Lydia (EastEnders)

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EastEnders character
Lydia
Portrayed by	Marlaine Gordon
Duration	1995-1996
First appearance	21 March 1995
Last appearance	12 February 1996
Status	Single
Occupation	Market trader

Lydia was a fictional character in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. She was played by Marlaine Gordon between 1995 and 1996.^[1][2]

[edit] History

Lydia was first seen in Walford in March 1995, when she was hired as an apprentice hairdresser by Della Alexander. She was a bit obnoxious and liked to gossip, and she often ended up infuriating her employer, particularly as she was often the topic of the gossip. Lydia ended up losing her job in May that year when Della decided to move away from Walford. Audacious Lydia spent the last few days of her employment badmouthing Della to anyone who would listen and boasting about a new job she was applying for in an upper class salon. She then gave Della her reference to sign, which described her as popular, bubbly and humorous. Della had the last laugh however, when she re-wrote the reference depicting her as obnoxious and useless. A furious Lydia then left, uttering a tirade of homophobic abuse at her lesbian employer as she went.

Later in the year Lydia came back to Walford to apply for a job at Ian Beale's chip shop. She was rejected after a disastrous interview, but managed to get herself a job working on Sanjay and Gita Kapoor's market stall instead. She soon started dating the philandring chef Steve Elliot. Steve, who had always run a mile from commitment in the past, seemed quite taken with Lydia, and in 1996, the two moved into a flat together.

In February 1996, Steve promised to give testimony at Arthur Fowler's trial. A criminal firm had persuaded Steve to host a late-night game of poker in his night café, which Arthur's son Mark attended. He won a sizable sum and gave the winnings to his father. Arthur was later falsely accused of embezzlement and he was assumed guilty, which was due, in part, to the suspicious and unaccountable sum of money he had been given by Mark. The firm refused to allow Steve to testify at Arthur's trial, as they feared it would place them under a police investigation. After several threats Steve decided not to testify, but this earned the scorn of Lydia and she managed to persuade him to go through with it.

In order to change his mind the firm kidnapped Lydia. Steve was frantic, but he eventually found a distraught Lydia, who informed him that the mobsters had attempted to drown her and threatened to kill her if he didn't back out of testifying. Fearful for his girlfriend's life, Steve packed his things and both he and Lydia left Walford later that night. Their last appearance was in February 1996.

[edit] References