| Laurie Bates | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EastEnders character | |||||||||
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| Portrayed by | Gary Powell | ||||||||
| Duration | 1989–1990 | ||||||||
| First appearance | Episode 480 12 September 1989 | ||||||||
| Last appearance | Episode 531 8 March 1990 | ||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||
| Introduced by | Mike Gibbon | ||||||||
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Laurie Bates is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders played by Gary Powell. Laurie was introduced by producer Mike Gibbon in September 1989 as a rival to the long-established character Pete Beale (Peter Dean) – he opens up a business in direct competition to him and then dates his estranged wife Kathy (Gillian Taylforth). Laurie Bates was one of many characters to be axed early in 1990, following the introduction of the serial's new executive-producer, Michael Ferguson. He makes his last appearance in March 1990, lasting roughly six months on-screen.