Jean Slater

Jean Slater
EastEnders character
Portrayed by Gillian Wright
Duration 2004–14
First appearance 16 December 2004
Last appearance 11 August 2014
Introduced by Louise Berridge (2004)
Diederick Santer (2007)
Dominic Treadwell-Collins (2014)
Spin-off
appearances		 Tamwar Tales – The Life of an Assistant Market Inspector (2013)[1]
Classification Former; regular
Profile
Occupation Market trader
Caterer
Barmaid

Jean Slater is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Gillian Wright. She appeared in December 2004. She returned as a recurring character in June 2007, and began making regular appearances from November 2007. The character of Jean is notable for suffering bipolar disorder, which put a strain on her relationship with her two children Sean (Robert Kazinsky) and Stacey (Lacey Turner). In July 2013, it was announced that Wright had decided to leave the show.[2] Jean departed the series on 17 September 2013, leaving for a fresh start with boyfriend Ollie Walters (Tony O'Callaghan). On 18 May 2014, it was confirmed that Wright would be returning to the soap for a short stint, to tie in with Stacey's return.[3] Wright returned to filming, alongside Turner, in June 2014,[4] returning in the episode broadcast on 4 August 2014, and departing one week later on 11 August 2014.[5]

Storylines

Backstory

Jean married Brian Slater and had two children in the 1980s: Sean (Robert Kazinsky) and Stacey (Lacey Turner). Brian died in December 1999 following an accident on a building site; it was later revealed that Sean had punched him, causing Brian to fall from the scaffolding. After the accident, Sean ran away and joined the army; Jean later believed he had died in combat. Jean, a sufferer of bipolar disorder, was unable to cope with the loss of her husband and son. She was non-compliant with medication and ordered Stacey, her main carer, to leave her house in 2004. Stacey subsequently moved in with her paternal great uncle Charlie (Derek Martin) and his family in Walford.

2004–14

Jean's condition steadily deteriorates and despite Stacey's help, Jean attempts suicide and is sectioned in 2005. Over the following years, she attempts to rebuild her relationship with Stacey and Sean (following his return from the army). She makes progress with Stacey, but Sean continues to reject her. Jean moves in with the Slater family in Walford in 2006 and meets Ted (Richard Hope) at a singles' night. They date; however, Ted ends it because he cannot handle Jean's personality. Jean takes the rejection badly, has a breakdown and is admitted to a psychiatric ward for several months. When Stacey begins showing symptoms of bipolar, Jean intervenes and Stacey is sectioned. During her stay in hospital, Stacey grows close to another patient, Becca Swanson (Simone James); upon Stacey's release, Becca returns to live with her. Becca vies for Stacey's attention. She grows jealous of Stacey's husband Bradley Branning (Charlie Clements) and Jean. Following Bradley's death and the birth of Stacey's baby Lily in 2010, Becca successfully attempts to exclude Jean from Stacey's life. It is not until the true extent of Becca's involvement in Bradley's death is revealed (Becca had called the police and implicated him for Archie Mitchell's (Larry Lamb) murder and Bradley died in the subsequent police chase) that Stacey finally sees sense and begins to trust Jean again.

While at R&R nightclub, Jean is saved by Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) from a man who pesters her. Jean invites Billy back to her house and they have sex, but Billy hurts her feelings the next day when she hears him making insulting comments about her. Despite being upset, she accepts Billy's apology, dismissing it as just a one-night stand. Following Stacey's confession that it was she, not Bradley, who murdered Archie a year before, Jean begins to doubt Stacey is fit to care for Lily. Her fears worsen when Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) stabs herself and makes it look like Stacey is responsible. Jean phones the police asking them to detain Stacey. Fearing prison, Stacey attempts to flee and is eventually helped to escape by Jean once Stacey reveals her motive behind Archie's murder — he had raped her. Stacey takes Lily and leaves on Christmas Day 2010. Jean is heartbroken by her departure; she grows depressed and Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) finds her in the bath fully clothed attempting to drown herself. Realising that she is not coping, Jean admits herself into a psychiatric hospital.

Kat visits Jean three months later and Jean reveals she is better and can leave. Kat invites her to stay with her, which she does. She works for Kat and her husband Alfie (Shane Richie) as barmaid and cook at the Queen Victoria public house. She develops crushes on Alfie's cousin Eddie (David Essex) and Janine's uncle Norman Simmonds (George Layton), but her interest is not returned by either. Jean is thrilled when she wins £8000 on a lottery scratchcard. She makes an incorrect assumption that a man named Carter (Andrew Scarborough) is attracted to her, but he is later revealed to be a benefit fraud officer who declares Jean has been illegally claiming benefits whilst working at the pub. Kat's grandmother Mo Harris (Laila Morse) later admits that she has been claiming benefits in Jean's name. Jean begrudgingly agrees to take the blame as Mo has a previous conviction, but the stress causes another mental breakdown; she obsesses over Shenice Quinn (Lily Harvey), a young girl who the Moons care for, believing she is an angel. Instead of having her readmitted to hospital, Kat vows to care for Jean at home, and Jean eventually improves.

As Alfie has hired Ray Dixon (Chucky Venn) as a professional chef, Jean is fired from the pub kitchen, but is given the job of events manager. Jean is conned out of her lottery winnings by Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd), who tells her he will invest the money for her. He persuades her to 'invest' Alfie's money, which Jean has been given to pay bills with and she also invests money saved for The Queen Victoria's VAT bill. Barmaid Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons) discovers the money missing, so a worried Jean asks Michael to return it, but he denies any knowledge of her investment. Jean tells Michael's fiancée Janine that he has taken her money, but Michael claims Jean is obsessed, thinking he is her son Sean therefore making Janine's unborn baby her grandchild. Roxy believes Jean, but Michael convinces her that Jean is also obsessed with Roxy's daughter Amy Mitchell (Amelie Conway), and plants Amy's belongings in Jean's bedroom to prove it. Nobody believes Jean, and she becomes desperate to clear her name. Eventually, Roxy warns her to stop making allegations. Realising that she cannot cope with Jean alone, Roxy calls Alfie. Alfie returns with Kat, and Kat believes Jean, vowing to help prove Michael took the money. The truth eventually emerges when Kat tells Michael that Jean threatened to kill herself if she is sectioned over him, leading to Michael admitting to Kat that he took the money. When all these events cause Janine to go into premature labour on he wedding day, Jean has a sudden change of heart and strongly advises Michael to support Janine after he decides to flee. Kat then tells Michael that he must repay back the money to Jean, which he does.

Jean forms an unlikely friendship with Shirley Carter (Linda Henry) and supports Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) following his nervous breakdown. When he recovers and decides to open up a new restaurant he appoints Jean as his sous-chef. However the stress of holding down two jobs, coupled with Ian's constant bullying, results in Jean quitting, especially when she falsely assumes Ian of sexually harassing her. Drowning her sorrows with Shirley and Bianca Butcher (Patsy Palmer), Jean realises that she has left her handbag at the restaurant and they break in at night to retrieve it. Shirley and Bianca continue to get drunk and a fire soon breaks out; the sprinkler system puts it out but floods the restaurant. The women escape unseen, but Jean struggles with her guilt. She confesses to Kat, who convinces her to keep quiet but when Jean volunteers to help clean up the restaurant with Ian she confesses to him. Ian threatens to call the police, but he later decides against it. Jean takes up an allotment, where she meets Ollie Walters (Tony O'Callaghan). Ollie asks Jean on a date but she is reluctant upon finding out he is a retired police officer, but Kat and Alfie convince her to go. She confesses about her recent crimes to Ollie on their second date, but he tells her it does not matter as she was not charged so she can forget about it. Their date goes well and afterwards Jean invites Ollie to spend the night with her. Eventually, Jean tells Ollie about her bipolar disorder, despite worrying that he would reject her. He researches the illness but Jean realises that he does not really want to be with someone who has a mental illness, so they break up. She tries to reunite with him later but discovers he is retiring to Brighton. She attends his retirement party but leaves before he sees her. Ollie comes to visit Jean asking if she would move to Brighton with him, but Kat tells Jean not to go as she is needed in Walford. However Kat later regrets this and tells Jean she should go. Jean then leaves Walford with Ollie to start a new life in Brighton after saying an emotional farewell to Kat and Alfie.

When Stacey returns to Walford, she confesses to killing Archie, which leads to her being imprisoned with a five-year sentence, and Lily is left in Jean and Ollie's care. A few months later, Jean arrives at Kat and Alfie's home with Lily. She visits Stacey in prison, urging her to appeal her sentence, but Stacey refuses. Jean struggles to cope with looking after Lily, and when she overhears Alfie and Kat talking about her, she attempts suicide. Stacey is allowed to visit Jean in hospital, where Stacey realises how much her family need her, especially as Jean wants to stay in a psychiatric hospital. Jean eventually convinces Stacey to appeal her sentence and then returns to a psychiatric hospital in Brighton.

Creation and development

Casting

"I don't think she was ever intended to be a regular. She snuck in the back door really! She's a character that's grown after being created for a week of episodes back in 2005 for that big storyline where Stacey found Jean in the flat that was all boarded up. There was the odd little bit here and there over the following months and it just gradually built up to becoming a regular. It was quite hard to turn her from someone who was quite an intensive character to someone who could be watched on a regular basis."[6]

—Wright on how Jean became a regular character (2009)

Jean was originally a minor character, appearing for a storyline where her daughter Stacey, played by Lacey Turner, struggles to look after her in December 2005. The character eventually became a regular, but Wright said she did not believe this was originally intended: "She's a character that's grown after being created for a week of episodes back in 2005 for that big storyline where Stacey found Jean in the flat that was all boarded up. There was the odd little bit here and there over the following months and it just gradually built up to becoming a regular. It was quite hard to turn her from someone who was quite an intensive character to someone who could be watched on a regular basis."[7]

Jean was originally a minor character, appearing for a storyline where her daughter Stacey, played by Lacey Turner, struggles to look after her in December 2005. In the storyline, Stacey returned to live with her mother, who suffers from bipolar disorder, amidst one of her mental breakdowns. Scenes showed Jean, who had "sank into the dark despair of her illness", living in squalor, off her medication, starved, petrified, suicidal, and being abused and ridiculed by her neighbours. Stacey is forced to admit her to a psychiatric hospital for her own safety. In May 2009, Stacey started showing signs of bipolar disorder. Series consultant Simon Ashdown said the storyline tests Jean, adding, "you'll see her attempt to adopt more of a maternal role towards Stacey. Up till now it's Stacey who has been the 'carer' in the relationship."[8] In an interview with entertainment website Digital Spy, Wright discussed Jean's complex character, saying "She's slightly quirky and off-kilter but also has bipolar, if that makes sense? The disorder's different for everybody. I wait until the scripts come in and sometimes I think 'we've been on a flat level for too long' so I find a way within the dialogue to make it a bit difference." The actress also revealed that she greatly enjoys working on EastEnders as it is always full of surprises.[6] In May 2010, Wright told Kris Green of Digital Spy that working with EastEnders is a privilege. Before her return was announced, she said of her departure: "Things can't last forever. I am an actress and it's all a big adventure, isn't it? It's wonderful to have been in it for so long. [Jean] wasn't meant to be a regular character, so to have crept in slowly, then become a regular...for the audience to love and for me to be able to play something a little quirky, fun and also bipolar has been a privilege."[9]

2010 departure and 2011 return

On 29 April 2010, it was announced that Jean and Stacey were both to depart from the soap later in the year. Wright said of her departure: "It's been an honour to play Jean especially as the public response to her has always been so supportive. It's been a real privilege to be able to heighten awareness of bipolar disorder. I've thoroughly enjoyed working with my onscreen Slater family, in particular working with Lacey and developing such a great rapport over the years."[10] Executive producer Bryan Kirkwood added: "Gillian has brought real heart and pathos to the role of Jean Slater, a complex and fragile character who has really been taken into the public's affection."[10] However, Wright was given a reprieve in late 2010, when it was announced that a storyline had been created for Jean and Wright had signed a new contract to return in 2011.[11] Jean left EastEnders on 13 January 2011[12] and returned on 29 March 2011.[13]

Investment fraud

In April 2012, it was announced that Jean would form an unlikely relationship with Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd).[14] Michael seizes this opportunity to trick Jean into giving him a large sum of money.[14] Michael tells Jean, that because one of the suspects for the murder of Heather Trott (Cheryl Fergison) had a large sum of money, the police could easily target Jean as an additional suspect.[14] Jean gives her scratch card winnings consisting of £8000 to Michael so he can invest it into his gym, but in fact Michael plans to use it to pay for his wedding to Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks).[14] Michael, seeing that Jean is an easy target, decides to con her again by asking her for a second investment by "lending" him Alfie Moon's (Shane Richie) savings.[15] Even though Jean is initially reluctant at first, she hands over the VAT money for The Queen Victoria.[15] Shepherd expressed his excitement for forthcoming storylines for his character Michael and Wright's character Jean.[16] Speaking to All About Soap, Shepherd said: "We are building up to something, but I don't know what the pay-off is. It'll be a real crescendo and the thing with Jean becomes extremely intense. It's a bubbling cauldron."[16] Shepherd later confessed that Michael doesn't care if Janine finds out where the money is coming from.[16] He added: "He balances the risk he might be thrown out of the relationship against the benefits and decides it's worth the gamble."[16]

Wright has said that viewers are "protective" of Jean and that Michael's scam against Jean has led to people supporting her.[17] Wright told Inside Soap: "It's funny how protective the viewers are of Jean," she said. "The other night, I was putting the bins out and a woman screeched up in her car, wound the window down and said, 'Don't give him the money! He's a git!' I thought that was very sweet."[17] Shepherd later said on 24 May 2012 that Michael is playing a "dangerous game" as his scam intensifies.[18] Wright later reassured viewers that Jean will fight back against Michael and will not remain a victim.[19] Wright commented: "This [story is] quite special, I think - it's the longest one I've ever had, but also it's taking advantage of someone with bipolar and making them feel like they are losing the plot - that's a tough story."[19] Wright also said that the storyline is a "huge responsibility".[19] It was later revealed in 2012 that Jean will become an unlikely Ally to Michael after she urges him not to make a terrible mistake.[20] Wright said that she is thrilled that Jean is standing up for herself as the storyline continues.[21] Speaking on This Morning, Wright said: "Jean is a victim and the storyline is about a victim, I suppose. [But] I didn't want it to be played as a victim. So I'm looking for any opportunity for her to seize her own power. Sometimes that might be the smallest thing, like breaking into somebody's house and searching. That's a big thing - hiding under a table is a big thing!"[19]

Reception

The episodes showing Stacey struggling to look after Jean were described as a "harrowing and bleak", were praised by critics in the media. Wright and Turner were complimented for giving "graphically powerful performances",[22] and the storyline won a Mental Health Media Award in September 2006.[23] Wright also won 'Best Actress' at the 2012 Inside Soap Awards [24]

References

  1. ↑ Brown, David (26 June 2013). "EastEnders: Tamwar Masood in new online spin-off". Radio Times (Immediate Media). Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  2. ↑ "Soapland's joiners, movers and leavers". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. 3 September 2013. Archived from the original on 5 September 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  3. ↑ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a571708/eastenders-gillian-wright-to-return-for-new-jean-slater-story.html#~oEBJD1ZU1R7PwB
  4. ↑ "Stacey and Jean reunited!", EastEnders website . Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  5. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04d4nw9
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Green, Kris (28 April 2009). "Gillian Wright (Jean Slater, 'EastEnders')". Digital Spy (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  7. ↑ Green, Kris (28 April 2009). "Gillian Wright (Jean Slater, 'EastEnders')". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 11 May 2009.
  8. ↑ "Find out how the EastEnders Series Consultant and writer developed the story arc and episode that revealed Stacey's bipolar disorder.". BBC Online. (BBC). 15 May 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  9. ↑ Green, Kris (13 May 2010). "Wright: 'EastEnders has been a privilege'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Green, Kris (29 April 2010). "Stacey and Jean to leave 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  11. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (25 November 2010). "Jean Slater to stay on 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 25 November 2010.
  12. ↑ Director: Jenny Darnell; Executive Producer: Bryan Kirkwood; Writer: Carey Andrews (13 January 2011). "Episode dated 13/01/2011". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  13. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (29 March 2011). "Jean returns to Albert Square". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Kilkelly, Daniel (4 April 2012). "'EastEnders' Michael Moon to manipulate Jean Slater". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Kilkelly, Daniel (24 April 2012). "'EastEnders' Michael Moon to scam Jean Slater again". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Kilkelly, Daniel (26 April 2012). "'EastEnders' Steve John Shepherd: 'Michael, Jean plot gets intense'". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Millar, Paul (22 May 2012). "'EastEnders' Gillian Wright believes viewers are "protective" of Jean". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  18. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (24 May 2012). "'EastEnders' Steve John Shepherd: 'Michael is on dodgy ground'". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Kilkelly, Daniel (8 June 2012). "'EastEnders' Gillian Wright: 'Jean will fight back'". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  20. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (19 June 2012). "'EastEnders' Jean to support Michael". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  21. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel (22 June 2012). "'EastEnders' Gillian Wright: 'Jean shouldn't be a victim'". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  22. ↑ "Stacey's family strife". Daily Mirror (Trinity Mirror). 3 December 2005. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  23. ↑ "Mental Health Media Awards 2006". BBC.co.uk (BBC). Archived from the original on 7 February 2007. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  24. ↑ http://www.insidesoap.co.uk/2012-winners

External links