Mark Tells His Parents He Is HIV Positive | EastEnders

Emotional scenes as Mark tells Pauline and Arthur he is HIV positive. Classic clip from BBC soap opera EastEnders.Click beneath the video to view in high quality and visit www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders for all the latest news, sneak peeks and behind the scenes gossip.
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[@MrSyrett]

This programme seemed a bit grittier back them. A bit better acted. Can't stand it now

[@laminage]

I never realized how Grittier this show was in comparison to Coronation Street. Seb is HIV but nobody really talks about it. David Platt got "Raped" but he didn't go and get tested for HIV.

[@shanefolan]

@@laminage Corrie became somewhat grittier after 1997, before that it was much more light hearted but Brian Park transformed it.

[@SabaTaher]

Facts the more I watch old eastenders clips the more I realise how shit eastenders is now especially in 2020 how they cut all the good characters off :( anx the storylines is shut it’s got downhill

[@suesmith3744]

8 years late but AMEN 🙏🏻 Eastenders a mere shadow of its former glory , old characters sadly missed ..

[@therespectedlex9794]

Either you've got AIDS or you 'aven't son!

[@sarahgee4413]

Came across this ironically as a family member is dying from HIV and cancer … made me sob… too close to home … amazingly done

[@DavieCooper-zz4kh]

Eastenders was so much better back then

[@cherylstevens4717]

Yh nowadays it's crap

[@BenKellyMusic92]

The lack of understanding of the HIV virus and AIDS back then was truly frightening. It's difficult to explain to someone who wasn't there at the time how scared people were of it all. And Eastenders handled the long running storyline perfectly 😎👌🏽

[@samelias2319]

is it? we're living another example of it right now

[@samelias2319]

@Rhys Hoffman my point is that, we're seening people being scared of something that doesn't exist. I don't mean aids. I mean a virus that doesn't exist and is blamed for what what certain medical treatment caused in the case of aids, and absolutely nothing new in the current case. and Mark saying I don't know if I'm sick or not, I just tested positive is exactly what's happening and testing positive for either "virus" doen't mean anything. it's science fiction, a scam, pure and utter rubbish.

[@veehope2702]

Not surprising considering you could get aids by using the same toilet seat as someone who was infected.

[@connoroleary591]

Just imagine if they treated hiv the way they did Covid-19. hiv had a 100% death rate, Covid 0.3%. They were more advanced and caring in the 80's.

[@Hammerton32]

I remember this - landmark television, beautifully handled. people were very scared and the media did not help. it was a frightening time.

[@STEJTHEGREATEST]

I like how Arthur dressed in his Sunday best for the announcement!!!

[@cloverfield911]

It was Christmas Day

[@life_seeker6102]

Sunday best! You don’t hear that term much anymore

[@STEJTHEGREATEST]

@@life_seeker6102 Funny thing is, I only learned it about 10 years ago from Madness' Our House song!!!!

[@everythingeastenders2298]

I think it was also Sharon's wedding to Grant that day!!

[@stephenmcconnell1000]

​@cloverfield911 Boxing Day, 1991. He wanted to get Christmas out the way before telling them.

[@doubleana9184]

Beautiful acting from 3 of the best in Eastenders history

[@andrewjones8001]

As if Christmas at the Fowler's wasn't depressing enough 🙄

[@fretboardmaster70]

True, Christmas Turkey followed by drinks at the Vic. To round off the day, a spot of house trashing and meltdowns with Arther Fowler.

[@pferreira1983]

@@fretboardmaster70 Followed by Pauline following crossing the square and having a brain aneurysm. 👀👀

[@AntoKyuuketsuki]

LOL... Arthur. "It's aids, innit? You've either got aids, or you aven't!" 😂

[@Freddie1980]

This was boxing day 1991, that was broadcast only a couple months after Freddie Mercury passed away from from complications caused by AIDS .

[@laminage]

God they handled and educated people about HIV ten times heavier than All My Children in the US. Cindy who got the disease from her ex Husband a IV Drug User who infected her. She was treated like a Pariah but people came around and understood. Xmas is so sad in The Square, and on The US Soap Opera Guiding Light, their Xmases are also very sad sometimes.

[@kevinprior3549]

@Defund the media I cant believe how nasty and fascist people like you can be

[@kevinprior3549]

Really really was scary the AIDS thing in the very early 90s

[@dominewimbury2039]

One month and two days after

[@laminage]

@@kevinprior3549 Yep. In 1989 Steve Rubell the co founder of Studio 54 died of Aids on July 25th and the following year the Fashion Designer Halston died (1932-1990) who was the first designer to die of the disease. It also took the lives of American designers like perry ellis, patrick kelly, and willi smith.

[@Zedd1500]

All three characters in this are deceased, with only one dead in real life: Wendy Richard (Pauline). RIP.

[@kirstyhert6454]

I didn't even know she died 😳

[@orlansmith6230]

@@kirstyhert6454 Yes in 2009

[@kevinprior3549]

Is man that played Arthur Fowler still alive?

[@jaywest3734]

The original Mark is dead too.

[@samcuciniello3165]

@@kirstyhert6454 love you pauling

[@Brnzgaming_]

This was quite emotional to watch ngl, you can feel marks emotions. Great acting

[@hotrodd29]

You found it emotional, I believe you! So Why would you lie?

[@theblackswan5]

Personally I wouldn't tell my family I have HIV on Christmas Day, but hey ho, whatever sinks your Titanic I guess.

[@version736ha2]

I'd wait till the 28th when there is little to do or talk about

[@alexjones1985]

Why not January the 2nd? Happy New Year!

[@TheKonga88]

theblackswan5 He should have murdered them and saved everybody the hassle😁😁😁😁😬😬😬😈😈😈😈😠😠😠😠

[@rickoneillable]

theblackswan5 yeah but do you have a tv show that needs ratings?

[@peteanderson4395]

Personally.. I'd of announced it on Xmas night..... I've had to put up with the in-laws coming around our place past 8 years...8 LONG YEARS..... would put a stop to them coming over... great long streaks of misery

[@123brownjames]

Big storyline back then....can’t underestimate the impact this made

[@WillTube1990]

I was only a year old when this was broadcast first time, but I think Eastenders in 1991 was far better than today's story lines. Give me a classic episode from the early 90's any day!

[@stephenduncan3605]

The present Eastenders is so dire that I don't watch it much anymore. Think it might be time for the BBC to axe it altogether!

[@paulwills9230]

arthurs face at 2.15 is priceless

[@tijindersingh5635]

This reminds me 30 years ago when my English friend told her parents that she's going out with an Indian boy and told me her parents facial expressions were the exact same as Arthur and Paulines in this clip.

[@andrethomas7075]

Unfortunately some bigoted idiots would compare a interracial relationship to Aids.

[@bestgrimbarianever]

indians love white girls so it's only fair ;)

[@MarineAqua45]

@@bestgrimbarianever Visa-versa.

[@ciarascarlett2424]

Wendy richard a

[@ciarascarlett2424]

Rip to all the great actress wendy richards pam st clement june brown and the wonderful famous barbra wìndsor rip to all in eastenďers ŕip to every one. Who played them all. Will be missed. Fantasic chartcharters.

[@P1mpMyBr1de]

My grandma used to have that exact same mirror in her living room total flash back!

[@TheKonga88]

P1mpMyBr1de My uncle's sister's rabbit's babies had one of those apples that are in the fruit bowl. 🍏🍏🍏🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌🍌🍅🍅🍇🍇🍇🍇🍇🍇🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍒🍍🍍🍍🍍🌱🍉🍉🍐🍐🍐🍐🍐🍐🍐🍈🍏🍏🍏🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈

[@ronaldcustard4636]

Kunta Kinte Lol good one had a good chuckle

[@teralmiles]

I hope she draped tinsel on it too.

[@ciara313245]

Todd Carty's acting is just 🙌🙌🙌💯

[@cherylstevens4717]

What is todd carty doing these days? He was fantastic on the bill.

[@sharapovamad]

couldnt have don e that any better credit to him as an actor and eatenders writers

[@jackheaney]

Mark Fowler, aka the man with the deepest voice in the history of humankind

[@startracker5895]

Hardly! There’s loads of deeper voices out there. Some even women! Lol

[@shanefolan]

arthur looks like the lion from the wizard of oz

[@rhianhegarty3383]

I agree , I always knew he reminded me of someone!

[@Kazavop]

Lel

[@BabyDollLayla]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂💀

[@fretboardmaster70]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@lovelondon806]

Shane Folan 😂😂😂

[@tijindersingh5635]

Arthur and Pauline probably thought Mark said he's got HGV.

[@jamstrings100]

I told my parents I had diarrhea once.

[@alexjones1985]

I assume they didn't react like Arthur and Pauline?

[@arielpiss2573]

jammyjammer2015 was it explosive

[@ASuwan22]

How did they cope with the news?

[@9ElevenGamer]

Was it on Christmas day?

[@ada4927]

And this was the raw reality for many families in this situation at the time. Fastforward 30 yrs and it's a bit of a non-issue thanks to the availability of information and advancements in treating HIV. RIP to all the characters and to Wendy Richard.

[@pferreira1983]

14 years isn't too bad but I always wished he could have recovered and been in the clear.

[@mrdr0161]

Then he'd be a miracle. You don't recover from HIV

[@therebel4332]

"Its just one day i might get ill, and i thought you ought to know"... lol

[@kevinprior3549]

I swear the Fowlers in the 90s had the biggest fruit bowl ever.

[@shanefolan]

a friend of mine got hiv in 2008 and he alluded to this episode he watched as a child

[@loriannwhite8384]

No matter what he said, all they heard was: AIDS!

[@laminage]

The UK handled this Storyline alot heavier than when they did it on All My Children where a Lady named Cindy got AIDS from her former Husband who was an IV Drug User and infected her with his Blood. Stuart Chandler still married her, made her happy and sadly enough she died. When he looked at a Paining of her that he created for her. He's an Artist he cried tears of joy that she was no longer suffering and tears of sadness because she was gone.

[@Ladyblues690]

Every time it ry n look for full episodes of this one and previous ones either they're not the full ones or they're not in order. Pls can someone send a link, or post previous ones if they have them? I don't need the recent one since I'm at the part where Sam, Chrissie, and Zoe plotted against Den.

[@kevinprior3549]

He had to tell them at some point.

[@lovelondon806]

Kevin Prior I hope he at least told em after their dinner

[@sickpup820]

This was done just after Freddie Mercury died in 1991 which affected the whole country. The writers then went ahead with this idea.

[@rick182z]

affected the whole country??? ... No just fans of Queen

[@razer0072073]

MARKS DAD- "Whats HIV"

[@DifficultFlannel]

"HIV? Are you sure?" "yes, I'm HIV positive"

[@patrickphair488]

shut up Cartman :-/

[@parkdibus1260]

"I'm not just positive Stan I'm HIV positive" Eric Cartman South Park 😄

[@jen_wren_x]

Very well acted..

[@theromellagilliesshow2342]

These scientists should working hard to treat and cure HIV AIDS

[@Blubatt]

They literally are, you fool.

[@monoelmono9476]

It's almost if he didn't wanna say it on telly either. It's superb acting. The lack of understanding of it too, we all said it was AIDS and still do half the time. It's still one of them viruses that would be difficult to tell friends and family about

[@shanefolan]

i don't think he wanted to say aids as it would be too scary for them and wanted to cushion the blow.In 2012,aids is very scary but in 1991 the word was alot scarier for people as there was alot less information and treatments for both hiv/aids and it was very new.The thing that bothered me was that he told them at xmas time,he could have at least let them enjoy their christmas and tell them after.

[@TheKonga88]

Shane Folan He should have murdered them in their bed and they would have never found out.😈😈😈😈😈😠😠😠😬😬😬😇😇😇😇😇

[@laminage]

Yes. On the US Soap Opera As The World Turns there was a Fashion Designer named Hank whose Lover died of AIDS. He would later "Leave" The Show. Sadly enough Two Actors died of The Disease in Real Life. Chris Bernau who played Alan Spaulding on Guiding Light on and off from 1977 to 1989 who died of AIDS. Another Actor named Terry Lester who played Jack Abbott #1 on The Young & The Restless also died of a Heart Attack due to his HIV Status.

[@swineheartdoppleganger5516]

I know they could have found a cure in-between Christmas and new year? Didn't, but could have. he didn't know did he?!

[@trevorthompson7604]

Great acting

[@Rtd22375]

Life is miserable enough without it

[@leah2341]

I pray that jesus covers you go through this and continues to cover you as you go through this and anyone else going through this too, jesus knows what your going through, i pray that you trust and believe in the lord,god bless you xxxPrayers go out to the people and their families going through this and And you and your family and friends too x

[@mjjones8216]

Id chuck that fruit in the bowl if i was arthur i meen marks has been speaking over it . I mean you can’t be too careful can you and while you’re at it change the tablecloth as well 😂

[@Michelle_Schu-blacka]

Am I right in thinking that the mentality at the time was that 'only gay men got HIV/AIDS?' I'm sure I remember that question being asked either by the characters or in the media.

[@Red-Rambo]

No it was around this time in the early 90's when people was more educated on h.i.v and aids . It was in the 80's and 70's when everyone believed that only gays contracted the virus

[@paulbackhard6315]

In normal working class families the thought was only gay men got aids . They would of instantly though mark was a homosexual.

[@redfield1007]

Hmmmm......no Mark. I'm thinking Christmas wasn't a great choice for this. But thanks anyway ; )

[@lfclegendunluckyyylucas7275]

Watch this😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱 very good Acting from the guy who said I have HIV to his parents.

[@d4nny-san130]

Lol how did Mark catch it tho? Even his Wiki page doesn't say much about it at all... i guess Eastenders wanted to raise awareness and that's it =/

[@lovelondon806]

DreamMasterASMR from his ex

[@5516724]

Maybe it was a thing that the hiv virus was taken as having aids and was misunderstood easily

[@chuckydog]

well i found it funny and its my opinion.

[@swineheartdoppleganger5516]

I liked Pauline Fowler in Benidorm. Was funny.

[@Mandystesia]

Christmas story.. Nice and depressing

[@Ben_Kirkham]

What year was this? 1990/91?

[@jimllfaxit]

Shit,Tucker's HIV.

[@baybiidizzy]

ignorance eh, Im 12 and even I know H.I.V or Aids is not just caught by sex and needle sharing , people have caught having routine opperations, blood transfusions was big cause of infection in 70,s 80,s one lady i know was 65 when she caught it!! all through helping a stranger who had been stabbed

[@kevinprior3549]

I think there should be ads today about AIDs

[@shanefolan]

todd cart is irish too

[@Lucas16IDK]

When did Mark first found out he had HIV?

[@shanefolan]

@mallaka8 interesting,i always thought that when hiv turned to aids there was no hope left

[@Red-Rambo]

Yes that's pretty much the case. It was a lot worse back then due to there not being any successful treatments for full blown aids. But these days there are much better treatments to help cope with it but obviously still no actual cure as if yet

[@SmileyMT]

no its not its the exact way u'd say .... at the time people didn't really no exactly wat it was and how it cud be cured ... i know ur entitled 2 ur opinion but its definateley the way u'd go about it... u may find it funny i don't however

[@ASuwan22]

Tucker's Luck!

[@rogerjoseph8522]

Haha. Cheeky. Got to admit though, Todd Carty is a good actor!

[@TheKonga88]

anil2 Lucker's tuck 😁😁😁🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍝🍝🍝🍭🍭🍭🍬🍬🍫🍨🍧🍧🍧🍧🍰🍰🍩🍳🍳🍪

[@ianbyrne5298]

R.I.P Arthur Fowler ( He loved this place )

[@robbiekhan5813]

Is this mark fowler

[@redfoxes5153]

yes

[@TheKonga88]

Robert Khan No, it's Tiny Tim 😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀

[@dannydougin3925]

What year was this??

[@nyassaisleaving990]

1991

[@TheHotgrl318]

o_O what's the difference between aids and HIV positive? This is rlly sad. I feel srry for him. I mean AIDS. Ugh. Noone wants to catch it. I feel rlly srry fro him! so sad!

[@Red-Rambo]

Hiv is the virus that causes aids. When you just have hiv then it can be treated and managed with medication and it can be kept from turning into aids for years or some cases for the rest of your life. But once it turns in to full blown aids then there is no hope.

[@TheBillSO54]

Does anyone know what year this was?

[@Eurafrican]

Thebillso54 It was Boxing Day 1991

[@arserobinson7118]

i remember it being 1990 when he said this, if i recall.

[@Eurafrican]

Arse Robinson I've heard it's boxing day- but boxing day 1991 or 1990?

[@Eurafrican]

Pauline's hair and dress looks more 1990s than 1980s so I'd guess 1991?

[@TheKonga88]

Thebillso54 1823 😊😀😀😀😀😀😀

[@Rtd22375]

EastEnders has always been too negative

[@alexburt6995]

What've you been up to son?

[@STEJTHEGREATEST]

Everytime I see Todd Carty's birthmark, I can't help thinking of it being a chocolate stain!!!

[@stephenmcconnell1000]

I always imagine he's been eating Coco Pops for breakfast and one got stuck to his lip

[@joey-xq3ei]

I always thought it was a mole 😂

[@STEJTHEGREATEST]

@@joey-xq3ei Who knows??/

[@roserobertson3107]

Mum dad I've got Aida perfect Christmas

[@chriswaring5565]

IM HIV.... HGV MARK DIDN'T KNOW YOU COULD DRIVE A LORRY

[@themetacrisis]

He caught it from his girlfriend.

[@thomashernandez8700]

How did he acquire it? Gay man here.

[@nyassaisleaving990]

He got it from his girlfriend who had got it from her ex boyfriend.

[@margaretmoore5621]

Was Miss Kitty of Gunsmoke gay?she died of Aids.

[@LR-us1go]

Why are you all writing some much shit on this page ?

[@stephenmcconnell1000]

@@peterschofield1553 the majority of the idiots making comments sound like kids who probably weren't alive when HIV could still result in you dying because effective treatments hadn't yet been perfected.

[@neptunestardust]

What does HIV stand for

[@TheKonga88]

Nicole Barrett Heavy ice vehicle. 😁😁😁😁😁🚛🚛🚛🚛🚛🚛🚛🚚🚚🚚🚙🚙🚙🚙🚙🚙

[@shanefolan]

highly infectious virus

[@TheKonga88]

Nicole Barrett Hammer in Victor 😁😁😃😃

[@tijindersingh5635]

Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

[@paulleeds3448]

Herpes In Vulva

[@user-ct1vo2sd3v]

I've got the virus but l ain't got AIDS!

[@margaretmoore5621]

two of my freinds died of Aids, either one of the was gay.

[@TheKonga88]

Pauline was gorgeous 🎅🎅🎅👄👄👄👅👅💋💋💋💋💋💋

[@miksta1988]

@bikegirl2 Haha! Funny!

[@shanefolan]

how on earth was this funny?

[@TheKonga88]

Shane Folan Because the way he contracted it.. He was raped by Martian mice 👽👽👽👽👽👽👽👾👾👾👾👾👽👽👽👽🐁🐁🐁🐁🐁🐁🐁🐁🐁🐁🐁🐁🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀

Either you've got AIDS or you 'aven't!

[@Pmccaff2009]

How did he get Aids? I cant rememeber him being gay.

[@keeperofthe7keys1987]

He wasn’t gay, he got it from his exact girlfriend who got it from her ex partner

[@Alan95Haitch]

Why do people always ask if there joking, why would you joke about something like that :/

[@gagiman7273]

When eastenders was good

[@ellz01]

@lulu93 hahaha lol

[@christopherwaring8285]

HE,S H,I,V DIDNT KNOW HE DROVE A LORRY SORRY THOUGHT HE SAID H.G.V

[@aurelionunziata9729]

😂😂😂

[@chuckydog]

i remember this. couldnt stop laughing for years

[@cherylstevens4717]

It wasn't funny

[@joey-xq3ei]

Now it’s all about “you’ve got covid”.

[@anon54678]

What IS HIV Positivee ? x

[@ant-ct4cu]

LOL

[@gemmalouw3925]

This is...it’s just terrible acting lol

[@chuckydog]

i didnt say HIV was funny, i said this was the funniest scene ever.

[@chuckydog]

this was the funniest scene ever.

[@nelvaldo.4850]

HST? So Mark thinks he's a train then? The story lines are getting ridiculous on Eastenders, more of a correz fan myself.

[@PandaPowerable]

Prob like in the future when everyone will wonder what all the fuss about covid was about.

[@ewaye]

gay dude

[@Red-Rambo]

Gay? He caught it from his wife who unknowingly caught it from her previous boyfriend.