EastEnders A-Z

Keeping up with the intertwined lives of the Albert Square residents can be difficult, so we've made remembering EastEnders trivia as easy as A, B, C.

 

A - Albert Square: The Square has seen countless dramas - both good and bad - over the years.

B - The Brannings: Jim Branning made his first appearance in 1996. He married God-fearing gossip Dot Cotton on Valentine's Day 2002.

C - The Cottons: It's a common misconception that June Brown is an original cast member. She's not. She made her debut as Dot Cotton five months after the soap's launch. Her son 'Nasty' Nick was the cause of much heartache - he lied, stole and even killed someone.

D - Dogs: There have been several including Little Willy, Wellard, Betty, Terrence and arguably the most famous EastEnders dog of all - Roly the poodle.

E - Ethel Skinner: The lifelong friend of Dot Cotton was rarely seen without her dog Willy safely tucked under her arm. After discovering that she was terminally ill, she asked Dot to help end her suffering. The two-hander episode was one of the most emotional in the soap's history.

F - The Fowlers: Arthur, his beloved Pauline and eldest son Mark have passed away. Michelle has moved to America and Martin and estranged wife Sonia are no longer in the square either. EastEnders has no Fowlers.

G - Gangsters: The East End of London is famous for its gangsters and Walford is no different. The many villains who have frequented Albert Square include Steve Owen (played by Martin Kemp), Johnny Allen (Billy Murray), Andy Hunter (Michael Higgs) and Jack Dalton (played by Hywel Bennett).

H - Heroes: Sharon Watt's fiancé, fireman Tom Banks, ran into the burning Slater house and rescued Little Mo and baby Sean before dying in an explosion with the evil Trevor. Way back in the early years, nurse Andy O'Brien (played by the late actor Ross Davidson) was killed as he saved a child from being run over.

 

I - Ian Beale: He's been married four times (to Cindy, Mel, Laura and Jane) and his empire crumbled when he was declared bankrupt. Despite his many unsavoury traits, he is a devoted dad and was a loyal friend to Sharon. Adam Woodyatt, the actor who plays him, is the only original cast member left in the show.

J - Jamie Mitchell: After a disastrous encounter with Janine Butcher, he married the then Sonia Jackson. The young couple appeared to have a happy future head of them. But in 2002, at Christmas, he tragically died after being run over by Martin Fowler.

 

K - Kevin Wicks was played by Phil Daniels, best known for his starring role in seminal Brit flick Quadrophenia. Phil Daniels also found fame via Blur's Parklife! video. Kevin's stay in EastEnders was cut short when Phil Daniels decided to move on.

L - Little Mo: What hasn't she been through? A violent marriage to the brutal Trevor, a rape by a seemingly charming punter, a baby conceived during the terrifying attack and a messy love affair with her sister's husband Alfie.
 

M - Murders: EastEnders started with one and there have been many since. In the very first episode, pensioner Reg Cox was found murdered. Hapless Barry Evans kicked the bucket thanks to money-grabbing bride Janine and poor Paul Trueman also met a grisly end. Desperate Dennis Rickman shot gangland boss Jack Dalton to escape death at the hands of Phil Mitchell, only to be stabbed and die in his wife Sharon's arms.

 

But the most famous deaths involve Den Watts. First thought to have died in 1989 by a gunman who concealed his weapon in a bunch of daffodils, Den returned in 2003 (he'd faked his death). A couple of years later, on the 20th anniversary of EastEnders, there was a second, final death for Dirty Den, at the hands of his wife Chrissie.

 

N - Nans: Albert Square has a history of strong women, most memorably Fowler matriarch Lou Beale. In 2000, the Slaters arrived and it was clear from the beginning who ruled the roost - Mo, their outspoken and beloved Nan. However, the fans' favourite was the wonderful Nana Moon.

 

O - Offspring: The most infamous has to be Vicky Fowler (played by Scarlett Johnson), daughter of Michelle Fowler and Dirty Den. However, her appearance in the soap as a troubled teen was a disaster.

P - Pauline Fowler: Often described as one of the drabbest women on TV, it was years before she ditched her beloved mud-coloured cardigans and chopped her familiar bob into a stylish short crop. Pauline found love again with Joe Macer (played by actor Ray Brooks), but she's no longer in EastEnders.
 

Q - Queen Vic: Its had more than its fair share of landlords and landladies over the past two decades, including various members of the Mitchell clan, Pat and Frank Butcher, Eddie Royle, Alfie Moon and, in the glory days of EastEnders, 'Dirty' Den Watts and wife Angie.

 

R - Robberies: Several characters have taken part in robberies over the years. Remember when Martin and Vicki broke into the Minute Mart and left poor Gus to carry the can? And then there was petty thief and ne'er-do-well Nick Cotton who thought nothing of stealing from his devoted 'ma' Dot Cotton. But the ultimate heist has to be father and son team Den and Dennis setting up Phil Mitchell in revenge. Phil was arrested for armed robbery, but escaped.

 

S - Sonia Fowler: She matured into a loyal and caring young woman - largely because of the utter misery she faced. Sonia gave birth unexpectedly following a one-night stand with Martin Fowler, but had to give her daughter up for adoption. She lost fiancé Jamie after a tragic accident and had to fight for her life when husband Martin was targeted by deranged stalker Sarah.

She's had to deal with the trauma of her beloved daughter's reappearance, something that put a strain on her marriage, and in desperation, she turned to her friend Naomi. They ended up kissing and moving in together (yuck!) before breaking up. Sonia and Martin's troubled marriage took another hit when Pauline died, but they reconciled and left Walford together.

T - Tiffany Mitchell: Poor, tragic Tiffany was Bianca Jackson's best friend. She became romantically involved with hardman Grant Mitchell and had a daughter named Courtney. They eventually married, but their relationship was fraught. After discovering that Grant had slept with her mum, Tiffany resolved to leave him but she was accidentally run over and killed by Frank Butcher.

 

U - 'Up West': Whenever life gets too much for the ladies of Walford, they head 'up West' for a little retail therapy.

 

V - Violence: The chances of certain characters making it through an episode without being attacked are slim. Alfie Moon had regular batterings from all and sundry, whilst the Mitchells always enjoy a good ruck. But it's violence against women which always proves shocking; Little Mo suffered beatings, mental torture, rape, kidnap and even attempted murder at the hands of evil husband Trevor Morgan. She finally fought back and hit him over the head with an iron, but was sent to prison for her actions.

 

W - Weddings: So many! Remember Kat Slater and gangster Andy Hunter's almost-wedding? In a scene shamelessly lifted from 'The Graduate', Alfie broke into the church and stopped it. Then there was Kat and Alfie's wedding, which was corny in the extreme. What about Michelle Fowler and Lofty's wedding? You just knew it would end in tears. Who can forget Rick-ayyyyyy marrying Bianca? Or Sharon and Grant's do? Frank and Pat's wedding? And then Frank and Peggy's? Ian and Cindy? Honey and Billy's farcical attempts to get hitched? The list goes on...

 

X - X marks the spot: Certain places in Walford have seen more than their fair share of drama. The launderette, Arthur's bench and in particular, the Queen Vic. The old pub was the setting for (amongst others): Little Mo's horrifying rape by Graham, the great Walford siege (during which Michelle was shot), 'Sharongate' (Grant finding out about Phil and Sharon's affair) and with the murders of Eddie Royle and Dirty Den, it's also been a crime scene.

 

Y - Yolande Trueman: Her husband Patrick was involved in one of the most stomach-churning, contrived affairs in the history of EastEnders. What else can we say about that fling with Pat Evans, except that it required a cast-iron stomach.

 

Z - Zainab Masood: a new character played by actress Nina Wadia. Zainab's an astute businesswoman and a devoted mother. She's the Post Office owner.