April Branning
| April Branning | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| EastEnders character | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Debbie Arnold | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Corinne Hollingworth | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 1995–96 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 28 December 1995 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 24 October 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 1 April 1961[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Timeshare seller/Waitress | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
April Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Debbie Arnold. April is the second eldest child of Jim and Reenie Branning, and sister of Carol Jackson, Derek, Suzy, Max and Jack Branning.
Contents |
[edit] Storylines
April arrived in Albert Square in December 1995 to invite Carol and her boyfriend Alan to her wedding. April had been living and working in Greece for eight years selling time-share apartments, where she met and got engaged to a native named Nikos. Carol initially refused the invitation as she knew that her black boyfriend would not be well received by her racist father, Jim Branning. However, Alan decided that he wanted to go so April enlisted her niece Sonia as bridesmaid.
The ceremony was due to take place in April 1996 but just at the last minute the groom's best man turned up with the news that Nikos had fled back to Greece, leaving April distraught and humiliated. The day wasn't a complete waste though as Alan and Carol got married in their place.
April returned to Walford in July that year to visit her sister, and after meeting the market inspector Michael Rose (who she was extremely attracted to) she decided to stay. She got herself a job working in Kathy Beale's café, where she was witness to her brother-in-law's flirtations with the vindictive Frankie Pierre. When it became obvious that Frankie was involved with Alan, April informed Carol, which eventually led to the end of Alan and Carol's relationship.
April and Michael's relationship continued over the next few months and eventually Michael fell in love and begged April to move in with him. April was unsure whether she wanted to take such a big step, and while she was considering what to do, her ex, Nikos, showed up and tried to worm his way back into her affections. He demanded to marry her and despite the fact that he had previously jilted her at the altar, April decided to give him another chance. She left Walford with him and managed to get him down the aisle, leaving Michael to marshal his stalls and mull over what might have been.
April's last appearance was in October 1996. Eleven years later it was revealed that April was unable to come over from Greece to attend her nephew Bradley's wedding to Stacey Slater.
[edit] Character creation and development
The character of April Branning, played by Debbie Arnold, was introduced in December 1995 as the "fun-loving" sister of Carol Jackson (Lindsey Coulson).[2] Her entrance storyline was part of a plot that lead to the marriage of Carol and her boyfriend Alan (Howard Antony) - when April was jilted at the altar, Carol and Alan married in her place. The character was turned into a regular in 1996, moving to the soap's setting of Albert Square.
At the time, Jaci Stephen, television critic for The Mirror described April as a kind of character "who, from the moment they open their mouths, appear to have been around for ever." She added, "She has bleached blonde hair, overdresses and has the kind of flirtatious manner guaranteed to drive the Square's women to violence. As April grows more glamorous Cindy (Michelle Collins) grows more dowdy."[3]
April's most high profile storyline was a romance with market inspector Michael Rose (Russell Floyd). In August 1996, less than a year after her arrival, it was announced that actress Debbie Arnold was quitting her role as April Branning, despite previously being quoted as saying "If they try to get rid of me, I'll chain myself to the railings of Albert Square."[2] Arnold reportedly said, "I want to move on" and a friend of hers is quoted as saying " Debbie has already appeared in Coronation Street and Emmerdale. She's terrified of getting in a rut and wants to try her hand at other TV work - she's had plenty of offers already."[2]
It was reported at the time that April's leaving storyline would revolve around an affair with her sister's husband Alan Jackson.[2] According to The Mirror, "the show's bosses are planning a sensational storyline for her departure - April will start a steamy affair with her screen sister's husband Alan, played by Howard Anthony. But his missus finds out and viewers will be treated to an emotional confrontation between the two. April ends up packing her bags and leaving the Square because she still holds a torch for her brother-in-law."[2] This proved to be false, and April instead departed after dumping Michael Rose and reuniting with her former lover to start a new life in Greece. She last appeared in October 1996.
[edit] Reception
Actress Debbie Arnold was reportedly popular in the role of April, receiving 400 letters from fans in two weeks.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Lock, Kate (2000). EastEnders Who's Who. BBC Books. ISBN 0-563-55178-X.
- ^ a b c d e f "EASTENDERS SIREN DEBBIE IS QUITTING; Final scene is steamy fling". The Mirror. 1996-08-30. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-61312816.html. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
- ^ "April reigns as new queen of the Square". The Mirror. 1996-01-03. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-61307997.html. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
