List of EastEnders characters (1989)

The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the BBC soap opera EastEnders in 1989, by order of first appearance.

Maxine Roberts

Maxine Roberts
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Ella Wilder
Duration	1989
First appearance	26 January 1989
Last appearance	2 March 1989
Classification	Former; guest
Profile
Occupation	Nurse
Family Brothers Darren Roberts Sisters Carmel Jackson Nephews Junior Roberts Nieces Aisha Roberts

Maxine Roberts, played by Ella Wilder, is the selfish sister of Carmel Roberts (Judith Jacob), who first appears when she attends Carmel's wedding to Matthew Jackson (Steven Hartley) in January 1989. Maxine works as a health care worker and she is highly ambitious. When Maxine's elderly parents can no longer cope with the responsibility of caring for her brother's two children, Maxine refuses to take over as their guardian. She lives in a single room at the hospital where she works, and makes it clear that her career is more important. She tries to persuade Carmel to take the children in and when she initially refuses, Maxine threatens to put them into care. Carmel has no choice but to allow the children to live with her, although her husband is extremely opposed to this and it causes many arguments. When Carmel's father suffers a stroke in March 1989, Maxine brings her nephew Junior (Aaron Carrington) and niece Aisha Roberts (Aisha Jacob) to the Jacksons, insisting that they take them immediately. Matthew is furious, but he eventually relents.

Paul Priestly

Main article: Paul Priestly

Marge Green

Main article: Marge Green

Julie Cooper

Main article: Julie Cooper (EastEnders)

Trevor Short

Main article: Trevor Short

Janine Butcher

Main article: Janine Butcher

Clare Butcher

Clare Butcher
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Lucy Foxell (1989) Caroline O'Neill (2002)
Duration	1989, 2002
First appearance	22 June 1989
Last appearance	31 May 2002
Classification	Former; recurring
Profile
Date of birth	1959
Family Father Frank Butcher Mother June Butcher Brothers Ricky Butcher Sisters Diane Butcher Janine Butcher Half brothers Danny Butcher Grandfathers Chike Butcher Grandmothers Mo Butcher Lydia Simmonds Aunts Joan Garwood Nephews Jacques Butcher Liam Butcher Nieces Natasha Butcher Tiffany Dean

Clare Butcher, played by Lucy Foxell in 1989 and then Caroline O'Neill in 2002, is the eldest child of Frank Butcher (Mike Reid). She is only seen twice in Walford. She is married and has children but neither her husband or her children have been seen.

She first appears for her father's wedding to Pat Wicks (Pam St. Clement) in 1989 and leaves her sister Janine Butcher (Rebecca Michael) with Frank. She has been looking after Janine for most of Janine's childhood until she got promoted at work and moved to Manchester, deciding to leave Janine with Frank as he has settled with Pat. After Frank abandons Janine and left Walford in 1996, Janine starts to become hostile towards Pat so she is sent to Manchester with Clare off-screen. Clare also looked after her other sister Diane's (Sophie Lawrence) son Jacques (Jack Snell), also off-screen, when he is abandoned by Diane in 1997. Janine returns to Walford permanently in 1999 and over the years she starts growing out of control, getting involved with drugs and prostitution. Clare returns to Walford briefly in 2002 and is shocked that Janine has stooped so low. Clare leaves again a few days later, after giving Janine some money to get back on her feet. On 1 April 2008, shortly before the funeral of her father Frank, Dot Branning (June Brown) asks Clare's sister Diane of her whereabouts, Diane says that Clare has already said goodbye to her father after visiting him whilst he was ill and is now living in Australia with her family.

Danny Whiting

Danny Whiting
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Saul Jephcott
Duration	1989–90
First appearance	3 August 1989
Last appearance	22 February 1990
Classification	Former; regular
Family Wife Mandy Whiting Daughters Lauren Whiting

Danny Whiting, played by Saul Jephcott, is a computers salesman who helps Michelle Fowler (Susan Tully), who struggles with the new computer system that David Samuels (Christopher Reich) introduces to the surgery. Michelle and Danny are instantly attracted to each other and go on a date together off-screen and in August 1989 Danny makes his first on-screen appearance.

Storylines

Danny is suave, middle classed and a lot older than Michelle, but despite their differences Michelle falls for his charms instantly. Their relationship progresses quickly and Michelle is so smitten that she agrees to go away with him for the weekend. However, she is given a shock when she telephones his home and is greeted by a woman's voice. Danny comes clean and confesses that the woman was his wife, Mandy, the mother of his two children. Danny claims that he is no longer in love with Mandy and tells Michelle that he wants to continue their relationship. Michelle is devastated and refuses to consider the idea. Danny's poor treatment of Michelle upsets the locals and Simon Wicks (Nick Berry) and Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen) seeks revenge on her behalf by graffiting his car with the words "Love Rat". Danny holds Michelle responsible for the vandalism and storms off leaving her perplexed and lonely. The following month Danny contacts Michelle hoping to reconcile with her. She refuses, but when Danny creeps into her house late one evening she is seduced by the gesture and agrees to be his mistress. Michelle falls in love with Danny, but he would frequently let her down in order to be with his wife and children and she begins to tire of sharing him. In order to appease her, Danny lies to his wife, telling her that he is attending a computing course, and moves in with Michelle for a few days to spend some time with her. While he is living in Walford, Danny became an accidental hero after he anonymously rescues Marge Green (Pat Coombs) from a gang of muggers. Danny refuses to give testimony to the police however, fearing that his wife wills discover his whereabouts. Michelle is furious about this, especially when she discovers that his testimony could lead to the muggers' imprisonment. Danny eventually relents and tells the police what he witnessed, but deceives them by using Michelle's address as his own, leaving her answerable when they called in search of him. Michelle is infuriated by Danny's dishonesty and cowardice and he exasperates the situation by avoiding her for several weeks. Michelle's family and friends advises her to finish with him, but she defiantly refuses to do so. Danny eventually contacts Michelle and promises to spend Christmas Eve with her. However, he turns up extremely late and then sours the evening further by giving Michelle a Christmas card that was intended for his wife.

Danny continues to mess Michelle around in 1990 by avoiding all contact with her, which turns her into an emotional wreck. Just when she given up hope, Danny returns to Walford claiming that he has informed his wife about their affair and has left her. He moves in with Michelle, much to her parents' dismay, and tells her that he wants to be with her permanently. Michelle is overjoyed, but Danny's true colours eventually emerge when his estranged wife shows up in Walford shortly afterwards to confront Michelle. Danny apprehends his wife before they could meet and takes her to the launderette where he begs her to take him back. Danny has been given a promotion in Newcastle and he wants Mandy and their children to go with him. Mandy tells him that moving is not an option, but she said she will take him back if he finishes with Michelle and returns to her. Danny refuses to give up his job however, and he promptly goes to Michelle and makes the same offer. Despite an array of objection, Michelle agrees to leave her family and friends and move to Newcastle. While Michelle organises the move, Danny makes various attempts to change his wife's mind, all of which were greeted with rejection. On the day of the move, just as they are about to depart, Michelle changes her mind about leaving. Danny was stunned and attempts to forcibly place her in the moving van. Michelle, fearful of Danny's sudden aggression, locks herself in her flat and refuses to let him in. Danny kicks down the door to confront her, but is forced to admit defeat after Michelle confesses that she did not really love him. He departs in a fury and throws all of Michelle's belongings from his van in the process. A week later Michelle discovers the extent of Danny's duplicity when Mandy arrived in Walford and informs her that he'd been attempting to reconcile with her.

Vince Johnson

Vince Johnson
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Hepburn Graham
Introduced by	Mike Gibbon
Duration	1989–90
First appearance	3 August 1989
Last appearance	15 March 1990
Classification	Former; regular

Vince Johnson was played by Hepburn Graham. Vince Johnson first appears in August 1989, but was one of many characters to be axed early in 1990, following the introduction of the serial’s new executive-producer, Michael Ferguson. He made his last appearance in March 1990. Vince Johnson is a friend of Darren Roberts (Gary McDonald). Darren has abandoned his two children, Junior and Aisha Roberts, in 1988; Vince comes to Walford in August 1989 bringing money for them. Vince and Junior bonded, and when the Roberts family moves away, Junior would return to Walford to spend time with Vince.

Vince regularly liaises with Darren by telephone, and is involved in various illegal money making schemes. Vince and Darren cons car-salesman Frank Butcher (Mike Reid) by selling him a stolen BMW, which is subsequently confiscated by the police. Unaware of Vince's involvement, Frank tries to reclaim his lost money, so Vince and a gang of hooded thugs advances on Walford with sledgehammers and begins smashing up Frank's car lot to warn him off. When the police arrives, many of the vandals are arrested, but a masked Vince manages to escape thanks to Junior, who directs the chasing police elsewhere. Frank is forced to drop the matter after Vince sends him an anonymous letter threatening to harm his daughter Diane Butcher (Sophie Lawrence) unless he did so. However, when Frank discovers that he had sold another stolen car to Julie Cooper (Louise Plowright), he realises Vince was responsible and attacks him. Despite his rage, Frank refuses to involve the police, which earned Vince's respect, and he compensates Frank for his monetary losses, ending their feud.

Growing weary of a life of crime, Vince attempts to go into legitimate business, hosting themed nights at Walford's community centre with the help of his old friend, Rod Norman. When Rod decides to leave Walford, he sold his African statues to Vince, which Vince attempts to sell on for a profit. When Frank discovers his money making scheme, he harassed Vince to pay off the rest of the money he owed from the stolen car debacle. In order to get out of his debt, Vince gives Frank the statues, believing their worth to be less than what he owed, but he is later infuriated to discover that he had underestimated their real value. By this time, Frank has sold them on cheaply to Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) for £100. Both Frank and Vince tries to con Grant's brother Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) into selling back the statues for a cheap price; Phil eventually does so, but the deal was void when Grant reveals that he has already sold them for £300 (their real value was £850). Furious, Frank tries to force Vince to compensate him for his lost profit, but Vince refuses and amidst Frank's threats, Vince left Walford in March 1990, saying he is sick of Walford.

Reggie Thompson

Reggie Thompson
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	John Rutland
Duration	1989
First appearance	31 August 1989
Last appearance	14 December 1989
Classification	Former; regular
Profile
Occupation	Retired

Reggie Thompson, played by John Rutland, lived in sheltered accommodation, along with Ethel Skinner (Gretchen Franklin). Reggie and several other senior residents from Prosper Estate, were intending to go on a coach trip to Clacton in December 1989 and Reggie asks Ethel to go along too. Reggie is a bit of a cad and initially tells Ethel that he cant commit to being her dance partner as he has too many other female suitors he doesn't want to disappoint. However, when Ethel hears news that her former fiancé, Benny Bloom (Arnold Yarrow), has died, he chivalrously agrees to be her partner. Ethel is very excited and she even shows Reggie a saucy nightdress she had bought for the trip. She and Reggie practises their dancing at the community centre for many months and they even performs their dance at the The Queen Victoria's talent contest in October 1989, in preparation for the big event. During the trip Reggie preoccupies himself with another woman, Gladys, and spent most of his time getting extremely drunk with all of his friends. This infuriates Ethel and she accused Reggie of "carrying on" with Gladys, which he denies. However, Ethel later finds him and Gladys together and she furiously chases Gladys out of the hotel while Reggie follows in hot pursuit. Reggie fails to show up to partner Ethel for the dance competition because he and Gladys has checked out of the hotel and ran away to be together.

Laurie Bates

Main article: Laurie Bates

Steven Beale

Main article: Steven Beale

Others

Character	Date(s)	Actor	Circumstances
Marie Davies	10 August–7 December	Vicky Murdock	A sixteen year old trainee hairdresser who works for Julie Cooper at her salon. She is pursued by Ricky Butcher, but takes a liking to Paul Priestly. She accidentally dyes Cindy Williams' hair pink, and attends Cindy's wedding to Ian Beale. She leaves Walford in December 1989, when she overhears Julie saying that she is going to sack her.
Christine Pretis	31 August–12 March 1992	Vivien Heilbron	A woman who did the bookkeeping for Frank Butcher at Frank's Autos, from August 1989 until 1990, when he decided to sack her, after deeming her services too expensive. Christine later came to Frank's rescue when he had a visit from the Inland Revenue. She told him he could apply for an appeal, but in the meantime would have to give them £4,000–£5,000. She persuaded Frank to sell his Mercedes, telling him that the bailiffs would sell it at auction if he didn't.