Benny Bloom
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| EastEnders character | ||||||||
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| Benny Bloom | ||||||||
| Portrayed by | Arnold Yarrow | |||||||
| Duration | 1988–1989 | |||||||
| First appearance | 25 August 1988 | |||||||
| Last appearance | 19 January 1989 | |||||||
| Profile | ||||||||
| Status | Deceased | |||||||
| Occupation | Bricklayer | |||||||
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Benny Bloom was a fictional character in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. He was played by Arnold Yarrow.
[edit] History
During World War II, Jewish bricklayer Benny and his wife, Golda, lived at number 5 Albert Square. Some years later, they retired to Clacton where Golda died in August 1987.
The following year in August 1988, Benny returned to Albert Square to visit his old friend Dr Legg and began spending time with Ethel Skinner, who was also an old friend of his. As Benny and Ethel spent more time together, their friendship began to blossom into a romance.
In December 1988, a very drunk Benny propositioned Ethel and asked her to move in with him. Ethel initially thought the offer was for a proposal of marriage, but when she realised that his motives were less than honourable she was furious and smashed his 'Izzy Bon' records over his head. When relaying her concerns to her friend Dot Cotton, Ethel confessed she did love Benny, which angered Dot as she felt that Benny was an old pervert and she told Ethel to stay well clear of him.
By January 1989, Ethel and Benny had reconciled, and over lunch Benny decided to propose to Ethel, this time for marriage. However, Dot had heard that Benny planned to propose and in a desperate bid to prevent her best friend from accepting, she turned up at their luncheon and attempted to put a stop to their romance. Dot launched into an attack on Ethel, branding her stupid for considering marriage and saying that she could never be happy with a Jew, as they were "different". Ethel accused Dot of anti-Semitism and just to spite Dot, she agreed to marry Benny. However, things took a turn for the worse when Benny relayed all the domestic duties he expected from Ethel. The final straw came when Benny informed Ethel that her pug Willy would not be able to stay at the manor where he lived, due to a "no pets" rule. Ethel couldn't consider parting with her dog, so the engagement was called off.
This was Benny's last appearance on the Square, but a few months later in September 1989 the residents heard news that Benny had died and he had left Ethel £2000 in his will.
