List of minor EastEnders characters (2008)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

EastEnders minor characters
1985 1986 1987 1988
1989 1990 1991 1992
1993 1994 1995 1996
1997 1998 1999 2000
2001 2002 2003 2004
2005 2006 2007 2008
Spin-off characters

The following is a list of minor characters that first appeared in the BBC soap opera EastEnders in 2008, by order of first appearance.

Contents


[edit] Ashley Jennings

EastEnders character
Ashley Jennings
Portrayed by Tony Boncza
Duration 2008
Appeared on 17 January 2008
Status Single

Ashley Jennings was the fiancé of Christian Clarke, who attended a meal with Christian's sister Jane Beale and her husband Ian. He was Christian's rich "sugar daddy",[1] who left the meal early after Christian revealed that he had been in love with Jane's ex-husband David. He and Christian broke up, which led to Christian moving in with Ian and Jane.

[edit] Tegs Teague

EastEnders character
Tegs Teague
Portrayed by Ben Smith
Created by Diederick Santer
Duration 2008
First appearance 17 January 2008
Last appearance 22 January 2008
Home Young Offenders Institute

"Tegs" Teague was first seen on 17 January 2008 when he and his gang harassed Dot Branning by wolf-whistling at her and calling her a "zombie". Shirley Carter saw them and told them to leave her alone. The gang, including Tegs' friend Ziggy, then stole DVDs from Winston's market stall with the help of Jay Brown. Tegs asked Jay if he wanted to join the gang and gave him a mobile phone so they could call each other.[2] Jay later sneaked out and Tegs handed him a knife, which was found by Jay's father, Jase Dyer and his girlfriend Dawn Swann. The next day the gang stole several packs of cigarettes from the Minute Mart. They then harassed Dot by making silent phone calls and knocking on her door and running away.[3] After Jay criticised Tegs harassment of Dot, the two of them had a fight. After appearing to have reconciled their differences Tegs was asked by his gang whether he was with them or Jay, at which point Tegs stabbed Jay in the leg leaving him bleeding on the ground in the play park. Prior to this Tegs pulled a knife on Minty, whom had confronted the group of youths. As Tegs produced the knife from his pocket he asked "Do you want me to slice him".

On February 29, Tegs was sentenced to two years in a Young Offender's Institute for his crime. The trial took place off-screen.

[edit] Selina Branning

EastEnders character
Selina Branning
Portrayed by Daisy Beaumont
Duration 2008
First appearance 21 January 2008
Last appearance 1 February 2008
Status Divorced
Home France

Selina Branning was the ex-wife of Jack Branning.[4]

Selina was first seen when she left a voicemail message for her ex-husband Jack, and his girlfriend Ronnie Mitchell spoke to her on the phone. Ronnie was later seen visiting Selina and talking to her about Jack not being allowed to see his and Selina's daughter, Penny. It was then revealed that Penny was in a wheelchair, paralysed from the waist down. On 25 January, Jack kissed Selina in the club office and were seen by Ronnie's sister Roxy. Her last appearance was on 1 February. Jack split up from Ronnie after she found out he slept with Selina, and Selina told him they were leaving to France.

[edit] Penny Branning

EastEnders character
Penny Branning
Portrayed by Mia McKenna Bruce
Duration 2008—
First appearance 21 January 2008
Status Single
Home Walford
Occupation Student

Penny Branning is the daughter of Jack and Selina Branning. On 21 January, Jack's girlfriend Ronnie Mitchell was at the couple's flat on Albert Square. Whilst there, she found tickets for a ballet on 1 February. Jack explained that they were for his daughter, Penny's birthday as she loved dancing.

Later, Jack's answering machine replayed a message from Selina, ranting about the birthday present. Ronnie answered the phone and met up with Selina. At the house, whilst talking to Selina about the circumstances of Jack and Selina's relationship, a young girl in a wheelchair entered the room. Selina asked Ronnie if she knew why Penny was paralysed from the waist down. Jack told Ronnie that when he was a police officer, he caught a drug dealer who was charged and sentenced, but when he was released from prison, he mounted the pavement with his car when Penny and Selina were waiting at a bus stop, causing Penny's spine to be severed.

Penny and Selina now live with Selina's parents in France. She returned to Walford in April 2008 to visit Jack, and was cold towards Ronnie, preferring her uncle's wife Tanya.

Scott Maslen, who plays Jack, has revealed that Penny will be returning to the serial intermitently.[5]

[edit] Ray Walters

EastEnders character
Ray Walters
Portrayed by Richard Hollis
Duration 2008
Appeared on 25 January 2008

Ray Walters was a man who booked R&R for a private function. He met with the owners, Jack Branning and Ronnie Mitchell, neither of whom had read an e-mail from him explaining what he had booked the club for. He revealed that he was a naturist and that he wanted to hold a naked party in the club. Ronnie and Jack joked that they and the staff could join in.[6]

[edit] Roger Grant

EastEnders character
Roger Grant
Portrayed by Max Gold
Duration 2008
Appeared on 5 February 2008

Roger "the Dodger" Grant was a dodgy old friend of Mo Harris who sold some clothes to Stacey Branning for her stall. Mo was insistent that the stock was faulty, and tried to make the dye on a shirt run by pouring tea over it, and when Jean Slater tried to wash the tea stain out, the top broke in the washing machine.

The actor Max Gold previously played the part of Dougie Briggs in EastEnders. His casting as Roger was criticised by television critic Dek Hogan, as Gold had previously played "such an iconic role".[7]

[edit] Marni Merrick

EastEnders character
Marni Merrick
Portrayed by Lisa Ellis
Duration 2008
First appearance 5 February 2008
Last appearance 25 April 2008

Marni Merrick is a journalist from To Love and to Cherish magazine, who visited Minty Peterson for a photoshoot for the wedding competition he had entered with his ex-fiancée, Hazel. Heather Trott pretended to be Hazel when Marni arrived.

[edit] Edward Tunstall

EastEnders character
Edward Tunstall
Portrayed by Miles Anderson
Duration 2008
First appearance 7 February 2008
Last appearance 29 February 2008
Date of birth 29 February 1948 (1948-02-29) (age 60)

Edward Tunstall was a counciller who Ian Beale met at a council lunch. He wanted to throw a party, and decided to use Ian and Christian's events organising business, Fit for a Queen, to organise it. He presumed Ian was gay, and asked him out for a meal. During the meal, Ian admitted that he wasn't totally in love with his wife, Jane. Edward invited him to be his guest when he collected his MBE from the Queen, but due to Lucy's disappearance, Ian was unable to attend. [8]

[edit] Harriet Burgess

EastEnders character
Harriet Burgess
Portrayed by Lucy Robinson
Duration 2008
First appearance 12 February 2008
Last appearance 21 March 2008
Occupation Solicitor

Harriet Burgess is Tanya Branning's divorce solicitor, who introduced herself to Max on 12 February. She later represented Tanya in the divorce hearing on 14 February, although her assistant had been bribed by Max to "lose" the incriminating DVD of him kissing Stacey, and she had to change Tanya's plea from "adultery" to "inappropriate behaviour". Tanya lost her temper in court, and later got drunk and phoned Harriet.

She later appeared on 22 February, when Tanya wanted to get an injunction against Max after she suspected he spiked her drink. Harriet advised Tanya to smooth things over with Max or risk losing her children. She later appeared in March so Tanya and Max could cancel their divorce proceedings.

[edit] Tina Teague

EastEnders character
Tina Teague
Portrayed by Kerry Ann White
Duration 2008
First appearance 25 February 2008
Last appearance 28 February 2008

Tina Teague is the mother of Tegs, who stabbed Jay Brown. Tina appeared on 25 February in an attempt to menace Jay out of testifying against her son in court. On 28 February she came around to the Millers' house to talk to Dawn. She started threatening her and told her that Jay shouldn't go to court but when she broke Summer Swann's toy Dawn snapped and took her by the hair, threw her out and set Genghis on her.

Tina's bullying tactics failed and Tegs was sentenced to two years in a Young Offenders Institute.

[edit] Alex French

EastEnders character
Alex French
Portrayed by Pippa Hinchley
Duration 2008
Appeared on 6 March 2008

Alex French was the head of a construction site on George Street, who Bradley Branning approached to ask for a job. They got off to a bad start, with Bradley initially assuming that Alex was male due to her unisex name. She offered him labouring work, though he told her that he was looking for work as as salesman. He was later offered a job selling the flats.

[edit] Julia Ellison

EastEnders character
Julia Ellison
Portrayed by Sally Giles
Duration 2008
Appeared on 6 March 2008

Julia Ellison interviewed Stacey Branning for a place on a B.Tech course in fashion design. Although she could not offer Stacey a place at Walford college, as the course was oversubscribed, she offered to get Stacey a place at a college in Croydon. Stacey declined the offer as she did not want to have to move away from Walford.

[edit] Jalil Iqbal

EastEnders character
Jalil Iqbal
Portrayed by Jan Uddin
Duration 2008
First appearance 17 March 2008
Last appearance 28 March 2008

Jalil Iqbal was a family friend of the Masoods. Zainab invited him to stay with the family and work in the post office for a while, trying to set him up with her daughter, Shabnam.

Shabnam was initially against this, as she remembered Jalil as a "geek" from her childhood, though when she saw him, she was attracted to him. Zainab set the pair up with a romantic meal, listening in on their conversation using a baby monitor. Shabnam discovered that Jalil had a girlfriend, though Zainab saw a picture of her and said she was ugly, and that her make-up looked like it had been done by Edward Scissorhands. Shabnam later bumped into Jalil on a night out in R&R, where they flirted. Jalil and Shabnam shared a kiss in R&R on 27 March, but during a conversation with the Masood family, he said that he thought modern Muslim women like Shabnam provided "great entertainment" but were not marriage material. Zainab was, in her own words, offended at his "arrogance and chauvinism" and she sent him away.

[edit] Melinda

EastEnders character
Melinda
Portrayed by Siobhan Hayes
Created by Diederick Santer
Duration 2008
First appearance 1 April 2008
Last appearance 4 April 2008
Status Single
Home Out of Walford

Melinda was the fiancé of Ricky Butcher. She was played by Siobhan Hayes.[9]

Melinda came to Walford with Ricky for the funeral of his father, Frank Butcher. Throughout the day she spent most of the time on the phone to her father asking him for £25,000 as a property deposit, in which later that day, he fails to provide for her.

She made several attempts to introduce herself to Pat Evans and was later dismissive when Ricky mentioned Bianca's absence from the funeral.

At Frank's wake it soon became clear that Melinda was only interested in what Frank had left to Ricky in his will. When it was discovered there was no financial gain, Melinda stormed off in a strop.

Later, Ricky announced that he and Melinda had split up, and Bianca told Pat that Melinda was responsible for Ricky's lack of contact with his son Liam.

[edit] Alice Grayling

EastEnders character
Alice Grayling
Portrayed by Susannah Wise
Duration 2008
First appearance 8 April 2008
Last appearance 14 April 2008
Occupation Social worker

Alice Grayling was a social worker who Bianca Jackson went to try and get some emergency accommodation, after her children were taken into care because they were homeless. She told Bianca it would be hard to place her, and asked her to wait until morning, but Bianca raged at her about being a single mother, and then told her she had found a place to stay - 31 Albert Square (Pat's house).

Bianca then pretended to be back together with her son Liam's father Ricky, so Alice would think that there were three adults to look after her children. Alice was about to go to inspect Pat's house, but was called away to deal with another case.

When Alice inspected Pat's house, she approved that the children could live there.

[edit] Alan Daniels

EastEnders character
Alan Daniels
Portrayed by Garry Roost
Duration 2008
First appearance 17 April 2008
Last appearance 21 April 2008
Occupation Journalist

Alan Daniels was a journalist from the Walford Gazette, who organised a 'Barmaid of the Year' competition. Roxy Mitchell and Dawn Swann competed in the competition, and although Dawn rightfully won, Roxy's lover Sean Slater threatened Alan, telling him to make Roxy the winner. Roxy later asked Alan about her victory, and he revealed that Sean had threatened him.

[edit] Wendy Simmons

EastEnders character
Wendy Simmons
Portrayed by Karren Winchester
Duration 2008
Appeared on 17 April 2008

Wendy Simmons was the friend of Jean Slater, who Jean met at a support group for people with bipolar disorder. Wendy, along with Jean and Wendy Hewson, interrupted Jean's daughter Stacey and her boyfriend Steven when they were trying to have a romantic evening.

[edit] Wendy Hewson

EastEnders character
Wendy Hewson
Portrayed by Elizabeth Nestor
Duration 2008
Appeared on 17 April 2008

Wendy Hewson was the friend of Jean Slater, who Jean met at a support group for people with bipolar disorder. Wendy, along with Jean and Wendy Simmons, interrupted Jean's daughter Stacey and her boyfriend Steven when they were trying to have a romantic evening. Jean could not remember Wendy's name, despite being able to remember the other Wendy's name. Wendy took photographs of the Slaters' living room on her mobile phone.

[edit] Gabrielle Proctor

EastEnders character
Gabrielle Proctor
Portrayed by Devon Black
Duration 2008
Appeared on 12 May 2008
Occupation Teacher

Gabrielle Proctor was the teacher of Liam Butcher, who called a meeting with Liam's parents Ricky and Bianca to discuss Liam's truancy and bad academic results. Ricky shouted at her, accusing her of calling his son stupid, and he and Bianca left the meeting.

[edit] Laura Stewart

EastEnders character
Laura Stewart
Portrayed by Jessica Regan
Duration 2008
Appeared on 12 May 2008

Laura Stewart was the ex-wife of Jamie Stewart, who dropped off their son Felix while Jamie was on a date at The Queen Vic with Roxy Mitchell.

[edit] Felix Stewart

EastEnders character
Felix Stewart
Portrayed by Oaklee Pendergast
Duration 2008
Appeared on 12 May 2008

Felix Stewart was the son of Jamie Stewart, who appeared when his mother Laura dropped him off with Jamie while he was on a date with Roxy Mitchell. Felix got on well with Roxy, and fell asleep on her bed.

[edit] Inzamam Ahmed

EastEnders character
Inzamam Ahmed
Portrayed by Paul Bhattacharjee
Duration 2008
First appearance 13 May 2008
Last appearance 19 May 2008

Inzamam Ahmed is the brother of Masood Ahmed, who visited Walford to check up on his brother's family while Masood was in Karachi visiting their sick father. He was rude and sexist towards Zainab and Shabnam, but praised Tamwar's achievements. He was shocked to see that Jay Brown had graffitied "Shabnam is a hore"[sic] on the Masoods' wall.

He later met up with Zainab, and she asked him for money. He came onto her, and she left, forcing her to consider selling her house.

[edit] Jamila Inzamam

EastEnders character
Jamila Inzamam
Portrayed by Sara Aisha Kent
Duration 2008
Appeared on 13 May 2008

Jamila Inzamam was the daughter of Zainab's brother-in-law, Inzamam. She attended a meal with Zainab and her children, Shabnam and Tamwar, as her father wanted to check up on his brother's family.

[edit] Ali Inzamam

EastEnders character
Ali Inzamam
Portrayed by Omar Kent
Duration 2008
Appeared on 13 May 2008

Ali Inzamam was the son of Zainab's brother-in-law, Inzamam. He attended a meal with Zainab and her children, Shabnam and Tamwar, as his father wanted to check up on his brother's family.

[edit] Vicky Buchanan

EastEnders character
Vicky Buchanan
Portrayed by Nicola Sanderson
Duration 2008
Appeared on 16 May 2008
Occupation Police officer

Sergeant Vicky Buchanan was the custody sergeant at Walford Police Station when Shirley Carter and Heather Peterson were arrested for being drunk and disorderly. She put them in a cell together due to overcrowding, but turned the cell alarm due to Shirley using it to call her constantly. When Heather had an asthma attack, Shirley had to bang on the door to attract her attention, when she gave Heather her medication, then listened to Heather and Shirley's woes about Minty, Phil and Vinnie.

[edit] Maggie Townsend

EastEnders character
Maggie Townsend
Portrayed by Angeline Ball
Duration 2008
First appearance 27 May 2008

Margaret "Maggie" Townsend is Bradley Branning's boss, taking over from Alex French. She first appeared when Sean Slater stole a crane from the building site she was in charge of, and later appeared on a corporate night out at R&R, where Mickey Miller flirted with her, and she flirted with Bradley and Jack.

[edit] Sandra Fielding

EastEnders character
Sandra Fielding
Portrayed by Kiruna Stamell
Duration 2008
Appeared on 6 June 2008

Sandra Fielding was an employee at Walford Primary School, who tested Liam Butcher for dyslexia. She also let Liam's father Ricky take the test, as Liam was nervous. She concluded that there was a strong possibility that Liam had dyslexia, but Ricky was just not intelligent. She was EastEnders' first dwarf character.

[edit] Others

Date(s) Character Actor Circumstances
02/01-03/01 DS Wragg Tim Faraday A police officer investigating Kevin Wicks' suspicious death.
03/01 Mr Lister Nick Wilton The Market inspector at Bridge Street market, who sacked his assistant, Bradley Branning.[10]
03/01 Alex Philip Honeywell A man Preeti Choraria met as she was leaving Albert Square.
07/01 Rich David Bauckham A friend of Vinnie Monks, who lent Vinnie his car and house.
08/01 Jo Louise Fitzgerald A woman on a hen night at R&R.
14/01 Simon Danny Dalton A man who spiked Dawn Swann's drink in R&R.
17/01–22/01 "Ziggy" Ashley Horne A member of Tegs' gang.
24/01 Donna Melanie Cameron A Victoria Beckham lookalike and Minty and Hazel's rival in the wedding competition.
04/02-05/02 Jeph Justin Marosa A traffic warden who Christian Clarke chatted up, and slept with, enraging Ian.
07/02 Cheryl Lucy Brooks An escort hired by Deano Wicks. Deano made his mother Shirley pay for her services as he had just been released from prison.
11/02 Dr Theara Paul Courtenay Hyu A doctor who tended to Stacey Branning, when she ended up in hospital after taking liquid ecstasy.
14/02 Lorraine Lisa McDonald Bradley Branning's flatmate, who argued with her partner Gilly about civil partnerships.
14/02 Gilly Sarah Counsell Bradley Branning's flatmate, who argued with her partner Lorraine about civil partnerships.
14/02 Moira Harriet Burgess's assistant, who was bribed by Max Branning to "lose" the incriminating DVD showing him kissing Stacey Slater.
19/02 DC Hargreaves Danny Nutt A police officer who investigated a break-in at Jack Branning's flat.
21/02 "Bungle" Sam Ardley Darren Miller's friend, who attended Tanya Branning's birthday party.
25/02 Paula Ellena Stacey A homeless girl who befriended Steven Beale, only to steal his wallet.
29/02-03/03 Mr Ackroyd Alex Avery Abi Branning and Ben Mitchell's teacher, who appeared when Max and Tanya Branning and Phil Mitchell and Shirley Carter attended a parents' evening at Walford High School.
03/03-04/03 Matthew James Hoogland A boy Lucy Beale met in the café, who Ian later threw out of his house as he was there alone with Lucy.
10/03 Dr Kahn Meneka Das A doctor who tended to Shirley Carter when she fell and hit her head. Shirley confided in her about a lump she had found on her breast.
20/03 DC Bedows Jane Cameron A police officer investigating the disappearance of Lucy Beale.
28/03-18/04 Simon Richard Heap A private investigator hired by Christian Clarke to find Lucy Beale.
31/03 Saul James Doherty One half of a gay couple who were getting married in the hotel where Pat Evans and Peggy Mitchell were staying.
31/03 Nathan Mark Rice-Oxley One half of a gay couple who were getting married in the hotel where Pat Evans and Peggy Mitchell were staying. Nathan got cold feet and called off the civil partnership ceremony, but after talking to Pat, married Saul.
01/04 Harry Danny Brown The owner of the B&B where Bianca Jackson and her children were staying, who threw them out onto the streets.
03/04 Charmaine Claire Louise Cordwell Bianca's friend, who refused to let her and her children sleep at her house, as she already had complaints made about the noise made by her own children.
03/04 Anna Laurietta Essien A social worker who Bianca had a meeting with after she was made homeless.
03/04 Toto Anthony Warren A man who lived in Lucas Johnson's old house, and gave his daughter Chelsea his new address.
03/04 Gerome Dominic Debias A member of the congregation, listening to Lucas preaching.
04/04-06/05 PC Adams Andrew Watson A police officer who tried to help a homeless Bianca Jackson, only to be assaulted by her. He later attended the scene when Pat Evans was run over.
04/04 Michael Cymon Allen A man who tried to pay Bianca for sex, only for her to try and steal his money. He punched her in the face and drove away.
04/04 Sarah Michelle Abrahams Frank Butcher's solicitor, who read out his will and carried out his instructions.
07/04-01/05 Keisha Suzie McGrath Winston's niece and love interest for Gus Smith. She and Gus started dating, until Sean Slater told her Gus was a womaniser, and bedded her himself. Gus later left Walford to become a roadie on her tour.
08/04-10/04 Opal Rustie Lee Gus Smith's aunt, who embarrassed him by assuming he was dating Keisha. She gave him his mother's engagement ring.
29/04 Lucy Alice Henley A homeless girl thought to be Lucy Beale.
05/05 Richard Simon Bird A man who Peggy took a fancy to at Ben's dancing exam.
06/05 Dr Watt Caroline Corrie A doctor who tended to Pat Evans when she was run over.
06/05-09/05 Arnold Richard Lumsden Clare Bates' ex-boyfriend, whose wife Clare stole jewellery from.
15/05 Gail Elizabeth Knight A poledancing instructor who Jack Branning booked to give a class in R&R.
20/05-22/05 Glynis Sheryl Gannaway A flight attendant who Garry Hobbs met on his flight back from Benidorm, she visited Garry in Walford, but left when Heather walked in on Minty kissing Glynis' friend .
20/05-22/05 Melanie Rachel Mitchem Glynis' friend, who visited Garry with her. She ended up kissing Minty, but left in disgust when Heather walked in and revealed that she was Minty's wife.
27/05 Kyle Simon Bubb A man who bought cocaine returned to Sean Slater by Chelsea Fox, only to find that Chelsea had replaced it with sugar.
29/05-30/05 Anton Chris Geere One of Bradley Branning's colleagues.
29/05— Piers Simon Delaney One of Bradley Branning's colleagues, who gave Chelsea Fox cocaine.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Soaplife, 2008-01-15.
  2. ^ Jane's family feud. BBC (2008-01-17). Retrieved on 2008-01-21.
  3. ^ Jay gets in deeper. BBC (2008-01-18). Retrieved on 2008-01-21.
  4. ^ "'Star Stories' actress joins 'EastEnders'", Digital Spy, 2008-01-03. Retrieved on 2008-01-03. 
  5. ^ "http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a92022/in-video-digital-spy-soap-awards-2008.html In Video: Digital Spy Soap Awards 2008]", Digital Spy. URL last accessed 2008-03-20.
  6. ^ "Roxy catches Jack and Selina in the act", Digital Spy. Retrieved on 2008-01-22. 
  7. ^ "Like a bullet to your brain", Digital Spy. URL last accessed 2008-02-11.
  8. ^ "Stacey's bender", bbc.co.uk. URL last accessed 2008-02-11.
  9. ^ "My Family star joins EastEnders", Digital Spy. URL last accessed 2008-02-01
  10. ^ Kevin's funeral - Thu 03 Jan 2008. BBC.co.uk (2008-01-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-03.