Name	Albert Square
Colour
Caption	Aerial view of Albert Square as it was during the 1980s
Genre	Soap opera
Type	Square
Locations	The Queen Victoria
People	EastEnders characters

Albert Square is the fictional location of the BBC soap opera EastEnders. It is ostensibly located in the equally fictional London borough of Walford in London's East End. The square's design was based on the real life Fassett Square in Hackney, and was given the name Albert Square after the real life history of Prince Albert and the then deprived East End. The public house, The Queen Victoria, was also given its name due to this. One of the key characteristics of the pub is the window twitching by any of the occupants throughout the years. They are often known to look out of the windows, giving a view of the whole Square. This is especially common in dramatic storylines.

Central to the Square are the gardens. The garden is home to Arthur Fowler's bench, which was placed there in memory of him. The bench is also known as the Bench of Tears, as it is often the place where characters will go and cry.

The square is the centre for all of the everyday drama in all of Walford's residents' lives, most of the characters on EastEnders live on the square. Although a major place on the show, there are other places which are used in the show, like the market.

Albert Square within the EastEnders set

In reality, the exterior set for the fictional Albert Square is located in the permanent backlot of the BBC's Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, at .

The set is outdoors and open to the weather. The main buildings on the square consist of hollow shells, constructed from marine plywood facades mounted onto steel frames. The lower walls, pavements etc. are constructed of real brick and tarmac. The walls were intentionally built crooked in order to give them an aged appearance. The drains around the set are real in order for rain water to naturally flow from the streets. The square was built in two phases with only three sides being built plus Bridge Street to begin with in 1984. The fourth side of the square plus further expansion to the exterior set was completed in 1987. None of the buildings on Albert Square have any interior filming space, and most don't have rears or gardens. The grocery shop was originally open fronted, it was turned into a closed front shop, with removable interior walls to allow for filming inside the shop when the set was expanded in 1987. The cafe also has some interior decoration so some limited filming can take place by the door.

The set was expanded further to include George Street, more shops and the tube station in 1992 in order to create further locations when EastEnders went from two to three episodes per week in 1993. The newer exterior sets including Fish & Chip shop, video shop and beauty salon have some interior filming space to create a greater sense of realism.

See also

Walford

References

External links

BBC - EastEnders

BBC map of Albert Square

Fassett Square - "The original inspiration for EastEnders".

Category:EastEnders locations Category:Fictional streets and roads

Name	Nick Cotton
Portrayer	John Altman
Creator	Julia Smith and Tony Holland
Introducer	Julia Smith (1985)Matthew Robinson (1998)John Yorke (2000)Diederick Santer (2008)
Years	1998,
First	19 February 1985
Last	4 June 2009
Classification	Former; regular
Spinoffs	The Return of Nick Cotton (2000)
Born	29 April 1956
Home	Outside Walford
Occupation	Con artist
Wife	Zoe Newton (1984–2000)
Mother	Dot Branning
Father	Charlie Cotton
Sons	Ashley Cotton
Daughters	Dotty Cotton
Grandfathers	Bob Colwell
Grandmothers	Martha Colwell
Aunts	Rose
Uncles	GerryTim

Nick Cotton is a fictional character from the British soap opera EastEnders played by John Altman on a recurring basis from the soap's debut episode in February 1985, through to his last appearance to date in 2009. Nick is the son of characters Charlie and Dot Cotton, and the father of Ashley and Dotty Cotton. His storylines have seen him twice commit murder, succumb to a heroin addiction, and attempt to poison his own mother, amongst numerous other misdemeanours. Nick was also the subject of a special spin-off episode, The Return of Nick Cotton, which aired in October 2000. He has been voted one of television's all-time most villainous characters in a Channel 4 poll.

Creation

Nick Cotton was the twenty-fourth character invented by the creators of EastEnders, Tony Holland and Julia Smith. Nick was not part of Holland and Smith's original vision for EastEnders, and his creation came about as an afterthought. The first episode of the series was to include the death of an elderly resident, Reg Cox, who had been brutally attacked in his home, and left to die. During the first writers' meeting, where the writers were introduced to the intended characters and early scripts, each independently wanted to know which character had killed Reg. However, Holland and Smith had never intended for the murderer to be unveiled. They had no idea who had killed Reg Cox, and they had felt that "the who" was not important. The fact that he was dead following an attack was the important issue, and Reg's murder was not intended to be solved, it was only there to tell the audience, from the outset, that Walford was a rough and tough place. The writers opposed this. They accused Holland of throwing away a great opportunity and suggested that a murder hunt would provide an array of dramatic possibilities that would captivate the audience. After deciding that all of the twenty-three original characters were incapable of committing the crime, Holland decided to invent an entirely new character, in the form of Nick Cotton. The original character outline for Nick read: "His image is exclusively macho. Vanishes for weeks on end. Mum doesn't ask questions... Unlike Den, Nick is a real crook. Worms his way into people's confidentiality and homes. From then on, lives on his wits. Waiting for the moment to strike; to nick the cash and disappear...Usually chooses his victims who, for one reason or another, are frightened to report him...Nick's a heroin addict." As Nick was only intended to be a semi-regular character, Julia Smith was not involved in his casting and the actor John Altman was chosen by the directors.

Development and storylines

Nick has been described by EastEnders' executive producer Diederick Santer as "the show’s premier villain". An EastEnders Revealed documentary chronicling the character's time on the show deemed him a liar, a thief and a murderer who "thrived on the pain and the misery of those near to him". Santer has explained that Nick was established as a "kind of spitting, snarling beast right from the outset", with the end of the first episode seeing Nick granted EastEnders' first drum roll ending as he punched through the glass door window of The Queen Victoria pub.

Although Nick was only a semi-regular character, his intermittent appearances were always scripted to make a big impact on the show, as well as all the characters involved in his storylines. He reappeared and left several times during the first few years of the show, causing maximum havoc every time, and it wasn't long before the tabloids had begun to brand the character "Nasty Nick". Altman has commented: "I think they keep bringing Nick back because he’s one of the characters on British TV that people just love to hate". Altman summarised: "Through having a really good defence and lying his head off once again, he got away with murder". Upon her return, Dot explained that Nick had been arrested yet again off-screen for drugs possession, and that Zoe and Ashley had moved away, tired of his criminal acts. This paved the way for John Altman to reprise his role as Nick in April 1998 when he escaped from prison. He tried to cheat Dot out of her money again by telling her he had AIDS caused by his drug addiction, and that he needed money for his medication and travel around the world before he died. Dot believed him and tried to arrange money for Nick but soon discovered he had been lying about his illness all along, and had him rearrested and sent back to prison.

In late 2000, a special 'soap-bubble' titled The Return of Nick Cotton aired. The episode centred around Nick's release from prison, his reconciliation with his son, and even featured Christopher Hancock who played Nick's father Charlie, making a brief cameo appearance as a ghost almost a decade after his character was last seen on-screen. The episode paved the way for Nick's subsequent return to Walford, where he reignited an old feud with Mark Fowler, had a spell in a wheelchair as a result of a fall from the viaduct, and indirectly caused the death of his son, Ashley. Following Ashley's death, Dot threw Nick out and told him never to return, as she would never be able to forgive him. However, Santer explains: "There will always be a way back to Dot for Nick", June Brown revealed that she had been asking producers to bring Altman back to the soap for 6 or 7 years, as the two of them share such a good working relationship. In a further plot twist, it was revealed to the audience in 2009, that Dotty (real name Kirsty) was colluding with her father all along. In the storyline, Dotty suggested killing Dot for her life assurance policy and they began playing tricks on Dot, leading her to believe that she was suffering with dementia; Nick's aim being to kill Dot and blame her death on her deteriorating mental state. During Nick's brief stay in the square, he overheard Billy Mitchell telling Dot how he let Jase Dyer die and Nick blackmailed Billy demanding regular payments or he would tell Jase's son Jay Brown what Billy did. When Billy's cousin, Phil Mitchell, found out about this, he led Nick into an alleyway and after being wound up and insulted by Nick, he beat him up. Phil gave Billy the opportunity to kill Nick and end this, however Billy let him go and the short feud ended. The plot with his own daughter to kill his beloved mother climaxes on-screen in June 2009: Nick's plan goes awry after Dotty has a change of heart and ultimately rescues her grandmother from being poisoned, instead drugging Nick. This leads to a series of events whereby Nick, in a bid to escape once his plan has been exposed, holds various members of the community hostage in the café and an accidental fire is started due to a fight between Nick and Ryan Malloy, who was one of the hostages. This results in an explosion at the café with Nick inside. The storyline marked Altman's departure from the show once again. His departing episode was scripted as a cliffhanger, as it was not revealed whether Nick had survived the explosion at the end of the episode. However, in the following episode, on 4 June 2009, Nick is shown to survive the explosion and departs after once again being disowned by Dot. Dotty is left in Dot's care despite Nick explaining to his mother that Dotty is evil.

Reception

Nick Cotton has become one of EastEnders' most renowned villains. His 'nastiness' was voted the 25th "Greatest Soap Moment" in a Channel Five poll in 2004, and he has also been voted the 4th most villainous television character in a Channel 4 poll. The Guardian columnist Charlie Brooker has denied Nick's villainous characterisation however, writing: "The man simply isn't menacing; he's half as terrifying as an Argos catalogue. Whereas [Coronation Street villain] Jez Quigley looked as though he'd enjoy riding an onyx stallion through a field full of groaning, recently-impaled victims before galloping home to bathe in the blood of the fallen, Nick Cotton merely looks like he might, at a push, dispute the price of a dented tin of custard with a supermarket checkout girl while you wait behind him, wondering when he last washed his hair." The Times's Fiona McCade satirised the character when Altman appeared on the children's TV show Balamory, advising parents to: "be prepared to cover your little ones’ eyes as the bad boy of soap strides into the colourful, fictional paradise, no doubt goosing Miss Hoolie, upsetting PC Plum and making Josie jump. I also fear for the safety of Archie, the chubby, cheerful posh boy who wears a pink kilt and lives alone in a big pink castle. With Nick in town, he doesn’t stand a chance."

See also

List of soap opera villains

Notes

References

External links

Walford Gazette, John Altman Interview

Category:EastEnders characters Category:Fictional con artists Category:Fictional drug dealers Category:Fictional murderers Category:Fictional plumbers Category:Fictional characters introduced in 1985

Name	Spencer Moon
Portrayer	Christopher Parker
Years	2002–05
First	29 November 2002
Last	7 January 2005
Born	11 April 1983
Home	Australia
Classification	Former; regular
Occupation	Chip shop worker, Barman
Creator	Louise Berridge
Father	Alfred Moon
Mother	Cherry Moon
Brothers	Alfie Moon
Grandmothers	Victoria Moon
Cousins	Michael Moon
Relatives	Jake MoonDanny MoonMaxwell Moon

Spencer Moon is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Christopher Parker between 2002 and 2005. Spencer is the brother of Alfie Moon, played by Shane Richie.

Creation and development

Parker was cast in the role of Spencer in 2002, of which he expressed surprise, saying "I can't believe I've achieved my biggest ambition so fast." In November 2004, Parker was rushed to hospital, and during his recovery, EastEnders bosses excused him of all filming commitments. After three weeks of extended leave, Parker and production staff reached a mutual decision that he would not return to the series, writers created a storyline to explain the character's absence, rewriting existing scripts to do so.

In April 2010, it was reported that EastEnders producers were considering bringing Spencer back to the series, and would make their decision after Alfie returns to the show later in the year. However, a BBC spokesperson denied the report, saying "There are absolutely no plans to bring Chris Parker – or the character of Spencer Moon – back to EastEnders."

Storylines

Spencer arrives in November 2002 with his older brother Alfie. Alfie takes over management of The Queen Victoria public house and he and Spencer move into the upstairs flat along with their grandmother Nana Moon (Hilda Braid). Both Spencer's parents were killed when he was young, and since then he was brought up by his brother and grandmother.

On New Year's Eve 2002, after much chasing, Spencer receives a kiss from Kelly Taylor (Brooke Kinsella). He believes it will lead to a relationship so tries to woo her, plying her with gifts and following her wherever she goes. Kelly does not take him seriously and he ends up looking foolish. His inexperience with women is obvious and as his 18th birthday approaches he admits to Alfie that he is a virgin and believes he is likely to remain that way. Alfie gives him advice to go for less attractive girls. On his birthday, Spencer gets a kiss but the girl finds out he was only interested because he deemed her an easy target and leaves. Kelly witnesses his plight and, to cheer him up, takes him home. However, Alfie ruins things by offering Kelly money to take Spencer out the following day. Kelly, an ex-prostitute, immediately thinks that Spencer is trying to buy her body, and refuses to see him again. Spencer begins to think the only way to be taken seriously by women is to impress them with money, so he started selling stolen goods provided by Mickey Miller (Joe Swash). Spencer is given forged money in return for his goods and gets in trouble when he spends the money in a club owned by local gangster and boss of The Firm, Jack Dalton (Hywel Bennett), and Spencer discovers the last person to spend forged notes in Jack's club was killed. Alfie is forced to use his own savings to save Spencer, but Jack cannot let the matter go due to his reputation. Alfie takes the blame and gets a severe beating.

Spencer tries to settle down and works for his brother as a barman to keep out of trouble. Further problems arise when a one-night stand with Vicki Fowler (Scarlett Johnson) leaves her pregnant. Spencer soon warms to the idea of being a father but a horrified Vicki has an abortion behind his back. Spencer finds it difficult to forgive her, but eventually does on New Year's Eve 2003, when they are both stranded on the Scottish moors following a motor accident. Vicki tries to set Spencer up with Kelly, locking them in the office at nightclub Angie's Den. After initially arguing, and a relevation from Kelly that she only slept with him out of pity, they being talking. When Vicki lets them out, she was finds them kissing. During the summer, Kelly, Spencer and Kareena Ferreira (Pooja Shah) decide to become holiday reps in Ibiza. Kelly and Kareena pass their interview but Spencer is forced to stay behind while Kelly goes away. On the day of her departure, Kelly tells Spencer she loves him, which he reciprocates, and she promises to return to him. However, Kareena returns on her own, and tells Spencer that Kelly met someone else and was not returning.

Spencer starts working as a cleaner for Ian Beale, but boasts about his high-power status to Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner). Spencer was thrilled when she shows an interest in him, and they end up in bed together after a single date. Perceiving him to be wealthy, Stacey blackmails Spencer claiming she is only 15. Fearing would end up in prison, Spencer pays her money and illegally serves her alcohol in the bar. He is relieved when he finally discovers her true age and that he has not committed a crime. Spencer's cousins Danny (Jake Maskall) and Jake (Joel Beckett) arrive in Walford, and Danny stashes drugs in Pauline Fowler's (Wendy Richard) home. He convinces Spencer to retrieve the stash, but Spencer is seen breaking in by Dot Branning (June Brown), who promptly phones the police. Spencer is caught in the act, while Danny leaves him to take the blame. Spencer is arrested and spends New Year's Eve in prison. After being released, Alfie sends him to live with another cousin Maxwell (Andrew Paul) in Australia.

References

External links

Category:EastEnders characters Category:Fictional bartenders Category:Fictional characters introduced in 2002

Name	Shane Richie
Caption	Shane Richie in January 2005
Birthname	Shane Patrick Roche
Birthdate	March 11, 1964
Birthplace	Harlesden, London, England
Yearsactive	1986– presemt
Occupation	Actor, comedian, television presenter, singer, media personality
Children	Shane Roche Jr (b. 1988) Jake Roche (b. 1992) Mackenzie Blue Roche (b. 2006) Lolita Bell Roche (b. 2008)
Spouse

Shane Richie (born Shane Roche, 11 March 1964) is an English-Irish actor, comedian, singer and media personality, known for his portrayal of the character Alfie Moon in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders.

Early life

Born Shane Patrick Roche in Harlesden to Irish Catholic parents, Richie was a member of a youth theatre as a child, and began his professional career in adolescence as a bluecoat entertainer in Pontins holiday camps. He progressed to the live stand up circuit - receiving a nomination for best new stand-up at the inaugural British Comedy Awards. In 1989, Shane made nightly appearances for Sky TV's chat show series Jameson Tonight, which was hosted by Derek Jameson & Shane Richie and recorded at the Windmill Theatre, London - In 1990 Shane made his first terrestrial television appearances as one of the comics on the BBC One sketch show Up to Something! with Suzy Aitchison, David Schneider, Frances Dodge, Mike Hayley and Lewis MacLeod. The show got axed after one series and was replaced by another sketch show You Gotta Be Jokin in 1991. Shane was one of five comics, the others being Maddi Cryer, Annette Law, George Marshall and Billy Pearce.

He later branched out into anchoring game shows after proving successful as host of the kids' quiz show Run the Risk, which was played during the BBC Saturday morning show Going Live. He moved into mainstream presenting with Caught In The Act, Win, Lose or Draw, The Shane Richie Experience (later revamped as Love Me Do) and Lucky Numbers. He also replaced Danny Baker in the 'doorstep challenge' TV ads for Daz detergent; he had previously replaced Baker as host of Win, Lose Or Draw.

Musicals Acts

Richie was a success in musicals - including Boogie Nights and a London production of Grease. He released two albums, to limited commercial response, and had a Number 2 single in the UK Singles Chart in 2003, with his Children in Need single, a cover version of Wham!'s "I'm Your Man".

Over Christmas 2005, Richie appeared in a touring run of Scrooge: The Musical.

He took part in an early edition of Blind Date. After being asked the question "How would you wow me on a first date?", Richie burst into song, singing "Wild Thing."

In 2009, Richie was reportedly scheduled as the opening act for Michael Jackson's concerts at the O2 Arena. The concerts were cancelled following Jackson's death.

Television roles

From 2002 to 2003, Richie played the villainous Danny Dexter on Night and Day. He won supporting roles in low-profile British films beginning with Chris Barfoot's award winning short comedy movie Dead Clean and then later Distant Shadow. In 2003 he was executive producer for the British film Shoreditch, in which he also appeared in a lead role. He invested a six-figure sum into the budget of the film, which ultimately made little profit.

As Alfie Moon, in EastEnders, Richie received immediate acclaim for bringing humour to a programme often panned for being too depressing. The role won him numerous awards including the award for "Best Male European Actor" at the Rose D'or Festival and National Television Awards for "Most Popular Actor" in 2005, shortly before he, and co-star Jessie Wallace, left the programme on Christmas Day, 2005.

In 2007, Richie starred in a new ITV1 drama The Good Samaritan, and Father Frank for BBC One. He also starred in the second series of Skins on Channel 4 as Bruce Gelcart, a lecherous college drama lecturer.

It was announced on 28 January 2008 that Richie will be hosting a brand new music lyric quiz show on Sky1 called Don't Forget the Lyrics!, whereby contestants must finish off the lyrics to lines of popular songs in order to win money. This commenced on 11 May 2008.

On 25 April 2008, he was due to be a guest on The Paul O'Grady Show, but due to Paul O'Grady falling ill, Richie had to stand in as host.

On 8 May 2008, he said in an interview with Digital Spy that he would love to return to EastEnders as Alfie Moon.

On 23 July 2009, Richie announced on The One Show that his character Alfie Moon would return to EastEnders. On 7 February 2010 it was confirmed that he would be returning to Eastenders as Alfie Moon. Following an absence of almost 5 years, Richie made his on-screen return to Eastenders on 21 September 2010.

Starting in February 2009 Ritchie was set to star in a revamp of the series, Minder, in a six part series on Five. Rather than a remake of the original, Ritchie stars as Archie Daley, the nephew of the character Arthur Daley from the original series, which ran from 1979 to 1994 on ITV

On 26 July 2009 Shane appeared in a one-off TV drama called Whatever It Takes. He played a character called JJ Merrick who comes to the aid of a girl who wins a radio competition — and catapults her into stardom, thus giving her a new lease of life to what she has been used to before in her lifetime.

Film career

In 2003 Richie produced and starred in Shoreditch in which he reportedly invested half a million pounds of his own money. The film received negative reviews and was not widely seen.

In 2006, Richie played a rat named Sid in the Aardman Animation film Flushed Away and appeared in What We Did on our Holidays is None of Your Business for ITV1. He has recently been seen in the UK stage tour of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest as Randle McMurphy, and heard as a presenter on Virgin Radio, where he interviewed Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet.

He will be seen in the film Prisoners of the Sun with former EastEnders co-star Michael Higgs.

Awards

. British Soap Award Sexiest Male 2003

. British Soap Award Best Actor 2004

Filmography

Films

{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;" |- bgcolor="#B0C4DE" align="center" ! Year ! Film ! Role ! Notes |- | rowspan="1"| 1998 | Dead Clean | Nicos Malmatakis | Short film |- | rowspan="1"| 1999 | Distant Shadow | Paul | |- | rowspan="1"| 2001 | Silent Soul | Chippy | Short film |- | rowspan="1"| 2003 | Shoreditch | Thomas Hickman | Also executive producer |- | rowspan="1"| 2006 | Flushed Away | Sid | Voice role |- | rowspan="1"| 2010 | Prisoners of the Sun | Kalfhani | Post-production |- |}

TV

{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;" |- bgcolor="#B0C4DE" align="center" ! Year ! TV Show ! Role ! Notes |- |rowspan="1"| 1978 | Grange Hill | Schoolboy | Uncredited; 1 episode: 1.1 |- |rowspan="1"| 1989 | Jameson Tonight | Co-host |SKY TV nightly chat show |- |rowspan="1"| 1990 | Up to Something! | Various Roles | |- |rowspan="1"| 1991 | You Gotta Be Jokin' | | |- |rowspan="1"| 1997 | Sooty & Co | | 1 episode: Sooty's Christmas Panto |- |rowspan="1"| 1998 | Macbeth | Porter | |- |- |rowspan="1"| 1997 | CITV Awards 1997 |Baron Rockefeller | |- |rowspan="1"| 1998 | Macbeth | Porter | |- |rowspan="1"| 2000 | Burnside | Tony Shotton | Recurring |- |rowspan="1"| 2002-20052010- |EastEnders | Alfie Moon | Series regular |- |rowspan="1"| 2003 | Night and Day | Danny Dexter | Recurring |- |rowspan="1"| 2003 | French and Saunders | | 1 episode: Christmas Celebrity Special |- |rowspan="1"| 2006 | What We Did on Our Holiday | Nick Taylor | |- |rowspan="2"| 2007 | The Good Samaritan | Brian Guest | |- | Robbie the Reindeer in Close Encounters of the Herd Kind | Trooper #1 | Voice role |- |rowspan="1"| 2008 | Skins | Bruce Gelcart | 1 episode: Sketch |- |rowspan="3"| 2009 | Minder | Archie Daley | 6 part series |- | Whatever It Takes | JJ Merrick | |- | New Tricks | Johnny Tevis | 1 episode: Death of a Timeshare Salesman |- |}

Discography

Albums

Shane Richie - The Album (1997)

Once Around the Sun (2000)

Singles

I'm Your Man (2003) - #2 (UK)

Autobiography

In 2003 he released his autobiography Rags To Richie, which was a best-seller. In the book, he claims to have had sex with six girls in a chalet, during his time as a Pontins Bluecoat and he broke the law by orchestrating ticket touts outside of Grease. He also claims to have given free tickets to the touts, who went on to sell them at a large profit for Richie.

Personal life

Shane was born in Harlesden, and attended Cardinal Hinsley Catholic Secondary School

Shane married Coleen Nolan in 1990 and together they had two sons, Shane Roche Jr (2 December 1988) and Jake Roche (16 September 1992), they divorced in 1999 due to his infidelity.

He proposed to his fiancée Christie Goddard at her 26th birthday party in April 2005, and on 23 April 2006 she gave birth to a boy, Mackenzie Blue. They got married on 21 July 2007. They confirmed in an interview with Hello Magazine on 10 June 2008 that they were expecting a girl. Christie gave birth to their daughter Lolita Bell on 28 July 2008.

He is very close friends with his Eastenders co-stars Jessie Wallace and Kacey Ainsworth.

He is a supporter of West London football club Queen's Park Rangers F.C..

Shane Richie has recently become patron of Shinfield Players Theatre, an amateur theatre company in Reading, Berkshire, taking the role from recently deceased Anton Rogers. He made his first appearance in the audience on 11 July 2009 for the Youth Group production of Disco Inferno. After having a couple of photos taken with the performing cast, including Luke West and Mark Read (who played Heathcliffe and Jack respectively) and two children from the non-performing cast, he chatted to some of them and the director of the show, Gordon Bird.

He has also become a patron of a dance school, "Tina Counsell's school of dance" and appeared at the dance school's 25th anniversary annual show. Tina and himself have had links for years and are good friends. He's very supportive towards the dance school and hopes to run drama workshops for the pupils.

References

External links

Shane Richie hopes for EastEnders return

Shane Richie as Alfie Moon on the BBC's EastEnders page

Official MySpace page

Shane Richie appearing in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at The Mayflower Theatre Southampton

Shane Richie from the beginning

Category:English Roman Catholics Category:English comedians Category:English male singers Category:English game show hosts Category:English television presenters Category:English soap opera actors Category:English film actors Category:English stage actors Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:British people of Irish descent Category:People from Harlesden

Richard "Doc" Walker (born May 28, 1955 in Cherry Point, North Carolina) is a former American football tight end in the National Football League, who played for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Washington Redskins. He played college football at UCLA.

Broadcasting career

Walker currently covers sports during radio broadcasts in the Washington Metro Area and co-hosts The John Thompson Show on WTEM. He used to be a co-host on The Locker room with Doc Walker and Kevin Sheehan. He hosts a weekly television show called "Doc Walker's ProView," which airs Sunday mornings on ESPN980 and Tuesday evenings at 11pm on MASN. He also appears in D.C. Lottery & BMW of Sterling commercials. Up until the 2010 college football season, he was also the main color analyst for ACC football games for Raycom Sports with Steve Martin.

Walker is the sideline reporter for Washington Redskins radio broadcasts. In 2004, Walker initially caused a bit of a stir, but later received accolades from listeners of "The John Thompson Show" when he predicted that the Washington Redskins record would not be very good that year, the first of legendary coach Joe Gibbs return. Walker went on the record as saying they would "be competitive and play with more heart," but would not win many games in Gibbs' first year because they didn't "have a clue how to play smash-mouth, Joe Gibbs style, no nonsense, NFC East football." He predicted that Gibbs needed one season to "clean up the disaster he inherited (from former coach Steve Spurrier), get rid of the knuckleheads that aren't down with the program, right the ship, and assemble his group of core Redskins, and that will take one year. They will be in the playoffs in '05, mark my words." His hypothesis proved correct, as he accurately guaranteed they would be in the playoffs the following year, 2005.

Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:American football tight ends Category:Arena football announcers Category:Cincinnati Bengals players Category:College football announcers Category:The Hogs Category:National Football League announcers Category:UCLA Bruins football players Category:Washington Redskins broadcasters Category:Washington Redskins players

Caption	Barbara Windsor as Peggy in 2008.
Name	Peggy Mitchell
Portrayer	Jo Warne (1991)Barbara Windsor (1994–2010)
Years	1991, 1994–2003, 2004, 2005–10
First	30 April 1991
Last	10 September 2010
Classification	Former; regular
Introducer	Michael Ferguson (1991)Barbara Emile (1994)Louise Berridge (2004) Kate Harwood (2005)
Born	21 March 1942
Family	Mitchell
Home	Outside Walford
Occupation
Image2
Caption2	Jo Warne as Peggy in 1991.
Husband	Eric Mitchell (1960–85)Frank Butcher (1999–2001)Archie Mitchell (2009)
Sons	Phil MitchellGrant Mitchell
Daughters	Sam Mitchell
Sisters	Sal Martin
Mother	Lilly Martin
Father	Jack Martin
Grandsons	Ben MitchellMark Fowler, Jr.Richard Mitchell
Granddaughters	Louise MitchellCourtney Mitchell

Margaret Ann "Peggy" Mitchell (née Martin; previously Butcher) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Peggy was initially played by Jo Warne when she first appeared on 30 April 1991, featuring in the series on a recurring basis over several weeks. Peggy was reintroduced in 1994, recast and was then played by Barbara Windsor. Peggy became a regular character, and Windsor played the role for 16 years. She announced in October 2009 that she would be leaving the show, and departed in September 2010. Following this, Windsor said she would never return.

Peggy is fiercely protective of her family and the Mitchell name, and has become famous for her catchphrase "Get outta my pub!", used when ejecting people from The Queen Victoria, of which she was the landlady. Her storylines have seen her embark on a series of failed romances, including marriages to Frank Butcher (Mike Reid) and Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb). She has been central to several plot strands revolving around health issues, launching a hate campaign against the HIV positive character Mark Fowler (Todd Carty), and going on to make amends with him when she was later diagnosed with breast cancer. Inside Soap named Peggy the UK's top soap matriarch in 2009.

Creation

Peggy was introduced as a guest character in April 1991, by executive producer Michael Ferguson. The character was brought in as the mother of the already established Mitchell clan: Phil (Steve McFadden), Grant (Ross Kemp) and Sam (Danniella Westbrook). Specifically, she played a key role in a storyline about the elopement of her daughter Sam with Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen). Peggy was played by actress Jo Warne for a period of three months, but was written out upon the completion of the storyline. Two other actresses had been cast in the part before Warne. The first quit before she could film any scenes, and the second filmed eight episodes, though all of her scenes were scrapped before broadcast.

The character did not make another appearance until 7 November 1994, when she was reintroduced by series producer Barbara Emile as a regular character. The actress was recast, the role being taken over by Barbara Windsor, already well-known to viewers as a comic actress, notably appearing in the long-running Carry On films. Scott Matthewman of The Stage commented on the recast in 2006: "Quite the biggest — and most inexplicable — transformation is that of Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders. While Barbara Windsor has dominated the role...first appearing in [1994], the character had appeared briefly [three] years earlier, played by Jo Warne, a lady who physically is as different from our Babs as it's possible to get."

Steve McFadden and Ross Kemp had attempted to persuade EastEnders writer Tony Jordan to develop a spin-off for their characters, which would star Windsor as Peggy. The idea never advanced beyond informal discussions, but when the producers decided to reintroduce Peggy, McFadden and Kemp suggested Windsor play her. June Deitch, the EastEnders casting director, had met with Windsor to discuss the matter, and was convinced when Windsor declared that she would "like to play my own age for a change". Windsor has spoken of her "terrified" reaction to being asked to audition, commenting: "I had the weekend to prepare and I cried all the time. I didn't know how to do soap acting. I was so used to using my hands, my eyes." She auditioned with two scenes, one emotion, one "jolly" which Windsor has described as "agony", explaining: "I was afraid of playing Barbara Windsor, so when I had to laugh I went 'huh, huh'. Anything rather than 'tee, hee, hee'." According to Windsor, 27 million viewers watched her first appearance as Peggy on-screen.

When Windsor took over the role in 1994, she was unhappy with the way Peggy was being scripted. She has commented, "a few things weren't quite right about Peggy at the beginning. On a purely superficial level, the wig didn't fit right. And the clothes weren't right either. They appeared too downmarket. I was particularly worried about how the character was viewed by the producer and writers. I saw her as much ballsier than they did. I think they envisioned Peggy as this rather sad, vulnerable lady who spent all her time worrying about her children." She has also been branded a "battleaxe" by Dave West of entertainment website Digital Spy, and someone who "wears her heart on her sleeve" by Windsor.

It has been speculated that Windsor based Peggy on Violet Kray, mother of the infamous East End gangsters, the Kray twins; however Windsor has denied this.

Development

Peggy has been central to numerous high-profile storylines, including a battle with breast cancer, a failed marriage to Frank Butcher, and various business and family upsets.

Breast cancer

In 1996, Peggy featured in a storyline about breast cancer. It was the first time that the soap had given one of its characters the illness, though the issue was covered much less substantially in 1987 as a means of promoting breast cancer screening, when Sue Osman (Sandy Ratcliff) discovered a lump on her breast, which turned out to be benign.

Peggy's breast cancer storyline was devised at the suggestion of a scriptwriter in a story conference session and, according to the production staff, was an idea "that had been knocking about for a long time." In Lesley Henderson's book, Social Issues in Television Fiction, an EastEnders researcher explains that: "A lot of illnesses [...] translate quite readily into strong dramatic material", and the experience of being hospitalised or waiting on test results is something everyone can identify with. BBC Production chief executive Matthew Bannister praised Windsor's portrayal of Peggy coming to terms with a mastectomy, commenting: "It's brought a good deal of comfort and help to us and a lot of other people."

Oncology nurses and consultants were involved in the development of the storyline, which was based on a real life case study. In Clive Seale's book, Health and the Media, EastEnders was praised for putting its message across without being "gruelling". It has also been praised for showing "potent scenes" of a woman coming to terms with her diagnosis, scenes that also provided "rare opportunites" to portray a cancer patient "behaving badly" and depicting "ambivalent felings (such as denial or anger)" — as it had been noted that cancer patients are typically portrayed in the media as "beatific, serene figures".

Played by Mike Reid, Frank had been a regular character in the serial from 1987–1994, and had appeared in a recurring role until 1998, when Reid agreed to return full-time. Frank's history on the show included a former marriage to another long-running matriarch, Pat Evans (Pam St. Clement). Their history as lovers featured prominently in Peggy's narrative in 1998, when, after agreeing to marry Frank, Peggy was wrongly told that Frank and Pat were having an affair. A special two-hander episode aired in November 1998, featuring only Pat and Peggy for the entire duration. It concentrated on Peggy's reaction to the suspected affair, whilst simultaneously addressing Pat's unresolved history with Frank and the apparent destruction of Pat's own marriage to Roy (Tony Caunter), who had also responded badly to the rumours about his wife's infidelity. The episode, written by Tony Jordan, featured what the Sunday Mirror described as one of "the most vicious fights ever filmed by a soap", with both throwing glasses at one another and Pat slapping Peggy across the face exclaiming "You bitch!" and Peggy responding by slapping Pat exclaiming "You cow!". According to press reports, the fight scene between the characters was "so powerful that it had to have scenes and dialogue cut so it could be screened before the 9pm watershed." Barbara Windsor was reportedly bruised during the filming. Windsor commented, "The writer didn't want a namby- pamby cat fight between two silly girls. We were throwing chairs and bottles and the adrenaline was at a high. When I saw the programme I couldn't believe how good it was. Pam and I were really proud." The Sunday Mirror described it as: "one of the most impressive episodes of all time". In the eventual episode, it was actually Grant Mitchell who persuaded his mother to marry Frank - with whom he had been feuding following his accidental killing of wife Tiffany - after Peggy was having second thoughts, thinking that Frank was only marrying her out of pity.

Together Frank and Peggy ran The Queen Victoria, and were involved in various family and business crises, including a "tug-of-war" for their public house with "cuckoo-in-the-nest" Dan Sullivan (Craig Fairbrass). After taking time off in 2000 due to ill-health, Reid announced that he was quitting the soap in May 2000. The pair enjoyed a liaison on a Spanish beach during a week-long August special set on the Costa Blanca, which saw Frank and Peggy go away with Pat and Roy and Terry and Irene Raymond (Gavin Richards and Roberta Taylor). In December 2000, Ian Hyland of the Sunday Mirror voted the scene in which Peggy slaps both Pat and Frank as one of the "TV fights of the year", saying "It was Peggy's speech which really made it a Bonfire Night to remember. But the slaps were equally well dispatched." Commenting on Reid's exit, Windsor has said, "We fell out when I found out he was leaving because it was a shock for me. I was really upset. I've known him 30 odd years and I really like working with him. We had a great relationship as friends as well as performers. I got my own back when I had to slap him after I found out he was fooling around with Pat. I did the slap twice as I didn't think I did it hard enough the first time." Windsor's absence was originally only supposed to be a year long. She stated at the time: "This has been a very hard decision for me to make because I'm so happy here on EastEnders but it's been a long time without a proper break. I just feel some time off would be good for me and for the character too." Louise Berridge, then EastEnders' executive producer, commented: "Barbara has been an absolute trouper for more than eight years on this show. We hope she has a great time and look forward to bringing her back with a big story in 2004." Her absence coincided with a two-year ratings slump for EastEnders, with David Liddiment of The Guardian drawing direct correlation between her return and the show's "ratings rejuvenation". The episode in which she returned was watched by 10 million viewers, winning EastEnders a 47% audience share in the timeslot.

Relationship with Archie Mitchell; running for local government

In March 2008, the BBC announced that Larry Lamb had been cast as Archie Mitchell, the brother of Peggy's late husband Eric. Archie was scripted as a love-interest for Peggy and Peggy's backstory was retconned to incorporate a romantic history with Archie. Portrayed as an adulterous villain, Archie began controlling Peggy, changing her clothing and her hair style and instructing her on how to behave.

In 2009 Peggy ran as an independent candidate in the local council elections against Archie's wishes. Writers wanted a storyline that allowed Peggy to stand up for her beliefs, and felt that running for local government would allow her to speak passionately about the community. After a scene showed Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) asking Peggy, "Where would Tony Blair have been without Alastair Campbell?", Campbell responded by giving advice to Peggy in a video blog. A response from Peggy was then recorded, thanking Campbell for his input. Peggy pulled out of the election at Archie's request ahead of their wedding, however the storyline set up a later episode in which Boris Johnson, Mayor of London made a guest appearance in EastEnders. On 1 October 2009, Johnson appeared in the show as himself, visiting Walford and The Queen Victoria and conversing with Peggy. Johnson commented on his appearance: "It was, of course, a tremendous honour to step inside that most venerable of London landmarks, The Queen Vic, and share a scene with another of the capital's icons, the fabulous Barbara Windsor." Executive producer Diederick Santer stated: "We couldn't let the visit pass without the Mayor entering London's most famous pub, The Queen Vic, and meeting its formidable and politically-active landlady Peggy Mitchell."

Peggy and Archie's wedding was filmed on location in North London in January 2009 and was screened in March that year in an hour long special. Realising the extent to which Archie had been controlling and trying to change her throughout their engagement, Peggy gave him an ultimatum at the altar: he either accept the real her, or call the wedding off. Archie chose to marry her, though Tim Teeman for The Times commented: "'[T]he real Peggy' is a hazy concept: there’s Peggy the big-hearted East End landlady and Peggy the crone famous for rasping 'Get ahht my pub' to anyone who crosses her path. For someone into evil mind control, Archie has brilliant taste. The wedding outfit he had chosen for Peggy was much nicer than the tatty net curtains that even Miss Havisham would have rejected that the 'real Peggy' chose to marry in." However, the marriage lasts only as long as the reception; when Peggy realises Archie has been manipulating other members of his family, Peggy throws him out and a feud ignites between Archie and the Mitchell clan.

Peggy resumes her plan to run for council in 2010, but is furious to discover that Pat is also running. The storyline introduces the character of Harvey Freeman, played by Martin Jarvis, a freelance journalist who is reporting on the election. Harvey is a potential love interest for both Peggy and Pat, and causes friction between the friends.

Departure

On 28 October 2009 it was announced that Windsor had quit the show and would leave in 2010 after 15 years. She said: "EastEnders has been wonderful to me and it's no secret that it changed my life all of those years ago. I'll be so sad to leave Peggy behind; she's such a wonderful character to play. I have had the pleasure of working with a marvellous cast and crew and have made many lasting good friends. To have had the honour of showing the Queen around the set is something that will stay with me forever." Peggy's final episode, which aired on 10 September 2010, was preceded by a number of television trailers in August and a new section on the EastEnders website dedicated to the character. The episode ended with a special reworking of the piano version of the EastEnders theme tune known as "Julia's Theme", called "Peggy's Theme". Tribute was then paid to her in a clip programme, Peggy Mitchell: Queen of the Vic. Peggy's final episode attracted 10.1 million viewers, and was the second most-watched programme in the week of 6–12 September.

At the time of the announcement of Windor's departure, it was reported she wanted to take a two year break, but after that would like to make return appearances as Peggy. However, in September 2010, she ruled out a return, saying "It was a bit selfish of me but I didn't want to be killed off. I am never going to go back but I like to think that [Peggy]'s still out there somewhere."

Storylines

Backstory

Peggy married Eric Mitchell in the 1960s because she was pregnant with Phil (Steve McFadden). Eric, a keen boxer, worked for gangster Johnny Allen (Billy Murray). Johnny would taunt Eric, making him do demeaning jobs because Eric was a better boxer than him. Eric fell in love with a woman called Maureen and planned to elope with her, but changed his mind, unable to desert his family, who he grew to resent. Eric took his angst out on Peggy and was often violent towards her and Phil. She won Best Actress at the 1999 British Soap Awards, and was granted a Lifetime Achievement award in 2009. She also won a Lifetime Achievement award at the 2001 Inside Soap awards, and was named the UK's top soap matriarch in a 2009 Inside Soap poll. She also won the Soap Legend award at the 2009 TV Now Awards. Furthermore, Windsor was nominated for the Outstanding Serial Drama Performance award at the 2008 and 2009 National Television Awards, Best Soap Actress at the 2007 TV Now Awards, Best Actress at the 2009 British Soap Awards, and Best Actress at the 2009 Inside Soap awards.

(Todd Carty) for being HIV positive.]]

The character was viewed unfavourably by a proportion of viewers in 1996, when Peggy discovered that Mark Fowler (Todd Carty) was HIV positive and subsequently mounted a hate campaign against him. Windsor has since revealed that she was initially opposed to the storyline:

Actress and writer Jacquetta May, who played the character Rachel Kominski between 1991 and 1993, has discussed the storyline and the role of women in an article about EastEnders. According to May, the scriptwriters were faced with a problem once Peggy, "a key figure of the community", was shown to exhibit such "pig-headed ignorance and appalling prejudice". In order for Peggy to be redeemed, she had to be seen to be punished, and so the character was given breast-cancer later that year. May comments, "Peggy, malicious gossip and bigot, herself becomes the victim of a life-threatening illness. At Christmas they run a Christian forgiveness story. Peggy calls on Mark and tells him she now knows what it is like to suffer as he has. She apologises, thus underlining one of the basic tenets of the programme: underneath the skin we are all the same, human and vulnerable, and recognition of this should unite us not divide us. Along the way, a great deal of useful information about these illnesses was broadcast. So, although EastEnders endlessly repeats its conservative format, and although all issues are there primarily to feed the great hungry story-beast, its positive by-products cannot be denied."

EastEnders has received praise for the handling of Peggy's breast cancer storyline, as she was a rare media portrayal of an older matriarchal woman with the disease. Older women are at higher risk of being diagnosed; however, in 2001, it was reported that media representation of breast cancer is skewed towards younger women in their 20s or 30s, as they are seen as "more tragic" or "more sexy" in media terms. A 2000 study by Kitzinger and Henderson showed that 94% of newspaper coverage on non-celebrity women with breast cancer was on those aged under 50.

In December 2008, Bupa doctors criticized UK soaps for presenting unhealthy role models to viewing audiences. Paul Bignell and Cole Moreton for The Independent refuted the accusation, naming Peggy as an acceptable role model for her devotion to her family, protecting her nieces and loving her sons despite their numerous misdemeanours.

In popular culture

Peggy has been spoofed in several programmes, including the ITV cartoon sketch show 2DTV, and Harry Hill's TV Burp. In the BBC's Big Impression, impressionist Ronni Ancona performs as Peggy, shuffling around on her knees to exaggerate Barbara Windsor's petite height, and regularly using the catchphrase "Get outta my pub!" Impressionist Jan Ravens has spoofed her in the BBC's Dead Ringers, also mimicking her cheeky laugh. Commenting on Ancona's impersonation, Windsor has said: "she does me brilliantly. I told her it was a great compliment. She made me realise my little hands wave around a lot." A 2006 episode of Doctor Who entitled "Army of Ghosts" features a fictional EastEnders scene in which Peggy tells one of the ghosts to "get outta my pub!"

See also

List of soap opera recasts

References

External links

Category:Fictional characters introduced in 1991 Category:EastEnders characters Category:Fictional bartenders Category:Fictional businesspeople Category:Fictional politicians

Name	Jack Branning
Portrayer	Scott Maslen
Introducer	Diederick Santer
Years	2007—
First	29 October 2007
Born	5 September 1972
Classification	Present; regular
Occupation
Home	29a Albert Square
Family	Branning
Father	Jim Branning
Mother	Reenie Branning
Wife
Sisters	Carol JacksonSuzy BranningApril Branning
Brothers	Derek BranningMax Branning
Daughters	Penny BranningAmy Mitchell
Sons	Richard MitchellJames Branning
Nephews	Robbie JacksonBillie Jackson Bradley Branning Oscar Branning
Nieces	Bianca JacksonSonia FowlerLauren BranningAbi Branning

Jack Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Scott Maslen. He made his first appearance on 29 October 2007. He is the youngest child of Jim and Reenie Branning and the brother of April Branning, Carol Jackson, Derek Branning, Suzy Branning and Max Branning. The character was introduced to the show during a period when EastEnders was being routinely criticised in the media for its reliance on resurrecting old characters. The casting of Scott Maslen provoked some controversy, being the first time an actor had been poached from one mainstream soap to another. It was quickly established that Jack is a morally ambiguous character, with a murky past in the police force resulting in the paralysis of his young daughter. Tabloid media have praised the character for his role as resident Romeo, commenting frequently on his good looks and attractiveness, however broadsheet press have been more critical of Maslen's acting.

Creation

Background

Jack Branning was one of several new characters to join the EastEnders cast in the second half of 2007. At a time when the show was undergoing media criticism for its resurrection of old characters, John Yorke, the BBC's controller of drama production, defended the show's ability to create interesting, new characters. He praised the show's executive producer Diederick Santer for his development of new, "strong characters", including Jack Branning, and Roxy and Ronnie Mitchell. Speaking of this new wave of characters, he stated: "It feels like a new dynasty is emerging, which is important."

Prior to his introduction in October 2007, the character was referred to once, a week before his arrival. He is a member of the soap's Branning family; his sister Carol first appeared in the serial in 1993, while father Jim had appeared from 1996. More recently, brother Max and his own family were introduced in June 2006.

Casting

It was first announced on 13 July 2007 that actor Scott Maslen had been cast in the role of Jack. Maslen himself pointed out that the character of Jack was actually higher ranking than Phil Hunter, joking: "I've been promoted from playing a DS in Sun Hill!" Maslen's casting marked the first time an established actor had been poached from one mainstream soap to another. Speaking for the first time about his new role, Maslen said: "I was very sad to leave The Bill but after five years I wanted to explore new opportunities. The Bill afforded me some fantastic storylines. I'm really looking forward to playing Jack. He's an extremely competitive man who likes to win in business and in pleasure!"

Development

Upon announcing his casting, Maslen described the character of Jack as "an extremely competitive man who always likes to win in business and in pleasure". He mentioned that there would be an "instant attraction"

The relationship between the two characters developed quickly from friendship to romance, with Janus commenting that due to her friendship with Maslen; "Our first kissing scene felt really uncomfortable, it was terrible, but we're over it now." Several media publications commented on the fact that the attraction between the two characters had been obvious, and bound to develop into more than a professional relationship.

As the character's personality developed, questions were raised over whether his intentions and motivations were good or bad, with Maslen explaining: "I call him amoral; neither good nor bad. He gets what he wants out of the situation but that isn’t necessarily just a selfish thing. He’s not an evil character, but if there are people that are threatening him, his business or his family, he will do whatever he needs to do to eliminate that problem."

Storylines

Backstory

Jack is the youngest child of Jim (John Bardon) and Reenie Branning (Joy Graham) and brother of Derek (Terence Beesley), Carol (Lindsey Coulson), April (Debbie Arnold), Suzy (Julie Christian-Young/Maggie O'Neill) and Max (Jake Wood). Having grown up in a large family in a poor area of East London, Jack regularly fought his older brother, Max, for the attentions of his father who was an alcoholic. As a teenager, Jack stole his grandfather's World War II medal, knowing that it was Jim's prized possession as his father had died in combat when he was only six years old, and framed Max, causing a huge rift between Jim and Max and resulting in Max walking out in 1989. Despite Max and Jack being arch-rivals, they kept in touch as Jack was present at Max's wedding to Tanya Cross ( Jo Joyner) in 1994 and watched his nieces Lauren (Madeline Duggan/Jacqueline Jossa) and Abi (Lorna Fitzgerald) grow up.

Jack settled down with Selina (Daisy Beaumont) and on marrying, they had a daughter, Penny. Jack built a career in the police force but got involved in criminal activities and when they backfired, one of Jack's informants knocked Selina and Penny down in revenge for being accidentally sent down. Penny's spinal cord was severed, putting her in a wheelchair, and in the aftermath, Jack and Selina divorced and Jack retired from the police force.

2007—

Jack comes to Walford on 29 October 2007 for his nephew Bradley Branning's (Charlie Clements) wedding to Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner). Upon his arrival, Jack soaks Ronnie Mitchell ( Samantha Womack) when driving through a puddle, so she soaks him with her water bottle. A fight with Max leads to Jack's invitation being revoked so he stays at The Queen Victoria public house and helps Ronnie's sister Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons) prepare for the reception. Deciding to stick around, Jack comes between Ronnie and Roxy when he buys Scarlet Nightclub and offers Ronnie a partnership. Jack causes more disruption in the Mitchell family when he sets up Ronnie's cousin, Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), by taping him confessing to his part in Kevin Wicks's (Phil Daniels) death by selling him cut-and-shut cars. Jack blackmails Phil with this, demanding the car lot for his silence (which he then rents to Pat Evans (Pam St. Clement)).

Despite the Mitchells' animosity, Jack falls for Ronnie, and after kissing on Christmas Day 2007, they start dating. However, their relationship is rocky as the Mitchells, particularly Roxy, try splitting them up. Jack's ex-wife, Selina, reappears briefly and they have a one-night stand, which Roxy finds out about and tells Ronnie, who is about to move in with Jack but changes her mind, ending their relationship. They reconcile briefly in April but Ronnie does not trust Jack and struggles to bond with his daughter, Penny. Raw from losing Ronnie, Jack and Roxy have a drunken one-night stand. Both regret it and agree not to tell anyone but Roxy is pregnant, giving birth to her daughter, Amy, on 14 November 2008.

Jack starts dating Tanya, who is now estranged from Max. Jack supports Tanya and her children as they struggle to cope after discovering Max's affair with Stacey and his departure. However, Max returns and is furious to discover that they are together. Max tries buying the family home but Jack outbids him, buying 5 Albert Square and moving in with Tanya and the children. Max tries coming between them but is unsuccessful. Much to Max's horror, Tanya forgives him and in desperation, Max tries framing Jack, claiming Jack tried to kill him. Jack is arrested but soon released, due to his connections in the police force. In revenge, Jack takes Max hostage, beating him and taunting him before abandoning him in an old warehouse. Later that night, Max is mowed down by a car and Jack is prime suspect. Max's daughter, Lauren, later confesses and, to save Lauren from prison, Tanya confesses to the police and is arrested in November 2008. While in prison, Tanya ends her relationship with Jack.

Depressed after losing Tanya, Jack demands a DNA test on Amy, Roxy's daughter. Roxy reluctantly agrees but tells him that Sean is Amy's father. Jack concentrates on re-building his relationship with Ronnie, with whom he now shares a flat. However, on Christmas Day 2008, Jack's sister Suzy reveals the true result – Jack is Amy's father. Furious, Sean snatches Amy and persuades Roxy to join him on a trip to Dagenham. However, Sean tries to kill them by driving into a frozen lake. Jack and Ronnie appear and save Roxy and Amy. On returning to Walford, Roxy tells Jack that he will have no contact with Amy and Ronnie refuses to reconcile with him. Jack tries establishing regular contact with Amy, leading Ronnie to leave Walford. Racing to the airport to stop her, Jack tells Ronnie that he loves her over the airport tannoy. They return to Walford together and Roxy agrees not to interfere. Ronnie and Jack discuss having a baby but he refuses, telling her she needs time to grieve for her daughter, Danielle Jones (Lauren Crace). Jack asks Ronnie to marry him but catches her piercing condoms. They argue, and Jack storms out, but finds Ronnie's ring on the table when he returns. After telling Jack that Ronnie has left Walford for good, Roxy tries seducing Jack but he pushes her away. When Ronnie returns, Jack begs her to reunite with him, but she refuses. A few weeks later, she asks him to buy her out of the nightclub and to fund this, Jack sells the car lot to Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb), Ronnie's father (who she despises). This distances Ronnie further from Jack.

The feud between Jack and Phil recommences. Phil discovers that Jack is dealing drugs and when Shirley Carter (Linda Henry) buys drugs from one of his contacts, Phil forces Jack to buy them back. Humiliated, Jack employs Phil's sister Sam Mitchell (Daniella Westbrook), infuriating Phil. Despite knowing she is engaged to Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen), Jack and Sam begin an affair. Archie intervenes and pays Jack to keep seeing Sam, part of his plan to take over The Queen Victoria pub. He also tells Jack's niece/Ricky's ex-wife Bianca (Patsy Palmer) about the affair. Later, Bianca drags Sam into The Queen Victoria and forces her to tell Ricky (in front of her uncle Jack) about the affair she was having. Jack is distraught as Roxy was about to give him Ronnie's address but when the affair is revealed, Roxy changes her mind and throws him out of the pub.

Ronnie gets pregnant but she has a miscarriage when Archie pushes her against the bar in the pub during an argument. Jack comforts Ronnie and takes in Ronnie, Roxy and Amy when they are made homeless by Archie. Jack confronts Archie on Christmas Day and threatens to kill him if he hurts Ronnie again. Archie is murdered that day and an investigation begins. Four weeks later, Jack asks Ronnie to dinner, to which she agrees but not until after Archie's funeral. At the funeral, Jack offers DC Wayne Hughes (Jamie Treacher) to help with any "local information" he might need. He later sees Ronnie tearing up the flowers on Archie's grave and asks her why and she thinks he is accusing her of murder. She later sees him talking to DCI Jill Marsden (Sophie Stanton), who is investigating the murder. Ronnie asks Jack how he would feel if he knew she had killed Archie, leading him to suspect her. At his great niece Tiffany Dean's (Maisie Smith) birthday party, he cuts his hand and Tiffany tells him that she saw Bradley washing blood off his hands on Christmas Day. Jack confronts Bradley who eventually reveals that he found out from Stacey on Christmas Day that Archie had raped and impregnated her, and Bradley punched Archie.

Jack urges Bradley to go to the police, saying if he doesn't, Jack will. However, Max stops him and when DNA screening starts and Bradley gives a sample, Jack bribes Hughes to make the DNA samples disappear. Janine is arrested when someone plants Archie's mother's missing engagement ring in her flat, and Jack hears from Hughes when she is being released. Jack offers Janine money to leave Walford and they accuse each other. He says he did not set her up and Ryan Malloy (Neil McDermott) stops him from hurting Janine. Later, Jack receives another call from Hughes to say that someone has reported Bradley and he is about to be arrested. Jack tells Bradley he must leave Walford quickly, and says he will meet them soon and help them to go. However, Jack is delayed by police and when Bradley realises he has left his passport behind, he returns to the Square where police see him and chase him to the roof of The Queen Victoria, where he stumbles and falls to his death.

Jack begins a relationship with Chelsea Fox (Tiana Benjamin) after helping her escape from a blind date. He organises a party his niece Lauren at R&R;, where Kylie (Elarica Gallacher) attempts to shoot Jack's nephew Billie (Devon Anderson) but Jack is shot instead as he pushes Billie out of the way. Jack is taken to hospital, where doctors tell his family he may be left with severe brain damage. He is put in a medically induced coma and undergoes an operation due to swelling on his brain, which is successful. When he is brought out of the coma, it is discovered that he is paralysed down the left side of his body but it is not clear whether it is periodic or permanent. Jack then breaks up with Chelsea and attempts to phone Ronnie, but she does not hear her phone ringing as she is spending time with Jack's consultant, Mr Steele (Simon Wilson). He starts to feel helpless and wants to give up, but after Max refuses to help him, he puts his phone out of reach and manages to pull himself up with one arm.

Max reveals to Jack that he saw Ronnie and Mr Steele kissing, so Jack punches Mr Steele out of jealousy. When Ronnie discovers this, she dumps Mr Steele and rushes to see Jack, telling him that if he were to propose, she would not turn him down. Billie visits Jack to apologise, but Jack ignores his apology as it has taken him weeks to visit him, calling him cowardly. Billie leaves in tears and then joins the army to make Jack proud of him. Ronnie visits again and is told that Jack was able to move his toe earlier. She thinks Jack needs better care so decides to find him a place at a private clinic. Jack later hears from Max that there has been a fire at the club, and Ronnie tells him he is going to the clinic. However, she decides not to claim on the insurance to keep Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) out of trouble. Roxy hears from Max that Ronnie has no money and is not claiming, so she decides to pay for Jack's treatment and he is moved to the private clinic. Jack makes decent progress and when Ronnie visits him, they end up having sex. A few days later, having been discharged from hospital, Jack turns up in The Queen Victoria for Ronnie's birthday. Later, when they return to his flat, Jack asks Ronnie to marry him and she accepts. When he finds out that Archie raped Ronnie when she was 13 years old, he finds it hard to believe at first because she would have known about it for several years without telling anybody, however, he tells Ronnie he does believe her and vows to not let anyone hurt her again. He becomes frustrated when his progress at physiotherapy slows down. He is determined to walk at his own wedding but Max says he never will, and makes him angry, goading him into getting out of his wheelchair.

Ronnie discovers that Sam is pregnant and tells Jack, asking if it could be his even though Sam insists it is Ricky's. After the baby is born, Sam admits she is unsure. Jack and Ronnie visit Sam and the baby in hospital. Even though Sam now says that baby, Richard, is Ricky's, Bianca tells Jack he should see if Richard is his. He and Ronnie both agree and tell Sam, and Ricky also agrees to a paternity test. Ronnie tells Jack whatever the result is, they will be okay. Sam reveals that the paternity test confirmed Ricky as the father. Ronnie and Jack are relieved and Ronnie reveals that she is pregnant with Jack's baby. However, a suspicious Bianca gets the paternity results for herself, and reveals that the father is actually Jack. Sam then tells them that Ronnie made her lie. Ronnie tells Jack she did not want to share him with anyone else, and Jack understands. Later, Sam visits Jack and Ronnie saying she cannot cope with the baby on her own, and asks them to have him. Ronnie and Jack agree but when they are due to meet, Sam does not turn up. Ronnie visits Sam and tells her to keep Richard but offers her money to leave Walford as when Jack finds out he will come looking for her. Ronnie returns to Jack but finds Sam has already dropped Richard off. Ronnie then meets Sam with cash and tells her to take Richard back but she will have to leave straight away. Sam leaves the next day.

Before Billie's birthday, he visits Jack but Jack tells him to leave, however, he goes to Billie's party. Billie and Kylie's friend Connor Stanley (Arinze Kene) turns up and apologises to Jack on behalf of Kylie. Kylie is sentenced to 15 years in prison. The day before Jack and Ronnie's wedding, Jack helps Max take revenge on Harry Gold (Linal Haft) who is harassing his ex-wife Vanessa (Zoe Lucker), Max's girlfriend. They threaten Harry and tell him to stay away, but afterwards Jack is grabbed by two men and bundled into a car. The next day, nobody is able to find Jack but Max finds his phone. He drives Ronnie to the wedding and finds Jack in the boot of the wedding car, tied up and gagged. Max frees him and Jack and Ronnie get married. After, they leave for their honeymoon.

After the honeymoon, Jack goes abroad on business and is unable to return to see Ronnie give birth to their son James. Before Jack arrived, James dies due to cot death but Ronnie swaps their dead baby with Alfie and Kat Moon's newly born baby.

Reception

Much media response to the character has centred around Maslen's good looks, with the Daily Express commenting: "At last. Someone remotely attractive comes to Albert Square." The Mirror similarly referred to him as "the new hunk on the Square", as well as "the hottest property on EastEnders". Inside Soap praised Maslen's transition between roles, declaring his performance as Jack to be "flawless". However, The Times were more critical, writing of 2007's New Year's Eve episode: "The alleged erotic tension between Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Janus) and Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) was so underplayed as to be invisible."

References

External links

Category:EastEnders characters Category:Fictional police officers Category:Fictional criminals Category:Fictional businesspeople Category:Fictional characters introduced in 2007

Name	Dennis Rickman
Portrayer	Nigel Harman
Years	2003–05
First	14 April 2003
Last	30 December 2005
Born	28 August 1974
Death	1 January 2006
Creator	Louise Berridge
Occupation	Bookmaker
Classification	Former; regular
Family	Watts
Wife	Sharon Watts (2005–06)
Father	Den Watts
Mother	Paula Rickman
Halfsisters	Vicki Fowler
Sons	Dennis Rickman, Jr.
Grandfathers	Dennis Watts
Stepmother	Chrissie Watts

Dennis Rickman is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Nigel Harman. He entered the show on 14 April 2003 and made his last appearance on 30 December 2005, when he was fatally stabbed as the midnight fireworks began. He is part of the Watts family, though his identity was unknown for almost thirty years. His storylines centre around his difficult past and childhood, relationship with his infamous father, Den Watts, clashes with the rival Mitchell family, and forbidden romance with his adopted sister, Sharon.

Dennis is characterised by his roguish manner, a "bad boy" cast in the mould of a "young Dirty Den". Harman described his character as "a bit of a rough diamond" but with "a sensitive side". During his time, Dennis often butted heads with various alpha-males, including Phil Mitchell and Johnny Allen, but was friends with mobster Andy Hunter and developed a warm relationship with local gossip, Dot Cotton.

Dennis quickly became established as the show’s leading man and a "soap sex-symbol", with Harman noted for his "dark good looks" and "fantastic" physique. In 2003, Harman won the "Best Newcomer" award at the National Television Awards, and for two years straight (in 2004 and 2005) won both "Best Actor" and "Sexiest Male" categories at the British Soap Awards and Inside Soap Awards.

Character creation

Dennis Rickman was created by the show's producers as the hardman successor to the character of Steve Owen, who had bowed out during the previous year. It was also part of a move to bring the Watts family back to the forefront of EastEnders, with the re-introduction of Vicki Fowler occurring at the beginning of 2003, and the highly anticipated return of Den Watts in September. Executive producer Louise Berridge was also keen to rectify what she felt was a gender imbalance in the cast, commenting after his arrival that Dennis had "provided a surge of testosterone in a show that was rather female-heavy since the arrival of the Slaters."}}Harman was working as a lorry driver for supermarket chain Sainsbury when he was cast in the role of Dennis Rickman: "They said: 'You've got the job.' I was sitting there in my Sainsbury's fleece, with Mrs Bloggs's groceries in the back, and I just laughed my arse off." However, Harman revealed in a 2003 interview that he actually auditioned for a character called "Tim", and had no idea that he was set to join the Watts family as the unknown son of the soap's most "iconic" figure, Den Watts. Part of Harman's appeal lay in his dark good looks and appealing physicality. EastEnders executive producer Louise Berridge noted: "We cast Nigel for his tremendous acting ability and his screen presence, but there's no question he's also a very sexy young man." made Harman uncomfortable. In an interview with The Independent in 2003 he commented on his character's status as a sex symbol: "It's Dennis, not me... I am a bit embarrassed... I don't get off on it. I walk into the living-room in the morning in my jogging pants, with my hair all over the place, and my flatmates say: 'So, you're supposed to be one of the sexiest men in the country?' And I go: 'I know. I don't get it either.'" The representation of Dennis as "smouldering thug" was apparent from his first appearance in Walford, when he hit resident top dog Phil Mitchell. In an interview with the Daily Mirror Harman declared, "He is a total bastard and if I met him in real life, I'd be bloody scared. [But] that's why he's such a brilliant part."

Storylines

Dennis, the product of a fling between Paula Rickman and "Dirty" Den Watts in 1974, makes his first appearance is in handcuffs, as he is on day release from prison to attend his mother's funeral. His introduction as a full-time character is marked by a fight with Phil Mitchell, in which he floors Phil with a single punch. This launches a rivalry with Phil which continues when Phil reneged on an agreement to meet Dennis for a fight at Phil's garage by bringing several associates who give Dennis a severe beating. Dennis infuriates Phil by seducing his sister Sam, his wife-to-be Kate Morton (who was a former flame of Dennis's) and his daughter's nanny, Joanne Ryan. The rivalry with Phil is concluded by Dennis's father Den when he returns from Spain. Den and Dennis trick Phil into committing an armed robbery at a local factory. They then abscond with the escape ladder and most of the cash, though Den leaves Phil with a few stolen notes and a gun to incriminate him. The feud brings Dennis closer to his father.

Dennis sees East End ganglord Jack Dalton as a father figure as he worked for him collecting debts, amongst other things, and his prison stint is due to working for Jack. After Dennis's release, Jack orders Phil to kill Dennis after he becomes independent of him. Dennis persuades Phil to kill Jack instead so they can both be free of him. Dennis marches him out into the woods at gunpoint and, following Dalton's admission that he ordered Den's murder in the 1980s, shoots him in the head. Dennis remains friends with Dalton's second-in-command, Andy Hunter, and is left the bookmakers in Andy's will after his death at the hands on Johnny Allen.

Dennis has a passionate fling with Den's adopted daughter Sharon on the eve of Den's return but finds himself rejected when Den replaces him. They resume their affair in secret but Den cannot accept a relationship between his children and plots to split them up. Den taunts Dennis with the insinuation that someone had sexually abused him while he was in a children's home, successfully provoking Dennis into accidentally hitting Sharon. A guilt-ridden Den later apologises and explains his reasons for not wanting his son and daughter together, because he wants both of them in his life and he cannot have that if they are sleeping together. Den then tries to explain to Dennis that his feelings for Sharon are simply misguided due to the abuse he suffered as a child, which leaves Dennis confused and he decides to break up with Sharon in order to have a father-son relationship.

Despite Sharon's heartache, the Watts reform their strong bond, including the introduction of Den's new wife Chrissie. Dennis moves in with Zoe Slater but cannot reciprocate her love and Sharon seduces him again. They continue their affair in secret behind Zoe and Den's backs they become sick of sneaking around and they plan to leave on Christmas Day. When they announce that they are in love and going to America together, Zoe, desperate to keep Dennis, announces that she is pregnant. Dennis does not want to be an absent father to the baby, so Sharon leaves without him. He stays with Zoe but refuses to sleep with her. She is desperate to get pregnant for real and resorts to sleeping with Den. Dennis catches them in bed and leaves after informing Chrissie about Den and Zoe.

Dennis and Sharon return as a couple, after several months away and demand to see Den. Dennis sees through Chrissie's story that Den has left her for another woman but drops the matter to spare Sharon's feelings. Dennis and Sharon go on to marry, and following this, they learn that Sam Mitchell had exhumed their father's body from his grave in the cellar of The Queen Victoria public house. Den was murdered by Chrissie after she, Zoe and Sam confronted him about his manipulation of lies regarding the three of them (Den had tricked Sam into selling him The Queen Victoria). Chrissie had also lured Sharon back to overhear Den's confessions so that Den would lose the one person in his life that he truly loved. Den attacked Chrissie and Zoe hit Den with a doorstop to stop him. Den then grabbed Chrissie who delivered a fatal blow, leaving Zoe to believe she had killed him. The three women then buried his body in the basement. Dennis and Sharon bring Chrissie to justice and sell The Queen Victoria back to the Mitchells, apparently concluding the Watts/Mitchell feud.

On Christmas Day 2005, Sharon is admitted to hospital with suspected food poisoning, but finds out she is pregnant, despite the previous belief that she was infertile. They prepare to leave on New Year's Eve to start a new life in the United States. Sharon does not tell Dennis that Johnny has threatened to kill him if they have not gone by midnight, but she confides in Phil, who then uses Dennis as a weapon against Johnny. Phil tells Dennis about Johnny threatening Sharon and also that Johnny had murdered Andy. Although Dennis realises Phil was manipulating him, he takes the bait anyway and beats Johnny to the brink of death. Johnny begs for help as he thinks he will die, so Dennis tosses him a mobile phone and says if he can reach it, he will live. Johnny is able to reach the phone and instead of calling for medical assistance, he contacts a henchman to murder Dennis as revenge for his beating.

After cleaning his hands of Johnny's blood, Dennis makes his way towards the Albert Square Gardens where the locals are setting up fireworks, to meet Sharon. As they lock eyes, Dennis is stabbed and collapses, dying in Sharon's arms. His last words are "we did it" in reference to their unborn son who was born six months later and named Dennis in honour of his father. It is later revealed that Dennis was killed by Danny Moon.

References

External links

Category:EastEnders characters Category:Fictional bookmakers Category:Fictional criminals Category:Fictional murderers Category:Fictional characters introduced in 2003

Name	Clare Bates
Portrayer	Gemma Bissix
Introducer	Leonard Lewis (1993)Diederick Santer (2008)
Years	1993–98, 2008
First	6 July 1993
Last	7 August 2008
Born	19 May 1985
Classification	Former; regular
Home	Outside Walford
Father	Liam Tyler
Mother	Debbie Bates
Grandmothers	Maxine Palmer
Adoptivefather	Nigel Bates

Clare Bates (née Tyler) is a fictional character that appeared in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Gemma Bissix originally played the character as a schoolgirl from 1993 to 1998. She left the serial with her screen stepfather Nigel Bates, when his actor Paul Bradley opted to leave. After a ten year hiatus, Bissix returned to the role on 1 February 2008. The character was transformed from "cute and sweet" into a gold digging "maneater", chasing wealthy men for their money. The British media focused on the character's penchant for revealing clothing, and while she was praised by some critics, it was suggested that she was underused upon her return. Bissix again left EastEnders at the end of her contract in the summer of 2008. Her departing episode aired on 7 August 2008.

Character creation and development

Early history (1993–1998)

Clare Tyler (later Bates) was introduced by the executive producer of EastEnders, Leonard Lewis. Gemma Bissix was cast in the role. Reflecting on the casting process in 2001, Bissix said, "I was nine when I started on EastEnders. I did drama classes after school and my mum took me to an audition. There were about 50 others. I read through the script and by the time I was home they had phoned my dad to tell him I had the role. I was only supposed to be in it for three episodes, but it turned into five years." It was her first acting job and she had received no formal training. The character made her first appearance in July 1993 as the daughter of Debbie Tyler (played by Nicola Duffett), a love interest for an EastEnders regular, Nigel Bates (played by Paul Bradley).

Clare’s introductory storyline focused upon domestic violence—her father Liam's physical abuse of her mother—and being caught between her feuding parents. Later storylines involved the death of her mother, who was killed in a hit-and-run accident in 1995, and a subsequent custody battle between her father and stepfather, which ultimately led to Nigel being given custody of Clare. After six years in the serial, the character was written out in 1998 as a result of Paul Bradley's decision to leave, reportedly for fear of being typecast in the role of Nigel the "nerd". The writers of EastEnders wanted to give Nigel a happy ending, so a character named Julie Haye (Karen Henthorn) was invented to be a love interest for Nigel, whilst her son, Josh Saunders (Jon Lee), was invented to be a love interest for Clare. In the storyline, Nigel fell for Julie, Clare’s teacher, as they tried to sort out Clare’s problematic behaviour at school. Simultaneously, Clare fell for Julie’s son Josh, and when the storyline reached its climax in April 1998, the Bates family relocated to Scotland to begin a new life with Julie and Josh.

Reintroduction (2008)

}} In September 2007, an official BBC press report announced that actress Gemma Bissix had agreed to reprise the role of Clare, ten years after her initial departure. Clare Bates made her reappearance on-screen on 1 February 2008 — in her first scene she was thrown out of the back of a car by her lover, the CEO of a big company.

Characterisation

Unlike the "cute, sweet" character she appeared to be during the 1990s, Clare was transformed into a "maneating bitch" upon her reintroduction in 2008; a , chasing after wealthy men for their money.

She adds, "She's a minx now. She flaunts her assets to get what she wants!" As part of the character's new look, Bissix was required to wear revealing clothing regularly. She has commented, "That is her character. She thinks she looks sexy and she reckons that's what it takes to get blokes on their knees. You can't blame her - it works for most."

Explaining the reasons for her character's personality change, Bissix said "I think it’s just the fact that she’s lonely. When she was in Scotland Nigel and Julie were getting on with their own thing. Through no fault of Nigel’s she just got pushed out of the family. She’s not his real child, her mum’s dead and her dad was in prison and is a bit of a wrong un. She went to university and was mistreated by a few men. Now she uses her looks to her advantage. Now she’s using the men and treating them badly...she's never felt settled. Her mother died, her father was abusive and she doesn't even know him. She's never felt like she's fitted in. Clare's 'mystery' is brought about by her looking for that father figure and needing that kind of attention, which then leads her into preying on the men of Walford. That's how she makes her money. Her forté is finding men with money and using her assets to entice them and rip them off..." Eventually Clare's true motive was unearthed. After Ian nearly relented to her attempts at seduction, she proceeded to blackmail him. An EastEnders insider said: "Ian has been completely blown away by Clare ever since she returned to the Square. She is a saucy little minx and will stop at nothing to get him into bed. But she’s not really interested in him – she just wants his money. So Ian is really playing with fire and risking his marriage just by being alone with Clare. But he’s more of a silly old fool than anything – although I’m not sure that Jane will see it like that, especially if she finds out about their kiss. And Clare being Clare, she probably will – unless of course Ian pays her to keep quiet." However, in the storyline, Clare's games were eventually halted when Ian confessed to Jane and she ordered Clare to "Stay away from Ian!". According to Bissix, filming these scenes was particularly hard for Adam Woodyatt, who knew her well when she was only a child from her first stint in the soap: "Poor Adam. He spent a day staring at my chest for one scene, trying to get the fact that the last time he saw me I was 14 out of his head. He was a friend of Nigel so he was around all the time when I was first here and we'd done scenes together. Now, instead of this snotty-nosed little girl making Nigel's tea, she was trying to seduce him and get him in his Y-fronts." In an interview with Digital Spy at the 2008 British Soap Awards, Bissix was asked about Clare's relationship with Bradley. She said, "[Their relationship] will be explored to a certain degree, but at the same time [...] it is Bradley at the end of the day, and unless he earns money, it's not going to get very far."

Other characters that Clare has tried to seduce for their wealth have included Bradley's father Max (Jake Wood), In May 2008, Bissix revealed that the "depths to Clare are going to start to be unraveled", which she welcomed as, in her words, she'd had "enough of [Clare's] maneating for a while." Bissix commented, "I've had a great time at EastEnders and I have loved having the chance to play Clare again. I'm looking forward to trying new things." Press reports suggested that Clare would depart the soap after she was exposed as a "thoroughly nasty piece of work". A source told the press, "Clare has been toiling away, trying it on with all the affluent men of Walford including Bradley Branning, Jack Branning and even Ian Beale but what she had thought was a masterplan to bag the man of her dreams soon gets out of hand. She is forced to flee as it is clear she is not welcome in Albert Square anymore."

Despite Clare showing a more "vulnerable" side in the weeks prior to her departure, in episodes that aired in July 2008, Bradley discovered her original plan to manipulate money from himself and other men in Walford, and subsequently shunned her, leaving Clare "feeling isolated and unwanted by her closest friends and family". Bissix has discussed her character's departure and the "softer side" to Clare that emerged: "she does genuinely care for [Bradley] [...] When he turns against her, it turns into a bit of a drunken mission for her and she wrecks Dot's house. When Dot comes back, she finds her in a bit of a state and hands her a Christianity leaflet. [Clare] actually sits and tries to pray". Kris Green from Digital Spy has suggested that the programme "only really ever scratched the surface with [Clare]" and that there was still a lot that was undiscovered about the character, which Bissix has agreed with. She comments, "This isn't a closed chapter. At the end of the day, she's been outed off the Square and with the character she is, she doesn't even know what's going on in her own head. Someone like Clare doesn't stick around Walford unless there's a reason. I like to believe in what I do and believe in my characters. I'm not going to stay in a job for no reason. Clare would definitely leave in this situation." Discussing her exit, Bissix said, "I leave Albert Square in the back of a Black Cab, of course! Which is how I left with Nigel 10 years ago so it feels kind of right. It’s better than going out in a [coffin] isn’t it? I don’t want to be killed off!" She also revealed that she is hoping Clare Bates will return to EastEnders again one day, commenting, "I don’t think it’s the end of Clare. I’m sure she’ll be back to cause trouble at some point." In 2009, Bissix added that producers told her when she left in August 2008 that they were thinking of bringing her character back in a year or so. She added, "but it's one of those things. I'll just have to wait and see."

Storylines

1993–1998

Clare, the daughter of Debbie Tyler, arrived in Walford in 1993 when her mother moved in with her new love interest Nigel Bates. Her father, Liam was abusive towards Debbie, which had led to them separating. Liam followed them to Walford and tried everything possible to break Nigel and Debbie apart. Despite problems, Debbie went on to marry Nigel in 1994 and Clare was happy with them; however, her happiness was cut short when her mother died in a hit-and-run accident in 1995. Nigel fell apart, and it was left to Clare to look after him. After Debbie's death, Liam returned, wanting to gain custody of Clare, but Clare doted on Nigel and did not want to leave her stepfather. A custody battle ensued, but Nigel fought hard to keep Clare. He was successful, Liam withdrew the case after his girlfriend admitted in court that Liam had also been violent towards her.

Clare was friendly with the other young girls in Walford, Janine Butcher and Sonia Jackson. They caused trouble for the barber Felix Kawalski in November 1995, when they spread rumours that he was a pervert who had murdered his wife, and kept her mutilated body in his barbershop cellar. Clare broke into Felix's barber shop one evening to uncover the body, but she tripped on the cellar stairs and was knocked unconscious. The adults of Walford feared Clare had been abducted by Felix; they went to confront him, but found Clare safe and sound. Felix had only been hiding a collection of butterflies.

In 1997, Clare started socialising with a bad crowd at school, and subsequently began bullying her good friend Sonia. This led to her teacher, Julie Haye, reprimanding her. Nigel took her back to his old school to show her the pain that bullies inflict upon their victims, which made her see the error of her ways. She made peace with Sonia and then fell for a pupil at her school, Josh Saunders, who rescued Clare from the same gang of bullies after they turned on her for leaving their clique. They started dating — despite objections from Nigel — though their romance hit a brief setback when Clare discovered that his mother was also her teacher, Julie. Despite her initial upset, Clare came round and she was happy when Nigel and Julie began dating. When Julie got a job in Scotland, Nigel and Clare decided to join her and Josh. They left Walford for Scotland in April 1998.

2008

On 1 February 2008, Clare returned to Albert Square; she was thrown from the back seat of a car. Nigel's former landlady, Dot Branning, persuaded her to remain in Walford. Clare moved in with Dot and found employment as a receptionist at Tanya Branning's beauty parlour. With money as her motive, Clare tried to attract attention from wealthy men in Albert Square. Jack Branning and his brother Max showed no interest; however, Ian Beale proved more susceptible to Clare's seduction, even though he was already married to Jane. Clare led Ian on by flirting, wearing revealing clothing and talking suggestively, but it was all just a game; she had no intention of taking things further, and acted shocked when Ian suggested that she did. She blackmailed Ian, threatening to inform Jane of his dishonourable intentions unless he gave her money. To stop Clare's manipulation, Ian told Jane the truth; she confronted Clare and ordered her to keep away from Ian.

Clare developed an interest in Bradley Branning when he got a lucrative property development job. She grew closer to him and gradually attempted to seduce him. Bradley, who was getting over his split from his wife Stacey, rebuffed Clare's advances for months; however, he finally relented when Clare dressed up as Princess Leia to impress him. He propositioned her, but Clare told him she was not ready for sex and then broke down and informed him about an affair she'd had with an aggressive, married man named Arnold. Arnold had traced Clare to Walford in a failed attempt to rekindle their affair. Clare had only been using Arnold to buy her expensive gifts, and when he stopped doing this, she had fled. Clare was aware that Arnold had bought his wife expensive jewelry; she manipulated Bradley to help her steal it by pretending that it belonged to her. Believing Arnold was a bully, Bradley agreed. The robbery went off without a hitch, but Arnold saw Clare leaving and returned to Walford to confront her. Clare confessed that she never loved Arnold and had only been using him for his money. When he threatened to phone the police, Clare threatened to ruin his marriage and Bradley eventually threw him out after Clare lied that he had been verbally abusing her. Satisfied with her pay off, Clare realised she had no more use for Bradley; she informed him that he was too good for her and rebuffed his subsequent attempts to begin a relationship. She was, however, jealous when Bradley reuinted with Stacey.

Despite starting as enemies, Clare grew friendly with her work colleague, Chelsea Fox; both would regularly socialise together looking for wealthy men. When Chelsea started using drugs, her behaviour became erratic and she stole £100 from her employer, Tanya. Sensing an opportunity to make money, Clare also stole £100 and blamed the theft solely on Chelsea, who was fired from her job. Subsequently, Clare and Chelsea's friendship ended.

Revealing a more vulnerable side, Clare became morose and upset on the anniversary of her mother's death, revealing to Dot that she felt alone and could only rely upon herself. The following month she was devastated when Nigel failed to show up to visit her. She broke down in tears, confessing to Bradley that she and Nigel had grown apart as she had aged. Later, she confessed to Garry Hobbs that Nigel had been unsupportive when she had sex with a boy at school and got a reputation for being promiscuous, merely putting her on the pill. Bradley's support made Clare realise the error of her ways. She vowed to put her gold digging behind her; however, Bradley discovered her diary outlining her plan to manipulate money from him. He subsequently turned against her. In retaliation, Clare threw a party at Dot's house, inviting random people who trashed the place. Dot, realising Clare was depressed, tried to get her to seek counsel from God. Clare reacted with fury, but following advice from Lucas Johnson, she tried to make amends with Dot and even attempted to pray; however, Bradley was not convinced and he orderd Clare to leave Walford. Clare did so, leaving behind a goodbye letter for Dot and stealing £200 from Bradley. She departed in a black taxi on 7 August 2008 for a destination unknown.

Reception

The character's return in 2008, where Clare was thrown out of a car's rear door into the gutter, was called a "sensational entrance" by Daily Mirror critic, Tony Stewart, and "yet another reason to watch Enders again". He speculated that she would be "compulsive viewing", suggesting that there was "an air of desperate mystery" about her and added that the "sweet teenage schoolgirl has grown up to be a self-possessed and manipulative stunner who'll give the Mitchell sisters a run for their money. If Clare's just had a bumpy ride, then Walford should buckle up as she's about to return the favour!".

According to a May 2008 article by Martin Smith, television critic for the Coventry Telegraph, the character of Clare Bates is one of only two reasons to watch EastEnders. He commented, "She's sassy, stylish, sexy and supremely manipulative - and far foxier than either of the Mitchell [sisters]." Though he continued that the character had been underused, saying "Unfortunately, for 'Enders, she's sidelined more often than Harry Kewell in a Champions League final. At least Hollyoaks knew her worth." (2008).]] EastEnders was criticised in April 2008 by The Sun columnist Ally Ross for recycling characters. At the time, several former characters had returned for the screen funeral of Frank Butcher, including his daughter Janine Evans played by Charlie Brooks. Ross accused the "formula driven" show of replicating those former characters by regenerating them into "another arse ache’s body." Among others, he used the characters of Clare and Janine as an example of this, commenting, "Gold-digging super-bitch mark III, Janine, has become gold-digging super-bitch mark IV, Clare." He added that it was "A farcical situation for the production team, who [had to] ensure none of the personality doubles [appeared] in the same scene."

The character's "scantily clad" attire has been commented on in the British tabloid press, Commenting on her character's revealing clothing, Bissix has said, "I wasn't aware she was going to be so scantily clad. I knew she was going to be a minx but not that she was going to wear so little so often. Samantha Janus [who plays Ronnie Mitchell] told me she was in low-cut tops all the time when she started so I think it's a bit of an initiation." Bissix has acknowledged the comparison between the two characters, but maintains that they differ: "A lot of people ask me this. Clare Bates is a minx and dresses to impress, using her sexuality to get where she wanted [...] Clare Devine doesn't have the emotion Clare Bates does. Clare Devine kills people, she tells little children that they're the reason for their parents' death!" Bissix was nominated in the "Best Bitch" category at the Inside Soap Awards in 2008, for her role as Clare Bates.

References

External links

Category:EastEnders characters Category:Fictional adoptees Category:Fictional characters introduced in 1993

Name	Charlie Clements
Birth date	June 05, 1987
Birth place	Sidcup, South London, England
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2005–present

Charlie Clements (born 5 June 1987) is an English actor, best known for the role of Bradley Branning in the BBC soap opera EastEnders from January 2006 to February 2010. He has won several soap and magazine awards for his performance.

Biography

Clements was born in Sidcup, London. Before joining EastEnders he was studying for his A-levels (which he finished in 2005, aged 18) and working part time in the Waitrose supermarket in Bromley South. He attended Coopers Technology College in Chislehurst. Clements is a Charlton Athletic supporter.

Career

In addition to being in EastEnders he has appeared in a variety of theatre and film roles and in The Bill. He appeared on documentary F*** Off, I'm Ginger on 29 April 2007. He is a member of the band Brooks Lives, and has been since he was in Year 9 when he got his first Squire Stratocaster.

Clements quit EastEnders in 2009 commenting that it was "time to move on and take on some new roles". Although the character died during the EastEnders live 25th anniversary episode on 19th February 2010, Clements is credited at the end of the episode on 22 February 2010. The police wanted to question Bradley regarding the death of Archie Mitchell and was attempting to escape when he was spotted by them. The chase led to the rooftop of the Queen Victoria public house and he died after falling to his death. It was later revealed that Clements left the soap because he disliked the attention he got from being in such a high-profile television series. In 2005 he landed a one episode role in UK police drama The Bill playing Adrian Bickman, a character with Autism. In 2010 Clements provided the voice-over for several Orange mobile phone adverts.

Awards

2006:

Won 'Best Newcomer' at the British Soap Awards

Won 'Best Newcomer' at the Inside Soap Awards

Won 'Best Couple' with Lacey Turner also at the Inside Soap Awards

Won 'Best Soap Newcomer' at the TV Quick Awards.

Won 'Most Popular Newcomer' at the National Television Awards

2007:

Won 'Best Soap Actor' at the TV Quick Awards.

Won 'Best Couple' again with Lacey Turner at the Inside Soap Awards.

Nominated and shortlisted in the top four for 'Most Popular Actor' at the National Television Awards, but lost out to David Tennant.

2008:

Nominated and shortlisted within the top four for 'Best Actor' at the British Soap Awards, lost out to Chris Fountain

Won 'Best Soap Actor' at the TV Quick Awards

Won 'Best Couple' with Lacey Turner at the Inside Soap Awards for the third consecutive year (a record)

2010:

Won 'Best Exit' at British Soap Awards

Won 'Best Exit' at Inside Soap Awards

Filmography

Popcorn (2007)

EastEnders - Bradley Branning (2006–2010)

The Car - Pizza Boy (2005) (short film)

The Bill - Adrian Bickman (2005)

''YoungBlood Theatre Company.

A Carpet Of Broken Glass - Michael (2004) (YoungBlood Theatre Company, Riverside Studios)

References

External links

'The Unknown' MySpace profile

Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:People from Sidcup Category:Actors from London Category:English television actors Category:English soap opera actors

Caption	Alfie Moon in 2010.
Name	Alfie Moon
Portrayer	Shane Richie
Creator	Tony Jordan
Introducer	Louise Berridge (2002)Bryan Kirkwood (2010)
Years	2002–05, 2010—
First	21 November 2002
Spinoffs	"East Street" (2010)
Born	4 March 1964
Home	The Queen Victoria
Occupation	Market trader (bric-a-brac) (2005)Bar manager (2003–05)Barman (since 2010) Pub licensee (since 2010)
Classification	Present; regular
Father	Alfred Moon
Mother	Cherry Moon
Brothers	Spencer Moon
Wife	Liza Moon (1998–2003)Kat Slater (2003—)
Stepsons	Tommy Moon
Grandmothers	Victoria Moon
Grandfathers	William Moon
Cousins	Michael Moon
Relatives	Jake MoonDanny MoonMaxwell Moon

Alfred William "Alfie" Moon is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Shane Richie. He made his first appearance on 21 November 2002, and left on 25 December 2005. He returned to EastEnders on 21 September 2010, following the return of on-screen wife Kat (Jessie Wallace) two episodes previously.

Development

Originally appearing in the show between 21 November 2002 and 25 December 2005, it was announced on 7 February 2010 that Richie would return to the show to reprise the role in autumn 2010. The decision was made following the resignation from the show of Barbara Windsor, who played Peggy Mitchell, which left what executive producer Bryan Kirkwood described as a "hole" in the programme. Kirkwood decided that the time was right for Kat and Alfie to return, saying that they "very much herald the new era of EastEnders." Richie had ruled out a return in 2009, saying that the show had moved on from his character and he felt he did not have the energy to be in such a "full-on" show again. Richie commented on his return: "It's an honour and a privilege to be asked back to the iconic series of EastEnders which is at the top of its game! I'm looking forward to finding out what Alfie has been up to over the last few years but more importantly – what the future has in store for him." John Yorke, controller of BBC drama production, said: "Alfie is one of EastEnders most loved and iconic characters, so he's bound to get a very warm welcome from viewers when he returns to Walford. We've had so many new and interesting characters settle into Albert Square since Alfie departed that it's going to make for fantastic viewing when one of the show's most familiar faces rides back into the East End." Richie revealed in an interview with This Morning that Kat and Alfie would be involved in an ongoing storyline, which he said is "going to be the biggest soap story in probably the history of soaps."

Storylines

Backstory

Alfie's parents were killed in a car crash on Shrove Tuesday and the Moon family commemorate their death each year. Although young, he took responsibility for his younger brother Spencer (Christopher Parker) and his grandmother Victoria (Hilda Braid), widely known as Nana. Alfie spent three years in prison for credit card fraud after taking the blame for his second cousins Jake (Joel Beckett) and Danny (Jake Maskall).

2002–05

Alfie is ejected from Walford East tube station for fare evasion, and causes havoc in the market by getting a refund from Winston (Ulric Browne) for a video he stole and tricking Martin Fowler (James Alexandrou) into giving him free fruit. After acquainting himself with a few residents, he sneaks into The Queen Victoria public house and helps himself to a drink behind the bar. The landlady, Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor), assumes that Alfie is Chris Wright (Tom Roberts), the new manager sent by an agency. Alfie takes advantage of the misunderstanding to commit identity fraud against Wright. Alfie packs any stock he could find in a bin bag, ready to leave. Jim Branning (John Bardon) catches him, but assumes Alfie is throwing away outdated stock and tricks Alfie into giving him a pint on the house. Winston, Martin, Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen) and Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) realise that Alfie has told them all different background stories but he manages to reconcile the inconsistent stories. Alfie later answers the phone to the real Chris Wright and tells him the position is filled, revealing his intention to stay. Alfie's brother and grandmother arrive unannounced in Albert Square and move into the pub with Alfie, much to his dismay.

When Alfie is blackmailed by a former police officer, Dougie Slade (John Bowler), who reveals Alfie's true identity to Peggy, Alfie and his family are forced to flee with the pub's takings. However, Alfie leaves the money on Peggy's doorstep. Peggy manages to track him down, and after he confides in her about his parents' death, she gives him another chance. Alfie reluctantly accepts her proposal. Alfie becomes close with barmaid Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) and he falls in love with her. Eventually Kat returns his feelings and one night when the pub is closed, Kat reveals her feelings to him. They decide to take the relationship slowly, but his inability to trust her causes her to rethink the relationship and she ends it than a week after they get together. Alfie is heartbroken when Kat returns from a trip to New York engaged to local gangster Andy Hunter (Michael Higgs). Andy, knowing Alfie's feelings for Kat, warns him to stay away from her and the wedding. Before the wedding, Kat visits Victoria in hospital, and thinking she is asleep, admits she loves Alfie. Victoria tells Alfie and he rushes to the wedding to confess his true feelings as the ceremony takes place. Kat jilts Andy and he swears revenge before leaving Walford.

Alfie and Kat quickly get engaged and decide to hold the wedding on Christmas Day, less than a month away. However, Alfie is still married to his first wife, Liza (Joanne Adams). Liza's mother tells Alfie that their divorce is finalised, so he starts to prepare the wedding to Kat, until Liza reveals they are not divorced. There are only a few days before the wedding so he tries to quickly finalise the divorce while trying to keep it secret from Kat, though Liza makes it difficult as she wants Alfie to take her back. Alfie is forced to cancel the minister on Christmas Day and he panics, but gets his friend Ray (David Walliams) to pretend to be a minister, while planning to tell Kat the truth a few days later.

Spencer warns Alfie not to start his marriage with a lie, so Alfie reveals the truth to a furious Kat. Alfie is about to tell the guests that the wedding is cancelled when his solicitor enters with Alfie's decree absolute. Alfie convinces the minister to cancel his Christmas lunch, and Alfie and Kat marry.

After a while, Alfie borrows several thousand pounds from Andy to bail out Kat's father, Charlie (Derek Martin), who has been arrested for assault. Andy begins demanding cash every week, which he knows Alfie cannot afford. Andy's plan to wreck the Moons' marriage starts to work and Andy offers Kat the chance to pay off the debt by sleeping with him. She reluctantly agrees and they have sex, though unknown to her, Alfie has paid Andy the money. Andy keeps the money and gives Alfie a video tape of him and Kat having sex. Kat and Alfie attempt to put the incident behind them but their marriage starts to fall apart and Alfie is unable to trust Kat. She moves out of Walford for while but when she returns, she has become an alcoholic and does not care that Alfie wants them to get back together. Kat sleeps with another man while in a drunken state and finally sees sense, deciding to return to Alfie, but he finds out and throws her out, so she leaves Walford again.

Alfie becomes close to Kat's sister Little Mo Mitchell (Kacey Ainsworth), whose marriage to Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) has collapsed. Alfie helps Mo bring up her baby, Freddie, and they decide to announce that they are an item. However, Kat returns before they have a chance, and she makes it clear that she wants Alfie back. He is torn between the two sisters, eventually choosing Kat. He lets Mo down gently, and they share a final goodbye hug, which Billy assumes is them getting together. In the pub, Billy drunkenly announces that Alfie and Little Mo are an item. Kat is furious and decides not to get together with Alfie, so as not to break her sister's heart.

However, Alfie and Kat continue to grow closer, due to Kat's relationship with Alfie's grandmother, who is dying. After Kat helps Alfie complete some of Victoria's final wishes and overcome her death, it is obvious that they long for each other. Alfie announces that he is leaving to drive across the United States in a Ford Capri, and it seems he has gone for good when he waves goodbye to a heartbroken Kat on Christmas Day 2005. After getting drunk and drowning her sorrows in the pub, Kat is stunned to see Alfie waiting for her outside. Kat and Alfie then get into the car together and drive off.

2010—

Kat returns to London revealing that she and Alfie conned a man called Frankie Finnerty, from whom she is now on the run. His relatives Lee and Jono Finnerty (Dylan Brown and Colin Parry) track her down but Alfie arrives pretending to be from the CID, scaring them off, though they take most of Kat's money. Alfie and Kat then talk about their history, and it is revealed that Alfie spent six months in a Spanish prison and they tried to have a baby but he had fertility problems. Kat wants nothing to do with Alfie, however, and attempts to leave, revealing that she is pregnant, saying the baby is not Alfie's. Alfie doubles the remainder of Kat's money in a bet, and promises to stop scamming and get a proper job. Kat gives him 24 hours or she will leave. He is unsuccessful in finding a job so takes the money and uses it to rent The Queen Victoria from Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden). Kat is not happy and punches him in the face, demanding he get the money back as they need a regular income. Instead, he sets up an illegal drinking den in the cellar, and sets up a home with Kat in Kim Fox's (Tameka Empson) caravan on the Square.

Alfie contracts Greg Jessop (Stefan Booth) to refurbish The Queen Victoria. Alfie's cousin Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd) arrives and gives him money to pay Phil for the lease. He introduces Michael to Kat but she is not pleased by his arrival. Michael later reveals he is returning to Spain, and Alfie finds some money and a letter from him, revealing that he is Kat's baby's father. Alfie does not let on to Kat that he knows but later they argue when Kat thinks Alfie does not want the baby, and he leaves. Alfie later reveals he does know and insists he wants the baby but Kat does not believe him, so she agrees to go to Spain with Michael. However, when Alfie tells Michael to make sure he looks after them both, Kat changes her mind. She then sees that Alfie has bought a cot and toys for the baby. Alfie struggles to pay the rent to Phil so tries to raise money by gambling, but loses. However, Phil's cousin Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons) pays two months' rent for him after seeing how much money he lost gambling. He then unveils the newly refurbished pub to Kat. On the day of the grand opening, Greg says there has been a hitch, so Alfie, who has given away tickets to the event, has to host a party at the Slaters' house. However, the pub opens the next day, where Kat sees Alfie and Roxy together and fights with Roxy. Alfie takes Roxy's side and ejects Kat from the pub. However, they later reconcile and Alfie proposes that they renew their wedding vows, which Kat accepts. The day does not go quite according to plan, as he jeopardises his own ceremony to help Roxy with her sister Ronnie's (Samantha Womack) wedding, however, Kat realises she does not need a big ceremony. Instead of having an official ceremony, Alfie arranges an unofficial one in the middle of the Square with just him and Kat.

Kat gives birth to a boy named Tommy but is soon rushed to hospital as part of the placenta was left behind. Charlie is left to look after the baby but decides to join the New Year's part downstairs. Ronnie's baby James, who was born on the same day as Tommy, dies of cot death and Ronnie swaps the babies. When Alfie returns home he finds James dead, believing him to be Tommy.

Reception

Richie has received a number of awards and nominations for his portrayal of Alfie. In the National Television Awards, he won Most Popular Actor in 2003, with nominations in 2004 and 2005. He was nominated in the Best Newcomer and Best Comedy Performance categories at the British Soap Awards in 2003, along with nominations for Best Comedy Performance and Best On-Screen Partnership (shared with Wallace). He also won Best Actor in 2005, and was nominated in 2006, In the Inside Soap Awards, he won Best Newcomer in 2003, Best Couple (with Wallace) in 2004, and Best Actor in 2005. and Best Soap Actor in 2004 and 2005. In 2004, he won a Rose d'Or for Best Performance in a Soap.

References

External links

Category:EastEnders characters Category:Fictional bartenders Category:Fictional market stallholders Category:Fictional characters introduced in 2002