rolan Bell, was scripted as a love interest for the character Chelsea Fox (Tiana Benjamin), who, it is claimed, was won over by his "good looks and impeccable manners". He appears between 26 January and 15 June 2009.

According to a BBC news release, "Theo's good looks and manners make him a hit with the ladies on the Square. He seems like the perfect gent". Discussing his casting, Rolan Bell said, "As a lifelong fan of EastEnders it is amazing to be part of the show - everyone has been so welcoming on set. Working with actors such as Rudolph Walker has been a dream come true and I can't wait to see how my character develops on screen." He added, "I auditioned for EastEnders a few years ago when I 'd just left drama school and, quite luckily, I didn't get the part because it was only a small walk-on role. When the audition for Theo came up, I just went for it and gave it all I could."

In an interview with media website Digital Spy, Bell revealed information about his character's personality: "He's a well-to-do guy He's been raised with good manners and he's definitely a mummy's boy. He's the kind of guy that wants to do right by women, but at the same time, he's a bit of a ladies' man. He's quite a gentleman and definitely old-fashioned." According to Bell, the writers of EastEnders pitched Theo as "a young, charming guy with impeccable manners"; however, he revealed that not much about his character's background was revealed in the beginning, so development has been "an organic process".

In February 2009, the character was featured as part of EastEnders' first episode acted by an all-black cast, which received focus in the British media.