Aleks Shirovs is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Kristian Kiehling. He made his first appearance on 24 January 2014. Kiehling used to watch EastEnders to learn English and was happy to be cast on the soap, although he was initially self-conscious about his English language skills. Aleks is Latvian and is characterised as being outspoken, energetic and very serious about his business, as well as knowing what he wants and not caring on who he steps on to get it. The character is introduced as the new market inspector and many of his storylines revolve around his job, as well as his relationship with market inspector assistant Tamwar Masood (Himesh Patel). Kiehling enjoyed working with Patel and said that Tamwar was one of his favourite characters. Aleks also starts a relationship with established character Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons), although the relationship suffers when Roxy finds out that Aleks was initially paid by her sister Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Womack) to date her. Kiehling believed that Aleks really loved Roxy and thought they were an interesting match.
Aleks is later revealed to have a secret family in Latvia, with his wife Marta Shirovs (Noeleen Comiskey) and their daughter Ineta Shirovs (Octavia Alexandru/Gledisa Osmani). Aleks' cheating is exposed but Roxy stays with him, but their relationship suffers again when Roxy cheats on him with Ronnie's husband Charlie Cotton (Declan Bennett). Kiehling later left the role as he and the EastEnders team were not able to agree on a new contract and his exit aired on 16 April 2015, which saw him leave with his wife and daughter after being reported to the police by Tamwar for theft. His departure was kept secret in order to surprise viewers about the breakdown of Aleks and Roxy's relationship. Kiehling praised his time on the soap and said he would be happy to return, and he noted that he had received good reception from immigrants who related to some of his storylines. Aleks was generally well-received by critics and the public and Kiehling was longlisted for "Best Bad Boy" at the 2014 Inside Soap Awards. Various writers from the Daily Mirror discussed Aleks' cheating and behaviour as a market inspector, whilst a writer from Digital Spy criticised EastEnders for Aleks' exit and said he would miss the character, including his wardrobe.
Casting and characterisation
Aleks Shirovs was played by Danish-born German actor Kristian Kiehling. He used to watch EastEnders to learn English and credited the soap for helping perfect his English language skills. Kiehling was living in Berlin and came to the UK for one day to audition for Aleks. He was nervous at his audition but was thankful of the casting team as they were supportive and allowed him to have several takes for his audition, which he said took the pressure off him so that he was able to start acting. Afterwards, he "started the waiting process, which as a seasoned actor I'm used to. I prayed to God every day, and he or she heard me! I was so excited to hear that I had the role - I think I even did a little dance!" Kiehling was very happy to join the soap, revealing to Digital Spy, "I was thrilled because it's a great honour for me to be here, but then terrified because Britain is a country of such great talent in terms of directors and actors, so it was overwhelming." He enjoyed his first few weeks on the soap and he commented on the cast and crew being welcoming and embracing him "with open arms"; he also commented on the cast and crews' sense of "team spirit". The actor was initially self-conscious about his English language skills not being at the same level as his colleagues and was "kind of standing in the corner" during his first two weeks on set. Kiehling had previously acted in the feature film Will, which was filmed across the street from where EastEnders is filmed.
Kiehling's first appearance as Aleks aired on 24 January 2014. Aleks is Latvian and Kiehling described the character as being "very, very meticulous and he goes about his business in a very serious way, because he wants to achieve much more." The actor also described Aleks as being really tough, adding, "He goes by the book, he's eager to get ahead and he's wheeler-dealing his way through his life. Aleks is also kind of a peacock - he's very vain and wears expensive clothes. He's very sweet to the ladies, too - he's got a soft spot for beautiful women." The official BBC website described Aleks as always getting what he wants and not caring who he has to "step on" to get it, and noted that Aleks wanted a penthouse, luxury car and a "sexy girlfriend". The profile also said, "Aleks Shirovs loved the ladies nearly as much as he loved his own reflection, but don't let that fool you – deep down lay an ambitious man with big plans..." Kiehling considered Aleks to be very "outspoken, energetic and says what he thinks", as well as being a "macho guy". Kiehling believed that Aleks would make some enemies, explaining,
"He's one of those people who has a capitalist attitude and thinks that money is the only thing that counts. His attitude is bound to acquire some enemies and so far I've been involved in some pretty interesting storylines. I'm also trying to give a realistic portrayal of this character - and it will depend on people's point of view on whether he's a baddie or a goodie. I'm pretty sure that some people will see him as a bad guy, but that depends on your perspective. Aleks is not a bad at all - he's just trying to do a job!"
Development Introduction and job
In the character's backstory, Aleks initially came from Latvia to the United Kingdom temporarily with his friends to make money before going back, but he ended up staying as he loved the lifestyle of living in London. Alek's BBC profile revealed, "He got a proper job in Walford, whipping the market (and poor Tamwar!) into shape and didn't see himself returning home any time soon - especially with so many feisty females in Walford to flirt with!" In the months following his introduction, Aleks is characterised as being secretive about his life in Latvia. Kiehling teased that Aleks is leading a double life and that there is something about Aleks' background that is not initially revealed when he debuts. The actor called Aleks a two-sided character and explained that EastEnders executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins said that Aleks is "Batman character when he's doing a job but then he's also Bruce Wayne!" Kiehling hoped that Aleks would get in a lot of trouble and get involved in dramatic and funny situations with the market and his lovelife.
Aleks is introduced as the new market manager of Bridge Street market. When he begins his role, he puts assistant market inspector Tamwar Masood (Himesh Patel) on probation and tells him he needs to prove himself to keep his job. One of Kiehling's first scenes was telling Tamwar off, and he liked working with Patel as he liked his "very beautiful style". Kiehling explained that Tamwar and Aleks clash right away as Aleks wants to be in charge too, adding, "He's the boss, so he's introducing himself to Tamwar as that. I imagine it's a pretty terrifying experience for poor Tamwar!" However, the actor believed that there could be common ground between Tamwar and Aleks due to both of them being slightly outsiders. In 2015, Kiehling said, "Tamwar was actually one of my favourite characters and I really regret that we didn't have more scenes together. I had a fabulous relationship with Himesh, who plays the character. It was quite fun to treat him very badly on screen - we both really enjoyed playing that". Aleks also works with Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) and Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer), who often break the rules on the market, and one of Aleks' first conversations with the pair is about being a bit of an outsider. Regarding Kat and Bianca's rule breaking, Kiehling explained that Aleks' weak point is beautiful women and he thus does not deal with them the same way that he would deal with men breaking the rules, adding, "He tries to sweet-talk them on one hand and be firm on the other, but it won't be an easy relationship". The actor remembered Wallace and Palmer from his English lessons and found it "terrifying" to meet them in real-life, but found them to be very sweet, adding, "I lost my terror the moment we met, which was great". He found Wallace to be very welcoming and Palmer to be comedic, and she called him Robert Redford.
In February 2014, the traders of Bridge Street market revolt when they find out about the council's secret plans to shut it down, and Peter Beale (Ben Hardy) clashes with Aleks when he confronts Peter about the protests. In April of that same year, Aleks ends up worrying many of the residents when he suggests that Bridge Street market may be shut down and he is cornered by several residents. Later that month, Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater) was killed off, starting a long-running Whodunit storyline dubbed Who Killed Lucy Beale?; Danny Hatchard, who played Lee Carter, thought that it would be good if Aleks had killed Lucy, explaining, "The only reason I say that is because Lucy was a cocaine addict - nobody knows where she was getting the drugs from, and all of a sudden he [Aleks] shows up..." In June 2014, Bianca, who is struggling financially, makes a "dodgy deal" with Aleks, who allows her to sell "dodgy" fake tan on her stall on the condition that he gets parts of the profit and some cash upfront. That same month, Aleks fines Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) for selling "dodgy" ice cream on the market without a food license, which horrifies Alfie.
Relationship with Roxy and secret family Aleks begins a relationship with a established character Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons). The relationship suffers after Roxy finds out that her sister Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Womack) initially paid Aleks to date her. Ronnie disapproves of Aleks dating Roxy and warns Aleks that she will be watching him. Kiehling found Aleks and Roxy to be an "interesting combination" and believed that Aleks was drawn and attracted to Roxy as he had found his match in her. Kiehling enjoyed working with Simons and Womack, revealing in 2015, "Rita was a great on-screen partner and made me laugh a lot in between scenes. With Rita and Sam Womack together on set, I had a hell of a time keeping a straight face".
Spoilers in June 2014 revealed that Roxy would become "extremely unhappy" when she finds out that Aleks has a secret wife and daughter in Latvia that he did not tell her about. In the storyline that aired the following month, Tamwar and Alfie find out Aleks' secret and they tell Roxy, who is angry that Aleks has been lying to her, and so she angrily confronts him. It was teased that she would plan revenge on Aleks for his betrayal. Roxy gets her vengeance by putting laxatives in Aleks' food with the help of her relative, Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold). Roxy later gives Aleks a one-way ticket to Latvia and tells him to return to where he belongs. Alex says that he will stay in Albert Square but will not divorce Ineta.