Rick 'Minty' Peterson is a fictional character from the BBC soap. Minty falls in love with Sam but is unable to stop her relationship with Andy Hunter (Michael Higgs), who really wants control of Sam's assets. When Phil escapes from prison, the police arrest Minty, wrongly believing that he is Phil. Minty tries on several occasions to stop. Review: Life - Andy Hunter| Cross Rhythms. Online Christian radio, Christian music articles, reviews, news and artist profiles. Christian life articles, prayer rooms and much more! Beth Chapman’s Cancer Will Likely Be A Major Storyline On New Show With Dog The Bounty Hunter Blac Chyna Convinced Rob Kardashian & Alexis Skyy Won’t Last & Are Just Together For ‘Clout.

Andy Hunter is a fictional character from the BBCsoap operaEastEnders, played by Michael Higgs. He first appeared in the episode broadcast in the United Kingdom on 3 July 2003 and, following the murder of his gangland boss Jack Dalton (Hywel Bennett), became the show's main antagonist up until the character was axed and killed off in the series' 20th anniversary episode shown on 18 February 2005.

In the first act of the character's story arc, Andy took control of Dalton's position as the reigning crime kingpin of Walford and became the leader of its criminal underworld known as The Firm. Throughout his criminal reign upon Walford, Andy went on to develop a mutual friendship with Dalton's killer Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman); formed a relationship with Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace); and embarked on a longstanding rivalry with Kat's lover Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) after she jilted Andy on their wedding day in favour of Alfie. In his second act, Andy forged a marriage with Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf); humiliated Dennis' infamous father Den Watts (Leslie Grantham) after defeating him in a high-stakes poker game; sparked a feud with Sam's cousin Billy (Perry Fenwick); arranged for Billy's best-friend Minty Peterson (Cliff Parisi) to get beaten up as a result of his romantic feelings for Sam: developed an unlikely friendship with his employed bookkeeper Pat Evans (Pam St. Clement); and ordered the death of local drug dealer Paul Trueman (Gary Beadle) for attempting to entrap him into a police sting operation over his criminal activities — which instigated a conflict with Paul's adopted father Patrick (Rudolph Walker) as a result. In his third act of the show, Andy planned to swindle £750,000 from fellow mob boss Johnny Allen (Billy Murray) upon becoming enemies with his two henchmen and Alfie's cousins; Jake (Joel Beckett) and his younger brother Danny (Jake Maskall). However, on the show's 20th anniversary episode, his plan failed and Johnny killed Andy by throwing him off a flyover in retaliation.

• 2Creation and development

Storylines[edit]

Andy Hunter first appeared in July 2003 as the representative of 'The Firm', of which he later takes control after the murder of it's leader Jack Dalton (Hywel Bennett) — who was killed by his bookkeeper Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman), following the impact that Dalton has ordered the murder of Dennis's father Den Watts (Leslie Grantham) in 1989. Although he suspects Dennis and his love rival Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) were involved in Dalton's murder, Andy pardons them and even forms a friendship with Dennis. When Den unexpectedly reappears two months later, Andy summons him to a meet-up and pardons him for his previous crimes against The Firm.

Having previously married and then divorced a woman named Bev several years ago, Andy embarks on his second wedding to Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace). Their relationship had originally started ambivalent after Kat turned down his offer for a date in The Queen Victoria pub, but Andy eventually manages to win her over and she soon accepts his proposal whilst the pair are out in New York. On their wedding day, however, Kat's crush Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) runs into the church and says he loves her; Kat initially pronounces her love for Andy, but ultimately leaves him for Alfie - thus making Alfie and Andy enemies. Andy soon gets his revenge as Alfie owes him a large amount of money. Andy blackmails Kat to have sex with him behind Alfie's back, in order to pay off the money and if she refuses, he says he will have Alfie killed. Alfie manages to provide the money, but only after Kat has already slept with Andy. When they are in bed together, Andy secretly films everything with a hidden video camera he sets up, and gives the tape to Alfie.

Andy Hunter Life Megaupload Shutter

Alfie later watches the tape out of curiosity and is heartbroken at what he sees, and confronts Kat about it - nearly ending their relationship. Andy hopes for them to split but he doesn't succeed as Alfie and Kat are still going strong, and Alfie also gets his revenge by giving Andy a tape thinking that it is the same tape that Andy sent him. However, as Andy starts to watch it, he is taken aback as he discovers it is a different tape of Alfie and Kat's wedding. Andy eventually accepts their relationship, but continues to clash with Alfie as he quickly establishes himself as Walford's reigning crime kingpin.

The impact of Andy's torment towards Alfie and Kat soon leads to a confrontation with her daughter Zoe (Michelle Ryan) - who is dating Dennis. When Zoe makes it appear that Andy assaulted her and she tells Dennis about it, he confronts and punches Andy - who is forced to explain what he did to Kat in order to get Dennis to understand the truth about Zoe. A few days later, Den invites Andy to a poker game and the pair go all-in with all their money and assets; Andy wins the final round, but chooses not to take Den's possessions and instead humiliates him in the pub by revealing his gambling bet to his adopted daughter Sharon (Letitia Dean). He also clashes with Den over his differences with his longtime friend Pat Evans (Pam St. Clement), whom Andy bonds and later hires as his employee.

In 2004, following Phil's departure and with his brother Grant (Ross Kemp) also absent in Walford, Andy seizes the opportunity to extract the Mitchell assets by forging a relationship with Phil and Grant's sister Sam (Kim Medcalf); despite the efforts of Sam's cousin Billy (Perry Fenwick) and his best-friend Minty Peterson (Cliff Parisi) to end their relationship, Andy marries Sam after tricking her mother Peggy (Barbara Windsor) into believing that his intentions are for goodwill. He later has Minty beaten up after learning that he has romantic feelings towards Sam, thus depicting himself to be a threat towards Andy's plot.

By then, Andy has summoned his henchman Eddie to oversee his criminal activities and later employs local drug dealer Paul Trueman (Gary Beadle). Towards Christmas that year, however, Paul's efforts to uphold Andy's reign leads to his arrest - forcing Paul to betray Andy in order to avoid going to prison, despite knowing that Andy will come for him if he finds out. Andy manages to obstruct the police from investigating him, and deduces that Paul grassed him out. In response, Andy hires a hitman to murder Paul before Christmas and Paul is later killed at the end of the night. Shortly before Paul's death, Sam learns of Andy's true colors shortly after she is conned out of the Queen Victoria pub by Den and her lawyer Marcus Christie (Stephen Churchett). Upon learning of this, Andy kicks Sam out of the house and leaves her penniless; she subsequently resides with Minty after they make amends over what Andy did to them.

In January 2005, Andy's feud with Alfie reoccurs when the latter's two cousins Jake (Joel Beckett) and his younger brother Danny (Jake Maskall) arrive on the square; Andy clashes with the trio after Danny steals his car. After ordering Eddie to investigate the duo, Andy learns that Jake and Danny are working for fellow crime boss Johnny Allen (Billy Murray) - who soon arrives on the square himself. At first Andy manages to have Johnny put Jake and Danny in their place, but grows dissatisfied when Johnny begins to gradually usurp his authority on the square - such as arranging for Andy to hire Jake and Danny for employment.

Whilst growing misplaced by Johnny's authority on him, Andy becomes unnerved when Paul's adopted father Patrick (Rudolph Walker) begins searching for him and constantly questions Andy about his 'whereabouts'. Andy repeatedly denies any knowledge of Paul's fate, but Johnny soon becomes drawn into the subject after witnessing Patrick confront Andy once more. Johnny later orders for Paul to be retrieved, and Patrick subsequently learns of his son's fate when the police inform him that Paul has been found murdered. After identifying Paul's body to confirm that he is dead, Patrick instantly requests the police to question Andy - which they do. However, Andy is let off the hook after the police are unable to find evidence against him. Patrick later swears revenge against Andy after confronting him over Paul's death. When Pat quizzes Andy over Paul's murder, Andy confines to her about his involvement and she ends up ending their friendship as his paranoia grows - up to the point where Andy threatens to kill Pat should she grass him out.

In February 2005, Andy becomes furious when Johnny buys Den's nightclub before he can seize control of it. Andy takes an opportunity to plan revenge when Johnny requests him to help Jake with a £750,000 trade deal to settle his retirement from the criminal underworld; however, his behaviour leaves Eddie worried and this escalates when Johnny puts Jake out of the deal - forcing Andy to manhandle the outcome on his own. In response, Andy convinces Danny to help him flee the country with Johnny's £750,000. On the night of the deal, Andy succeeds with the trade and betrays Danny by leaving him on the street. Before betraying Danny, however, Andy continues to antagonize Alfie by arranging for the local market to be trashed - leaving them virtually penniless. Shortly after 'helping' Johnny with the trade, Andy is confronted by Alfie and the pair fight over Kat - whom Andy declares his love for as he blames Alfie for ruining his happiness with her. Danny attempts to help Alfie take on Andy, but this distraction allows Andy to flee with Eddie.

On their way out of Walford, however, Andy is surprised when Eddie pulls over - claiming that he needs to go to a toilet. While waiting for Eddie to come back, Andy is surprised when Jake enters the car and Johnny opens his door - telling him that they need to have a 'conversation'. As Jake keeps hold of the £750,000, Andy realizes too late that Eddie betrayed him and goes to settle his differences with Johnny. They seemingly part ways when Johnny offers a handshake, which Andy accepts. However, their handshake ends unexpected when Johnny - after giving Andy 'one final tip' and telling him to 'enjoy his flight' - suddenly forces Andy off the flyover, causing Andy to fall to his death upon hitting the ground. Shortly afterwards, Johnny and Jake leave at the scene of Andy's death whilst Eddie flees the country for good. Ironically, Andy dies on the same night that Den is bludgeoned to death by his wife Chrissie (Tracy-Ann Oberman).

While Den's murder remains a mystery to the square, Andy's death becomes public knowledge when the police are informed about his fate - which is depicted to by a suicide. Sam is asked to attend Andy's will reading, expecting to get all of his money and assets. However, Andy leaves the house to Pat and the bookmakers to Dennis, leaving Sam with just his wedding ring, 'so she can sell it, get her roots done and still be the dumbest blonde I ever knew.' In the only revenge she can exact on her late husband, Sam refuses to attend Andy's funeral - leaving Pat and Johnny to appear as the only guests to witness Andy being laid to rest.

Following Andy's death, Johnny usurps his position as Walford's crime kingpin and ends up having Dennis killed, after Dennis had learnt that Andy had in fact been murdered by Johnny, and also that he had just throttled his pregnant wife Sharon. Eventually, in March 2006, Johnny confesses to killing Andy to the police at the request of his daughter Ruby (Louisa Lytton) when she learns the truth about her father murdering Dennis. Later in 2006, Andy's death is avenged by Ruby's boyfriend Sean Slater (Robert Kazinsky) when he causes Johnny to have a fatal heart attack when he confronts him on a prison visit.

Creation and development[edit]

Casting and characterisation[edit]

Higgs auditioned for the role in April 2003 and won the part of EastEnders' new 'bad guy', who made his first appearance in July that year as a member of the gangster organisation known as The Firm.^[1] Higgs stated that he was happy to play a villain: 'They say that the devil has the best tunes, but the main thing is that the character's fully-rounded. With the so-called good guys and bad guys, they're not just good or just bad. There's a dynamic, and that's always the interesting thing to find - where's the weakness? You flesh it out and make them an interesting person.'^[1]

In the hierarchy of the Firm, Andy's character was a subordinate to Jack Dalton (Hywel Bennett), but was appointed leader of the organisation for a brief time following Dalton's murder. Higgs described the differences between Andy and Dalton's leadership styles: 'He's new blood, but he has a completely different sensibility about how the gang operates. Jack Dalton was quite old school. If you upset him you'd get your knee-caps broken or get killed. I think Andy plays more of a psychological game - information is power for him.'^[1]

Discussing Andy's relationship with Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace), Higgs said, 'I think you do see a soft side of him with Kat. He's totally in love with her, which makes him very vulnerable. He's been married before, but the marriage didn't work out. You get the sense that there's some hurt there, some pain that's stopped him becoming involved with other women [...] he likes the spirit of her. She's no-nonsense, in-your-face and slightly larger than life. Andy likes that scared of no one approach. Kat reminds Andy of his mum, with her dark hair and feistiness. He likes the fact that she's a family girl - that's what he wants.'^[1]

Departure and death[edit]

On 18 November 2004 it was announced that actor Michael Higgs had been axed from his role as Andy Hunter and that his last scenes would be screened in Easter 2005.^[2] Higgs' axing from the role came following the decisions to axe fellow cast members Jill Halfpenny and Leslie Grantham. A BBC spokesperson stated 'We thank Michael for all his hard work.' It was speculated that the decision to have Higgs written out of the show was to make way for the introduction of Billy Murray as Johnny Allen, whom critics stated made Andy 'look like small fry'. In an interview on Today with Des and Mel in February 2005 Higgs hinted that his character would be killed off. He made his final appearance as Andy Hunter on 18 February 2005, when his character was murdered by Johnny. Leslie Grantham's final scenes as Den Watts were screened the same night as Andy's departure.

Andy Hunter Life Megaupload Shutters

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^ ^abcd'Michael Higgs - the new gangster on the Square Andy Hunter!'. BBC Online. Archived from the original on 2 October 2003. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
2. ^Wilkes, Neil (18 November 2004). 'Confirmed: 'EastEnders' axe for Andy Hunter'. Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 6 January 2014.

External links[edit]

• Andy Hunter at BBC Online

Andy Hunter Life Megaupload Shut Down By Fbi

Andy Hunter Life Megaupload Shutdown