Don was the manager of the Viaduct Bistro for short period, a replacement for Danny Tomlinson who received a better offer and moved down south. Within a very short time, the residents of the street came to realise that he was an unrepentant racist who showed his views in his treatment of the Bailey family.
Ed Bailey had been given the job of converting the bistro to the updated style required by new owner Ray Crosby. The task had seemingly been carried out to everyone's satisfaction and the job signed off before Don took over but he quickly made his mark when he supposedly found faults in Ed's work. It was Ray who passed the message on, making the strange claim that his employee was refusing to pay Ed's final invoice unless the problems were fixed before the next day's grand opening, and Ray refused to override him, saying "you've got to let your managers manage."
Don hovered over Ed as he did the work, interrupting a good-natured conversation with his son Michael who was helping out and calling him "Lenny Henry" while asking if he was going to get on with the task and telling him that his workmanship was shoddy and nothing to laugh about. Michael was astounded at the bluntness of the man, but Ed made it clear that he shouldn't make any waves. Michael couldn't understand his father's attitude, pointing out that there was nothing wrong with the initial work, and was not in the best frame of mind when Don again upbraided the pair, this time calling them "you people". Needing the money, Ed swallowed his pride and got on with the painting of a doorframe.
At the end of the day, Don turned on the pressure by handing them another snagging list and when Michael complained, used a double meaning by referring to him as "generation snowflake", then claiming innocence by saying that it was impossible to say anything which didn't cause offence.
At the family dinner table that night, Michael confronted his father for rolling over but Ed told him that they had to pick their fights as someone like Don would never be changed.
On the second and final day, Don showed he'd lost little of his charm, this time calling Michael "Fresh Prince" and making comments about the family's supposed stereotypical eating preferences. Michael gave his father a lecture about stepping up to racism, but Ed justified himself by telling him of the injuries he had received in the past when standing up to abuse. Michael was wasn't satisfied with the answer, telling him he was letting others carry on the fight while he now walked away.
Ray was happy with the final result of the work, paying the invoice, with a little extra added on, and telling them to take no notice of Don. Ed insisted the family take up Ray's invitation to attend the grand re-opening party which they did, but it wasn't long before they overheard Don telling a friend of his that "the whole flamin' tribe" was in attendance. It was when Don spouted the old adage about paying peanuts and getting monkeys that Ed had had enough. He loudly and passionately confronted Don, bringing silence to the room and ignoring Ray's attempt to intervene by calling Don out for his racism and telling everyone gathered there of the abuse he had suffered all his life and which he continued to receive. Don was embarrassed into silence and only spoke up to once again claim that his comments were jokes but was pushed into apologising by Ray. Ed told him to shove his half-hearted statement and they walked out.
There was a positive outcome: James Bailey had recently come out as gay and Ed had had trouble accepting the fact. His confrontation with Don showed him that James had the right to be himself and he both apologised to his son and told him that he was right beside him from now onwards. Soon afterwards, Ray called at No.3 to tell the family he had sacked Don and offered an apology, which was only reluctantly accepted by the family as they knew Ray had taken no action whatsoever to stem the tide of abuse that had been directed their way when he could so easily have intervened.
List of appearances[]
2020