Lynne Hobbs

Lynne Marie Hobbs (also Slater) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Elaine Lordan from September 2000 to July 2004

Lynne is a fierce judge of right and wrong, although she is not always able to practice what she preaches. She has a turbulent relationship with husband Garry (Ricky Groves), but despite her complaints about him, it ends up being Lynne's adultery that puts their relationship in jeopardy long before Garry strays.

Storylines

Backstory

Lynne is the eldest of the Slater sisters and she arrives in Albert Square in 2000 with her family: father Charlie (Derek Martin); sisters Kat (Jessie Wallace), Little Mo (Kacey Ainsworth) and Zoe (Michelle Ryan), and grandmother Mo (Laila Morse). Unlike Little Mo and Zoe, Lynne is aware that Zoe is in fact Kat's daughter and helps keep the family secret until Kat reveals the truth to Zoe.

2000-04

Lynne is in a relationship with hapless mechanic Garry Hobbs (Ricky Groves) and spends much of her time despairing over Garry's inability to fully commit to their relationship. All Lynne really wants is to marry Garry, settle down and raise a family but while Garry loves Lynne, he is reluctant to lose his 'bachelor status' and he spends much of his time dodging Lynne's 'hints' about marriage. However, Lynne (and the rest of the Slaters) wear Garry down and the two eventually get engaged. Lynne works in Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt)'s café and often clashes with co-worker, Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks), who regularly slacks off work and flirts with Garry to wind her up. This culminates in Lynne eventually getting Janine fired and the two are sworn enemies thereafter.

In 2001, Lynne makes friends with womanising club owner Beppe di Marco (Michael Greco) and she often babysits his son, Joe (Jake Kyprianou). Lynne and Beppe soon become attracted to each other and have sex on the eve of Lynne's wedding to Garry. Beppe feels Garry does not deserve Lynne and tries to stop Lynne marrying him by turning up at the register office and starting a fight with Garry. Lynne is tempted but goes through with the wedding. The marriage does not go smoothly, however, and in 2002 Lynne strays again, this time with ex-lover Jason James (Joseph Millson). Jason is Lynne's ex-fiancé, who jilted her on their wedding day and fled to Dubai. After a chance meeting, the two rekindle their relationship as Jason wants to reconcile and almost persuades her to leave Garry and move away with him. However, at the last minute, Lynne changes her mind and chooses to stay with her family instead of following her heart. Garry forgives Lynne as he is desperate to hang onto her but the trust has gone from their relationship.

In 2003, another affair jeopardises Lynne's marriage, but this time it is Garry who strays. Garry has drunken sex with Laura Beale (Hannah Waterman) and she gets pregnant. Laura's husband, Ian, reveals to her that he has had a vasectomy so the baby cannot be his and throws her out so she turns to Garry for support, thinking he is her baby's father. Lynne has been trying for a baby and struggles to forgive Garry for having a baby with another woman, throwing him out so he moves in with Laura to support her during her pregnancy. Lynne finally comes round and forgives Garry after she gets jealous when he has sex with Lynne's sister, Belinda Peacock (Leanne Lakey).

Lynne and Garry reconcile and in 2004, Lynne becomes pregnant and a scan confirms that she is expecting a girl, that they plan to name Vivian after her late mother. However, disaster strikes when a fairground ride collapses in the Square and Lynne is trapped under the debris. She survives but suffers severe abdominal pain and Garry is told that Lynne needs an emergency caesarian to save her and the baby. Terrified of losing Lynne and their daughter, Garry agrees but only Lynne survives. The baby is stillborn but Lynne also needed an emergency hysterectomy so she cannot have any more children. When Lynne is told the tragic news, she is devastated and blames Garry for consenting to surgery and cannot even bring herself to look at him. On the day of her daughter's funeral, Lynne decides that her marriage to Garry is over, feeling that life for her in Walford is simply a reminder of what she's lost. She leaves that day to go and stay with her aunt Jean and her departure leaves Garry a broken man. Lynne's last appearance is in July 2004.

Lynne and Garry divorce and in 2007, the Slaters hear that Lynne is engaged. In January 2011, Charlie leaves Walford to live with Lynne.

Creation and development

In 2000, EastEnders‍ '​ executive producer John Yorke decided to introduce the "classic" Slater family.^[1] He felt the show needed to go back to its roots and bring back some traditional values.^[1] BBC's head of drama, Mal Young commented, "We do not have enough solid families in the soap, there were a lot of fractured families and people who were alone."^[1] The family were created as a replacement for the di Marco family, who were axed by Yorke. The family consisted of, grandmother Mo Harris (Laila Morse), father Charlie (Derek Martin), his four children, Lynne (Elaine Lordan), Kat (Jessie Wallace), Little Mo (Kacey Ainsworth), Zoe (Michelle Ryan), as well as Lynne's boyfriend Garry Hobbs (Ricky Groves). It later transpired that Kat was the mother of Zoe, after being raped by her uncle Harry Slater (Michael Elphick).

Lordan was cast in the role of Lynne after the character was developed at an improvisation session for thirty actors and actresses earlier in the year. The character was described as "feisty", "a loud mouth" and "lazy".

In popular culture

The character of Lynne Hobbs has been spoofed in the cartoon sketch show 2DTV.

Also, impressionist Alistair McGowan has impersonated Lynne working in the cafe, in his comedy show, The Big Impression.

References

External links

• Lynne Hobbs at BBC Online