Callum Highway (also known as Halfway) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Tony Clay. He was introduced in the episode first broadcast in the United Kingdom on 1 January 2018. Callum is introduced as a friend of the established Carter family, which was not publicised beforehand. Callum was originally a comedic character who was jovial, dopey and "happy-go-lucky" and who wore shabby clothing and beanie hats. Callum's initial stint on the show focuses on his relationship with the Carter family and establishing a relationship with Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty).
The actor was only contracted for two months and Callum departs in the episode first broadcast in the United Kingdom on 16 February 2018. Afterwards, Clay was invited back to reprise his role and Callum returns two months later after serving in the army. His experience in the army and his relationship with Whitney are explored upon his return. He later breaks up with Whitney and forms a relationship with Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden), whom he later marries. Producers introduced Callum's brother, Stuart Highway (Ricky Champ); their relationship is initially portrayed as dark, but later becomes supportive. Clay's portrayal of Callum has received a positive response from critics, with a Soaplife columnist describing him as "a welcome ray of sunshine in the bleak world of Albert Square", and Laura-Jayne Tyler of Inside Soap opining, "Square chiefs had clearly found a diamond in the rough with actor Tony Clay".
Creation and development Casting and introduction
Actor Tony Clay was cast in the role of Callum "Halfway" Highway on a two-month contract. The character's introduction was not publicised in the media and he made his first appearance in the episode broadcast in the United Kingdom on 1 January 2018. Following his first episode, in which established character Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) is shot by Callum, it was suggested by Joe Anderton from Digital Spy that Mick would know his shooter. When viewers suggested that the shooter could be Mick's son Lee Carter, with the role recast from actor Danny Hatchard to Clay, David Brown of the Radio Times doubted that this would be true. In his second episode, Callum was confirmed to be the shooter and Lee's friend. Clay agreed with Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy that it was risky for Callum to shoot Mick in his first episode.
It was not confirmed whether Callum would be a regular character. However, executive consultant John Yorke had announced in December 2017 that a new friend for Mick and a new interest for Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) would be introduced in 2018. Kilkelly (Digital Spy) wondered whether Callum could be the aforementioned friend of Mick and love interest for Whitney. When asked whether he found joining EastEnders "daunting", Clay replied, "Yes and no" and stated that although he found it surreal to work with Steve McFadden, who portrays Phil Mitchell, his nerves settled quickly. Callum departs in the episode broadcast in the United Kingdom on 16 February 2018, signalling the conclusion of Clay's contract. Claire Crick of Digital Spy pointed out that Callum was a plot device introduced only to support the Carter family's storylines, especially when Callum is revealed to be in ownership of an expensive ring, which he lets the Carters sell when they need money to save their home, a plot that Crick thought was "convenient".
Reintroduction After the end of his original contract, Clay received a phone call from producers asking him to reprise the role. He thought that because he was invited back, he was "really doing something right", and hoped that he was reintroduced based on a positive first stint. On 28 March 2018, it was announced that Clay would reprise his role as Callum in spring 2018. Clay said that he looked forward to reprising the role, that Callum is "such a lovely role to play" and that he wanted to explore the character further. He had already begun filming when his return was publicised.
On 20 April, Sophie Dainty of Digital Spy reported that Callum would return in the episode broadcast on 30 April and teased that he may return with a secret. Further details about his return were released two days later, confirming that he would have a secret. It was reported that Whitney would be overjoyed when Callum returns but that she would notice that "Callum's mind seems to be elsewhere". Clay explained that it is evident from his return that something has happened to Callum, despite his efforts to hide this. He said that Callum wants to share his secret with Whitney as he is a good person and it "conflicts him a bit". The actor expressed how a main aspect to his character is that he does not like keeping secrets and wants to share everything with Whitney. Also, there is a clear change in Callum's personality when he returns, which is due to the secret. Clay thought it would be "exciting" for the audience to witness his journey.
In his return episode, it is shown that Callum has been wounded while in the Army. Johnathon Hughes of the Radio Times described Callum's injury as "a large, very painful-looking wound". The following episode sees Callum reveal to Whitney that he was hit by shrapnel while saving two children, leaving Whitney "taken aback by Callum's heroism". Dainty (Digital Spy) wondered whether Callum was "actually more shaken by his army ordeal than he's letting on". It was reported on 8 May 2018 that Callum would confess to Mick that he was lying about the incident in the Army. In the episodes that followed, Callum tells Mick that he caused another soldier to lose his leg when saving the children, but is "surprised and heartened" when Mick is not upset by the news.
Clay told Duncan Lindsay of the Metro that Callum returns to Albert Square, the show's setting, because he views it as a home and opined that "he's ever really had a place to call home, this is where he feels loved by Whitney and I think he feels like this is his family, this is his world now and I think this is what brings him back." On Mick and his wife, Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), offering Callum a room at their home, The Queen Victoria public house, as a thank you for helping them with their financial troubles, Clay explained that Callum wants to return to The Queen Vic and that after helping the Carters, he feels better about himself. He also noted that the Carters gave Callum "their word that they would always try to look after him whenever he needed it".
Callum's return to EastEnders and secret was placed at number four in Digital Spy "big soap moments you have to see this week". A Soaplife journalist thought it was "typical" that he was hiding a secret when he returned. The Daily Express ran a poll for readers to vote on what they believed Callum's secret was: 39% of readers thought that Callum was "ashamed" of something that happened in the Army; 26% of readers were in the opinion that Callum had given his kidney to Aidan Maguire (Patrick Bergin) to repay him; 15% of readers believed that Callum left the Army; 13% were convinced that he had been stabbed; and the remaining 7% of readers thought it was something else. There was a positive reaction to his return on Twitter with fans excited that Callum and Whitney had been reunited.
Characterisation and appearance
Callum's costume consists of "scruffy clothes and woolly headwear", mainly beanie hats, and he has a full fringe, which differs from Clay's appearance. Claire Crick of Digital Spy thought that Clay could not "look less like his character if he tried." Clay had his hair cut for the role of Callum as he thought it would suit his character. Clay described the hairstyle as "mad" and thought people sympathised with the character because of it. He hoped that Whitney would decide to take Callum for a better haircut.
When Callum returns to the show, he is 27 years old. Callum is a comedic character, which Laura Morgan of Digital Spy liked as she felt scenes including Callum were "always funnier [than those without him]". Crick believed that Clay's background in stand up comedy would be resourceful when portraying Callum. Clay also observed that Callum is comedic, which he thought was a nice characteristic. He explained that Callum tries to do good and wants to feel "included", and stated that Callum is a jovial character. He described Callum as "happy-go-lucky". Clay felt that although he and Callum shared similar mannerisms, he was not as "dopey" as his character. Callum often misinterprets moments with other people and says "things at the wrong time". Clay thought that this was Callum's biggest flaw, commenting, "He loves to put his foot in it!"
Morgan billed Callum as "hapless", "adorable" and "caring". She observed that Callum acts as "a bit of a dope" and in a silly manner, but is actually quite clever. In article about the character, Morgan expressed her hope that writers would not portray Callum as "a one-dimensional dumbass". Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy called Callum a "cheery soul". Brown (Radio Times) described Callum as "loveable" and a "cheeky chappie", while Hughes (Radio Times) called Callum a "chirpy chap" who is "troubled" when he returns. A Soaplife reporter described Callum as a "sweet and simple soldier", who is also slow-witted. Relationships Whitney Dean Producers established a relationship for Callum when they paired him with Whitney Carter, who is Lee's ex-wife. Brown (Radio Times) said that Callum "anxiously prepares" for his date with Whitney. Rory O'Connor from the Daily Express said that Callum "gives Whitney a shock" when she thinks Callum is proposing marriage. Lindsay (Metro) reported that following the date, Callum continues to show his feelings for Whitney and starts "to win her round with his likeable personality." Clay said that although Callum is not Whitney's typical boyfriend, his effort and charm would impress her. He felt that his characteristics were more appealing to Whitney than his appearance. He added that the shared love between Callum and Whitney makes them a nice couple. Clay liked Callum and Whitney's relationship and looked forward to seeing it develop. When Callum arranges a second date, a romantic meal on the roof of The Queen Vic, Clay said, "It's that kind of thing that you fall in love with." He told Laura-Jayne Tyler of Inside Soap that his relationship with Whitney and the romantic meal helped alter the audience's opinion of Callum as it showed he is a "hopeless romantic". Tyler found Callum's location for the date amusing because in a recent storyline, Whitney's friend, Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald), died after a fall from there. She described his actions as "thoughtful", but commented, "And they say romance is dead!" A journalist from Soaplife pointed out that Callum makes Whitney smile, which they said is not easy considering Whitney's relationship history. Callum Crumlish of the Daily Express described Callum and Whitney's relationship as "unlikely".
Following Callum's departure in February, Morgan hoped that producers planned to reintroduce the character by quitting his army job and returning to be in a relationship with Whitney. When he reappeared in the following episode and kissed Whitney, fans expressed their delight at the potential relationship.