Jack Branning
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| EastEnders character | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jack Branning | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Scott Maslen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Diederick Santer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2007— | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 29 October 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classification | Present; regular | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Profile | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 12 September 1972 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home | 29 Albert Square | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Club owner/Businessman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jack Branning is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Scott Maslen. He made his first appearance on 29 October 2007. He is the youngest child of Jim and Reenie Branning and the brother of established characters Carol Jackson, Suzy Branning and Max Branning. The character was introduced to the show during a period when EastEnders was being routinely criticised in the media for its reliance on resurrecting old characters. The casting of Scott Maslen provoked some controversy, being the first time an actor had been poached from one mainstream soap to another. It was quickly established that Jack is a morally ambiguous character, with a murky past in the police force resulting in the paralysis of his young daughter. Tabloid media have praised the character for his role as resident Romeo, commenting frequently on his good looks and attractiveness, however broadsheet press have been more critical of Maslen's acting.
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[edit] Creation
[edit] Background
Jack Branning was one of several new characters to join the EastEnders cast in the second half of 2007. At a time when the show was undergoing media criticism for its resurrection of old characters-[1] with the announcement that Patsy Palmer and Sid Owen would be reprising their roles as Bianca and Ricky Butcher respectively[2] - John Yorke, the BBC's controller of drama production, defended the show's ability to create interesting, new characters. He praised the show's executive producer Diederick Santer for his development of new, "strong characters", including Jack Branning, and Roxy and Ronnie Mitchell. Speaking of this new wave of characters, he stated: "It feels like a new dynasty is emerging, which is important."[3]
Prior to his introduction in October 2007, the character was referred to once, a week before his arrival. He is a member of the soap's Branning family; his sister Carol first appeared in the serial in 1993, while father Jim had appeared from 1996. More recently, brother Max and his own family were introduced in June 2006.
[edit] Casting
It was first announced on 13 July 2007 that actor Scott Maslen had been cast in the role of Jack.[4] Previously best known for his role as DS Phil Hunter in ITV police drama The Bill, the media were quick to pick up on the fact his new role was notably similar - with TV critic Jane Simon sarcastically commenting: "What a relief it must be for actor Scott Maslen to get a role that allows him to show off his incredible versatility."[5] Malsen himself pointed out that the character of Jack was actually higher ranking than Phil Hunter, joking: "I've been promoted from playing a DS in Sun Hill!"[6] Maslen's casting marked the first time an established actor had been poached from one mainstream soap to another.[4] Speaking for the first time about his new role, Maslen said: "I was very sad to leave The Bill but after five years I wanted to explore new opportunities. The Bill afforded me some fantastic storylines. I'm really looking forward to playing Jack. He's an extremely competitive man who likes to win in business and in pleasure!"[7]
[edit] Development
Upon announcing his casting, Maslen described the character of Jack as "an extremely competitive man who always likes to win in business and in pleasure".[8] He mentioned that there would be an "instant attraction"[6] between Jack and fellow newcomer Ronnie Mitchell, and explained that he already had a longstanding friendship with Samantha Janus who plays Ronnie, having known her since he was 16 years old, and being godfather to her children.[9]
The relationship between the two characters developed quickly from friendship to romance, with Janus commenting that due to her friendship with Maslen; "Our first kissing scene felt really uncomfortable, it was terrible, but we're over it now."[10] Several media publications commented on the fact that the attraction between the two characters had been obvious, and bound to develop into more than a professional relationship.[11][12]
As the character's personality developed, questions were raised over whether his intentions and motivations were good or bad, with Maslen explaining: "I call him amoral; neither good nor bad. He gets what he wants out of the situation but that isn’t necessarily just a selfish thing. He’s not an evil character, but if there are people that are threatening him, his business or his family, he will do whatever he needs to do to eliminate that problem."[13]
[edit] Storylines
[edit] Backstory
Jack is the youngest child of Jim and Reenie Branning, and brother of Derek, Carol, April, Suzy and Max. Having grown up in a large family in a poor area of East London, Jack regularly fought his older brother, Max, for the attentions of his father Jim, who was an alcoholic. As a teenager, Jack stole his grandfather's World War II medal, knowing that it was Jim's prized possession as his father had died in combat when he was only 6-years-old, and framed Max, causing a huge rift between Jim and Max and resulting in Max walking out on his family in 1989. Despite the fact that Max and Jack were arch-rivals, they kept in touch as Jack was present at Max's wedding to Tanya Cross in 1994 and has watched his nieces Lauren and Abi grow up, unlike their father, who was unaware of their existence.
Jack himself settled down with a woman named Selina and upon marrying, they had a daughter, Penny. Jack also built up a career in the police force, but got involved in criminal activities and when they backfired, Penny, was left wheelchair-bound due to her spinal cord being severed when one of Jack's informants knocked her down in revenge for Jack accidentally getting them sent down. This caused Jack and Selina to divorce and Jack retired from the police force.
[edit] 2007—
Jack comes to Walford on 29 October 2007 for Bradley's wedding to Stacey Slater. Upon his arrival, he soaks Ronnie Mitchell when he drives through a puddle and she retaliates by soaking him with her water bottle.
A fight with his brother, Max, leads to his invitation being revoked so he stays at The Queen Victoria public house and helps Roxy Mitchell, Ronnie's sister, prepare for the reception. Deciding to stick around, Jack comes between the sisters when he buys Scarlet Nightclub and offers Ronnie a partnership (the club is subsequently renamed R&R after Ronnie and Roxy). Jack causes more disruption in the Mitchell family when he sets up Ronnie's cousin, Phil, by taping him confessing to his part in Kevin Wicks's death by selling him cut-and-shut cars. Jack blackmails Phil with this, demanding the car lot for his silence (which he then rents to Pat Evans).
Despite the Mitchells' animosity, Jack falls for Ronnie, and after kissing on Christmas Day 2007, they start dating. However, their relationship is rocky as the Mitchells, particularly Roxy, try repeatedly to split them up. Jack's ex-wife, Selina, reappears briefly and has a one-night stand with Jack, which Roxy finds out about. Ronnie, meanwhile, was about to move in with Jack until Roxy told her about his infidelity so she changed her mind, ending their relationship. They reconcile briefly in April but Ronnie doesn't trust Jack and struggles to bond with his daughter, Penny. Raw from losing Ronnie again, Jack and Roxy get drunk and have a one-night stand. Both immediately regret it and agree not to tell anyone but Roxy is pregnant. Roxy convinces her on/off boyfriend Sean Slater that he is the father, and they get married but prematurely gives birth to her daughter, Amy, on 14 November 2008.
In May 2008, Jack starts dating Tanya Branning, Max's estranged wife. Jack looks after Tanya and her children when they struggle to cope after discovering Max's affair with Stacey Slater and his departure. However, Max returns and is furious to discover that they are together. Max tries to buy the family home but Jack goes higher, buying 5 Albert Square and moving in with Tanya and the children. Max tries coming between them, telling Tanya about Penny's accident and asks how Jack can buy the house and the nightclub without a mortgage. Jack tells Tanya that he was a bent policeman who helped out drug dealers. Much to Max's horror, Tanya forgives him and in desperation, Max tries to frame Jack by getting him to touch a gun. Max fires it in his flat and calls the police, claiming that Jack tried to kill him. Jack is arrested, but is soon released, due to his connections in the police force. In revenge, Jack takes Max hostage, beating him and taunting him, before abandoning him in an old warehouse. Later that night, Max is mowed down by a car and Jack is prime suspect. Max's daughter, Lauren, later confesses to knocking her father down and, to save Lauren from prison, Tanya confesses to the police and is arrested in November 2008. While in prison, Tanya ends her relationship with Jack.
Depressed after losing Tanya, Jack demands a DNA test on Amy, Roxy's daughter. Roxy reluctantly agrees but tells him that Sean is Amy's father on receiving the results. Jack concentrates on re-building his relationship with Ronnie, with whom he now shares a flat. However, on Christmas Day 2008, Jack's sister, Suzy Branning, reveals the true result of the DNA test - Jack is Amy's father. Furious, Sean snatches Amy and persuades Roxy to join him on a trip to Dagenham. However, Sean tries to kill them by driving into a frozen lake. Jack and Ronnie appear and save Roxy and Amy. On returning to Walford, Roxy tells Jack that he will have no contact with Amy and Ronnie refuses to reconcile with him.
Jack tries establishing regular contact with Amy, leading Ronnie to leave Walford. Racing to the airport to stop her, Jack tells Ronnie that he loves her over the airport tannoy. They return to Walford together and Roxy agrees not to interfere. Ronnie and Jack discuss having a baby but he refuses, telling her she needs time to grieve for her daughter, Danielle Jones. Jack asks Ronnie to marry him but catches her piercing condoms, hoping she will get pregnant. They argue, and Jack storms out, but finds Ronnie's ring on the table when he returns. After telling Jack that Ronnie has left Walford for good, Roxy tries seducing Jack but he pushes her away and states his love for Ronnie. When Ronnie returns, Jack begs her to reunite with him, but she refuses. A few weeks later, she asks him to buy her out of the nightclub and to fund this, Jack sells the car lot to Archie Mitchell, Ronnie's father (who she despises). This distances Ronnie further from Jack.
The feud between Jack and Phil recommences. Phil discovers that Jack is dealing drugs and when Shirley Carter buys drugs from one of his contacts, Phil forces Jack to buy them back. Humiliated, Jack employs Phil's sister Sam Mitchell, infuriating Phil. Despite knowing she is engaged to Ricky Butcher, Jack and Sam begin an affair. Archie intervenes and pays Jack to keep seeing Sam, part of his plan to take over The Queen Victoria pub. He also tells Jack's niece/Ricky's ex-wife Bianca about the affair. Later, Bianca drags Sam into The Queen Victoria and forces her to tell Ricky (in front of her uncle Jack) about the affair she was having. Jack is distraught as Roxy was about to give him Ronnie's address but when the affair is revealed, Roxy changes her mind and throws him out of the pub.
Ronnie gets pregnant but loses the baby when Archie pushes her against the bar in the pub during an argument. Jack comforts Ronnie and takes in Ronnie, Roxy and Amy when they are made homeless by Archie. Jack confronts Archie and threatens to kill him if he hurts Ronnie again.
[edit] Reception
Much media response to the character has centred around Maslen's good looks, with the Daily Express commenting: "At last. Someone remotely attractive comes to Albert Square."[14] The Mirror similarly referred to him as "the new hunk on the Square",[11] as well as "the hottest property on EastEnders".[15] Inside Soap praised Maslen's transition between roles, declaring his performance as Jack to be "flawless".[16] However, The Times were more critical, writing of 2007's New Year's Eve episode: "The alleged erotic tension between Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Janus) and Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) was so underplayed as to be invisible."[17]
[edit] References
- ^ Hazel Davis (31 October 2007). "Bringing Ricky and Bianca back to EastEnders is the easy option". The Guardian. http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/tv/2007/10/eastenders_ricky_and_bianca.html. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
- ^ Jason Deans (29 October 2007). "Rickeey!!! Bianca's back on the Square". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/oct/29/bbc.television?gusrc=rss&feed=media. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
- ^ Matthew Hemley (9 November 2007). "Yorke claims EastEnders will not rely on old characters". The Stage. http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/18811/yorke-claims-eastenders-will-not-rely-on-old. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
- ^ a b Emma Cox & Sarah Nathan (13 July 2007). "Cor Bill-imey for TV cop Scott". The Sun. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article245944.ece. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
- ^ Jane Simon (29 October 2007). "Soapwatch". The Mirror. http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/tv/todaystv/2007/10/29/soapwatch-89520-20025882/. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
- ^ a b "Scott speaks!", Inside Soap (England): 16, 2007
- ^ "True or false?", Soaplife (England): 38, 2007
- ^ "EastEnders Rob Kazinsky welcomes new hunk". myparkmag.co.uk. 5 October 2007. http://www.myparkmag.co.uk/articles/celebs/tv-news/eastenders-rob-kazinsky-welcomes-new-hunk.jsp. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
- ^ Daniel Kilkelly (20 October 2007). "Walford actor dreads romance scenes". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a78140/walford-actor-dreads-romance-scenes.html. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
- ^ Daniel Kilkelly (19 January 2008). "Walford actress struggled with kissing scene". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a86246/walford-actress-struggled-with-kissing-scene.html. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
- ^ a b Tony Stewart (5 January 2008). "Sleeping partners". The Mirror. http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/tv/soapbox/2008/01/05/sleeping-partners-89520-20274612/. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
- ^ Grace Dent (3 November 2007). "World of lather". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguide/columnists/story/0,,2203147,00.html. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
- ^ "EastEnders Interview". bbc.co.uk. http://www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders/characters_cast/interviews/interview_scott_m.shtml. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
- ^ "SOAP: EASTENDERS, 8PM, BBC1". Daily Express. 29 October 2007. http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/23513/SOAP-Eastenders-8pm-BBC1. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
- ^ Adam Luck (8 November 2007). "Soap star reunited with dad". The Mirror. http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/latest/2007/11/08/soap-star-reunited-with-dad-89520-20079069/. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
- ^ "BEST first impression", Inside Soap (England), 2007
- ^ Kevin Maher (1 January 2008). "EastEnders; Double Time". The Times. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3115206.ece. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
[edit] External links
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