Manju Patel

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EastEnders character
Manju Patel
Portrayed by Leena Dhingra
Created by Alexander Lamb
Duration 2007
First appearance 4 May 2007
Last appearance 20 December 2007
Profile
Occupation Shopkeeper

Manju Patel was a fictional character in the popular BBC One soap opera EastEnders. She was played by Leena Dhingra.

Originally a guest character, Mrs Patel's primary purpose was as a plot device in the exit of nurse Naomi Julien, after the actress Petra Letang left the show.[1] However, following her two appearances on 4 May and 21 May 2007, she became popular with fans, to the point where she has been called a "cult icon" by Digital Spy soaps editor Kris Green.[2] It was announced on 16 August 2007 that she would be return to the show later in 2007.[2]

[edit] Storylines

Mrs Patel was a patient of Walford's general practitioner, May Wright. May wrote out a double prescription for her, and took one of the bottles of dihydrocodeine pills for her own personal use. She later told nurse Naomi Julien that it was a mistake, after Mrs Patel pointed this out.

Mrs Patel was later mentioned on 9 August 2007 during a telephone conversation between Dot Branning and Charlie Slater. On 9 November it was revealed that Mrs Patel was Billy Mitchell's new landlady. She gave him one month's notice to vacate the flat along with his wife Honey and baby Janet because she wanted a professional couple with no children to live there. Eventually, Mrs Patel decided to evict the couple from the flat. However, Billy changed the locks so Mrs Patel could not enter the flat. When Billy was out buying nappies, Mrs Patel got help from her nephews to get into the flat and remove Honey, the children and all their belongings. She offered Billy money as a good will gesture but Billy refused to accept it.

On 13th May 2008, Manju was mentioned again. This time by Shabnam Masood who told her mother Zaniab that she was going to see if Mrs Patel had any new clothes in her Sari shop.

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Letangoed!", The Mirror. URL last accessed 2007-01-19
  2. ^ a b "EXCLUSIVE: Mrs Manju Patel - an 'EastEnders' legend?", Digital Spy. URL last accessed 2007-08-16.