Tanya Branning

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Tanya Branning
Tanya Branning.jpg
Tanya Branning in 2011
EastEnders character
Portrayed by Jo Joyner
Introduced by Kate Harwood
Duration 2006—
First appearance 27 June 2006
Classification Present; regular
Profile
Alias Tanya Jessop (married name)
Date of birth 20 February 1975
Occupation Beautician (2006–09, since 2011)
Businesswoman (2006–09, since 2011)
Salon manager (2011)

Tanya Lauren Jessop[1] (née Cross; previously Branning) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Jo Joyner. She made her first appearance on 27 June 2006. She left the show temporarily on 25 December 2009 for maternity leave and returned for one episode on 23 June 2010. She made her full-time return on 27 September 2010. Tanya's storylines have included opening her own salon, giving birth to her third child, divorcing and then burying Max Branning (played by Jake Wood) alive, marrying Greg Jessop, starting an affair with Max and learning she has cervical cancer.

Contents

[edit] Storylines

[edit] Backstory

Before appearing on screen, Tanya grew up on a council estate, dabbling with drugs and alcohol and falling pregnant by Max Branning (Jake Wood) at eighteen. As a result, Tanya became estranged from her mother (her father died of cancer when she was in her early-teens) and from her sister Rainie, who went on to become a drug-addicted prostitute. Max left his wife Rachel (Sukie Smith/Pooky Quesnel) and six-year-old son Bradley (Charlie Clements) to be with Tanya. Their daughter Lauren (Madeline Duggan until 2010, Jacqueline Jossa thereafter) was born in March 1994, and they married in August 1994. She and Max also have a daughter called Abi (Lorna Fitzgerald) who was born in 1996.

[edit] 2006—

Tanya arrives in Albert Square after Max's car breaks down, not realising in fact Max is visiting his family. She finds out that he has had an affair with Gemma Clewes (Natalie J. Robb) but forgives him. To make it up to her, Max buys 10 Turpin Road for Tanya, which she turns into a beauty salon named 'Booty'. Tanya after much pressure from Max gives birth to Oscar. Unbeknown to Tanya, Max has started an affair with Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) who is Max's son's, Bradley (Charlie Clements) wife. When the affair is revealed on Christmas Day on a video recording recorded by Lauren, Tanya asks for a divorce and starts a relationship with Sean Slater (Robert Kazinsky). Tanya plots to bury Max alive and with the help of Sean, they drug Max and bury him in the woods. Tanya later feels guilty and digs him up and breaks up with Sean. Tanya then has to face her sister, Rainie (Tanya Franks) turning up as she did the year before, claiming she is clean of drugs, though tests positive, so Tanya orders her to leave.

Tanya then starts a relationship with Max's brother Jack (Scott Maslen) and Max tries to split them up. Tanya and Max later share a kiss, after Max is abducted and beaten by Jack. Max is run down in a deliberate hit-and-run. Tanya admits to the police that she tried to kill Max; however, Lauren was the true culprit. After the police find out Lauren was the driver, Max and Tanya suffer a bumpy relationship which ends up in Tanya forgiving Max and allowing him to move back in, but when she finds out they are in debt and Max has been hiding it, she leaves with Lauren and Oscar after finding out Booty was to close down, with Abi refusing to go with Tanya and staying with Max.

Tanya returns to Walford with her new fiance Greg Jessop (Stefan Booth). Rainie and her mum, Cora (Ann Mitchell) arrive in Walford for her wedding, much to Tanya's dismay. On her wedding day, Max and Abi have a car crash and when Tanya finds out, she leaves the wedding after exchanging vows with Greg, and rushes to the hospital. There, she thinks Max is dead but when she sees him alive, Tanya and Max kiss. Tanya says that it was an accident and goes on her honeymoon with Greg. When she returns, Tanya and Max start an affair, and Greg buys the salon after the current owner, Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons) faces financial problems. Greg pushes Tanya to have another baby though Tanya is against the idea. Tanya allows Rainie and Cora to move in.

Tanya and Max plan to reveal their affair but Tanya finds out that she may have cervical cancer. After discovering this, she breaks up with Max, but he decides to tell the truth to his fiancé, Vanessa Gold (Zöe Lucker) who reveals all to Greg. Heartbroken, Greg leaves Walford and when Max realises Tanya does not want to be with him either, he leaves too. Tanya later learns that she does have cervical cancer and that she will need to undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She decides not to tell anyone, remembering when her father suffered from cancer. Tanya's behaviour becomes more erratic and she eventually throws Cora out after an argument. After keeping it a secret for many weeks, she confides in Lauren about this, but asks her to tell no one else. Struggling to cope with the burden of her mother's secret, Lauren asks Greg to visit. When Greg meets with Tanya, she reveals the truth about her illness but Greg is unable to handle the news and promptly leaves, with Lauren reasuring Tanya that they will come through the ordeal without him.

Tanya befriends a fellow cancer patient, Siobhan (Sara Stephens), but on a visit to the hospital for treatment, she is told that Siobhan had died. This causes Tanya to have a panic attack and she struggles to cope with the news for some time. She then decides to stop her therapy, although does not tell Lauren about this. Tanya is delighted when her best friend Jane Beale (Laurie Brett) returns to the Square but does not tell her about her illness. Shortly after, she goes on a night out with Lauren and gets very drunk, accidentally upsetting Carol Jackson (Lindsay Coulson). The next day, Carol visits Tanya and becomes concerned about her behaviour, but Tanya reassures her that she is fine. Later, Tanya agrees to allow Cora to move back in, after she has been thrown out by Dot Branning (June Brown). Tanya's doctor Yusef Khan (Ace Bhatti) later confronts Tanya and asks why she has stopped her treatment. Tanya goes to the hospital where she tells her doctor that wants no more treatment as she does not have the strength to fight, despite the fact she could die.

Worried about her mother, Abi tells Jack her family is falling apart. Jack contacts Max, who returns to Walford with his brother Derek Branning (Jamie Foreman). Max insults Tanya, and Tanya throws him out. As Tanya starts to throw her mother and sister out, Lauren reveals that Tanya has cancer, and confronts her about stopping her therapy. Tanya then reveals that Siobhan died, proving that the therapy does not always work. Abi is upset that Tanya does not trust her, but Tanya explains that she did not want her children worrying about her like she worried about her father. Tanya then tells Cora and Rainie the truth about how her father died—he did not die peacefully as they believed, but was in constant pain and so Tanya helped him to die. Tanya then locks herself in the bathroom and contemplates taking an overdose. Lauren stops Max from leaving, telling him that Tanya has cancer. Max talks to Tanya, and she reveals her fears about her condition and reveals that she helped her sick father to die. Max then vows to support Tanya and they reunite. Tanya also reconciles with Cora and explains the circumstances around her father's death, though Rainie remains angry and tells Tanya she hopes the cancer is terminal. Tanya then resumes her treatment and seems relieved when Max tells Jane about her illness. Rainie apologises to Tanya about the cruel things she said, and they make up before Rainie leaves Walford. When Tanya and Max learn that their neighbour, Pat Evans (Pam St. Clement) is ill, they visit her and Tanya is stunned when she learns that Pat is dying of cancer. When she sees Pat, she is overwhelmed with emotion and is furious when she overhears Derek taunting her and brands him a "freak", and forces him to leave their home.

Tanya encourages Jane to interview for a job in Cardiff, but believes that Jane has turned it down. Tanya is pleased that her friend is staying, but when Jane reveals that she is actually leaving, Tanya is furious and says they are no longer friends.

[edit] Creation

[edit] Casting

In early reports of the character's arrival, her name was spelt Tania. This was later changed on the official BBC website.[2][3][4] Joyner originally turned down the role as she had doubts over whether she could work in a soap opera.[5] She said "It was a massive decision. I said no originally. Playing someone in a soap is a big responsibility. People are very protective of the soap and if you are rubbish you can't get away from it."[5] Also, having worked quietly and successfully in the industry for eight years, Joyner was unsure if she would be comfortable with the level of fame being on EastEnders would bring her.[4] During the affair storyline between Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) and Tanya's husband Max (Jake Wood), Joyner did not read any parts of the EastEnders scripts other than her own, as she felt her acting was improved by not knowing what Max did behind Tanya's back, and because she felt that she could better justify to herself why Tanya would not suspect Max of cheating if she in reality did not know what he was getting up to.[4]

[edit] Personality

In a July 2008 interview with the Sunday People, Joyner revealed that she was disappointed that Tanya's wild child past had not been explored more in the aftermath of her character burying Max alive, saying "I didn't think Tanya would be as mumsy at first. She was quite hard in her past and it would have been fun to have that side come out. Tanya has a really naughty side. When she was young she was a lot like Stacey Slater. That hasn't really come out yet but she definitely has it in her."[6] Joyner temporarily left the show in December 2009 for maternity leave.[7] Her departure was facilitated through a storyline in which Max hid financial problems from the family and Tanya left him. The show's executive producer Diederick Santer revealed that some planned storyline material for Max and Tanya was put on hold until Joyner's return from maternity leave.[8] On 6 May 2010, Joyner filmed a single episode that was broadcast on 23 June,[9] and she made her full-time return on 27 September 2010.[10]

"I have to say actually, I do prefer playing a sort of tarty, nasty bitch, because quite frankly it's more fun. I do love playing Tanya, but it is very different to the roles I had before EastEnders. I'd like to see a bit more of her feisty side."

—Jo Joyner[11]

In an interview with Digital Spy, Joyner admitted that she prefers playing a "feisty" character and would like to explore that side of Tanya. Joyner confirmed that she wants sparks to fly between her character and estranged husband Max. She added: "I hope it comes out. I think she's been a little bit calm and a little bit mumsy lately and I think if she's been away from Max for a while, she needs to come back with a bit more fight about her and have him on his knees a bit." Of her experiences as a mother, she added: "It's fantastic. It's full on but it's just been a whirlwind. I've just been so lucky."[11]

[edit] Development

On 21 March 2008, Joyner revealed a script in which Tanya would bury Max alive. Speaking of when she first heard about the burial idea, the actress admitted: "I actually was really upset! I heard about the theory and I thought 'how are you going to get me there? She's not a killer!' "I did always say to Diederick [Santer] when this happened that as far as I was concerned, the only way she can kill Max is when she finds out on Christmas Eve in a blind fit of rage – that's the only time when she could be a murderer."[12]

In February 2011, it was announced that filming had started on location for Greg and Tanya's wedding in April 2011. However, at the time it was unconfirmed whether they would actually marry, meaning that the couple's future would hang in the balance until the time of broadcast.[13] The Daily Mail reported that Tanya would flee the wedding to help Max and Abi when they are hurt in a serious accident,[14] though they said that Tanya and Greg may have already exchanged vows.[15]

[edit] Cervical cancer

On 26 June 2011, it was announced by EastEnders that Tanya will feature in a cervical cancer storyline.[16] Executive producer Bryan Kirkwood said: "During the summer, EastEnders viewers will see Tanya receive the devastating news that she has cervical cancer. EastEnders has worked closely with experts in the field to ensure we accurately portray this sensitive issue. Viewers will see how Tanya, a mother of three, will use her inner determination to deal with what will be one of the toughest challenges of her life." Robert Music of Jo's Cervical Cancer trust added: "As the UK's only charity solely dedicated to informing and supporting women affected by cervical abnormalities and cervical cancer, we think it is fantastic that EastEnders has decided to highlight the issue of cervical cancer. This is a disease that affects thousands of women and their loved ones in the UK every year, and for many can be preventable by taking proactive steps, such as attending cervical screening when invited. EastEnders have gone to great lengths to research this story with us and we hope that by showing this storyline to its millions of viewers, it will not only raise awareness of cervical cancer but also help the public to be more informed about this issue."[16] Ellen Lang of Macmillan Cancer Support said: "Cervical cancer is sadly diagnosed in thousands of women every year in the UK, so we congratulate EastEnders for tackling this difficult subject that affects so many people. 822 people, like Tanya, are diagnosed with cancer every day. Most will feel overwhelmed when they are told that they have cancer, especially breaking the news to children and loved ones. It's vitally important that the cancer patient, and their family, get the support they need. We hope that anyone watching who is affected by this issue knows that they can get the support they need from Macmillan Cancer Support."[16]

Jo Joyner said that she will make sure that the storyline will be "honest and true to life" as possible.[17] Talking to All About Soap about how she has researched the plot, Joyner commented: "I've talked to a lot of survivors of cervical cancer through a charity called Jo's Trust - the name's just a coincidence! They also have a great website, which is very informative and has helped me a lot. It's a privilege to be given any sort of serious storyline and a real responsibility. I'm going to make it as honest and true to life as I possibly can."[17] Asked whether it makes Tanya think twice who she wants to be with, she replied: "Definitely. She remembers her mum looking at her dad with pity [when he was ill] and she'd hate that happening to her. She has some serious thinking to do about her future now."[17]

Jo's Cervial Cancer Trust has praised EastEnders for helping spread the awareness of cervical cancer. The trust received extra calls following Tanya's diagnosis.[18] Kirkwood said in a news release: "EastEnders has worked closely with experts in the field to ensure we accurately portray this sensitive issue. Viewers will see how Tanya, a mother of three, will use her inner determination to deal with what will be one of the toughest challenges of her life."[18] Robert Music, the charity's director, said that EastEnders must depict the disease accurately and responsibly. He commented: "It's incredibly important. Soaps have a real responsibility when they cover any sort of health issue to make sure that they get the facts right, whether it's a diagnosis, whether it's the treatment. It's about educating the general public who perhaps aren't aware of the disease, but also with cervical cancer, there are thousands of women out there who have been diagnosed or are living with this. It's very important to get the storyline right for them as well so that they're also confident and comfortable that the programme is acting responsibly. Certainly with regard to the character Tanya and her storyline, I think EastEnders have done a fantastic job, being very responsible. They've listened to us, wanted to work with us and other experts to make sure that every stage of the process that Tanya's going through is accurate."[18] Music said that Joyner was "fantastic" when visiting the charity. He added that she was "really hungry to learn, to understand what the impact was, and she felt a responsibility to get this right"[18] Joyner stated that she "feels grateful" to be in a cervical cancer storyline. She told Soaplife magazine: "It's a privilege to be given any sort of serious storyline and a real responsibility. I'm going to make it as honest and true to life as I possibly can. I will grab every chance I can to show Tanya dropping her guard." Speaking of her past, she added:"Tanya remembers her mum looking at her dad with pity and she'd hate that happening to her. Tanya's dad died of cancer and she nursed him through it. She's seen it first hand and therefore has a deep-seated fear of it."[19]

Joyner said it's important to keep her cervical cancer storyline as realistic as possible. She said that viewers will see Tanya's appearance change as the storyline progresses.[20] Asked whether Tanya will start to look ill, Joyner said to Soaplife: "I'd like her to and I made a point of saying, 'Unless we ever see Tanya looking tired these references are going to be rubbish', because she's keeping up the pretence and putting on lots of make-up. But I've had my extensions out and the false lashes are coming off. It will be a slow decline."[20]

[edit] Reception

Joyner won the 'Most Popular Actress' award at the Digital Spy Soap Awards in 2008 for the part of Tanya[21] and also went on to win 'Best Dramatic Performance' at the 2008 British Soap Awards and made the final four in the 'Best Actress' category. She has also received countless other nominations.

The character has been pivotal in the transformation of EastEnders. Christmas Day 2007 saw Tanya discover husband Max and stepdaughter-in-law Stacey's affair and was watched by 14.3 million viewers, making it the highest rated EastEnders episode in three years and the highest rated television broadcast of 2007.[22] In March 2008 viewers watched Tanya bury husband Max alive. This was the most watched EastEnders episode of 2008 and the episode received 116 complaints from viewers.[23]

The UK communications regulator Ofcom later found that the episodes depicting the storyline were in breach of the 2005 Broadcasting Code. They contravened the rules regarding protection of children by appropriate scheduling, appropriate depiction of violence before the 9 p.m. watershed and appropriate depiction of potentially offensive content.[24]

[edit] References

  1. ^ The We Love Telly Team (9-15 April 2011). "Wedding Crashers". We Love Telly (Trinity Mirror): 3. 
  2. ^ Methven, Nicola (11 April 2006). "EXCLUSIVE: NO ANGEL JO OFF TO ALBERT SQ". Daily Mirror. http://www.mirror.co.uk/catchall/tm_method=full%26objectid=16930190%26siteid=89520-name_page.html. Retrieved 13 July 2009. 
  3. ^ Green, Kris (11 April 2006). "Joyner joins 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a31521/joyner-joins-eastenders.html. Retrieved 13 July 2009. 
  4. ^ a b c Joyner, Jo (2007-02-26). Interview with Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. Richard & Judy. 
  5. ^ a b Kilkelly, Daniel (20 May 2007). "'EastEnders' star Joyner turned down role". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a58037/eastenders-star-joyner-turned-down-role.html. Retrieved 13 July 2009. 
  6. ^ Jon, Wise (27 July 2008). "I WISH THEY'D LET ME BE A WILD CHILD". The People. http://www.people.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/2008/07/27/i-wish-they-d-let-me-be-a-wild-child-102039-20672545/. Retrieved 15 April 2011. 
  7. ^ Green, Kris (13 July 2009). "'EastEnders' star pregnant with twins". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/a164837/eastenders-star-pregnant-with-twins.html. Retrieved 13 July 2009. 
  8. ^ Green, Kris (17 December 2009). "Producer's Perspective 2009: Diederick Santer". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a189593/producers-perspective-2009-diederick-santer.html. Retrieved 17 December 2009. 
  9. ^ Green, Kris (7 May 2010). "First Pic: Jo Joyner returns to 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/scoop/a218713/first-pic-jo-joyner-returns-to-eastenders.html. Retrieved 7 May 2010. 
  10. ^ "EastEnders 27/09/2010". BBC Programmes. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tz282. Retrieved 20 September 2010. 
  11. ^ a b Kilkelly, Daniel. "'Enders Jo Joyner wants "feisty" Tanya". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a208756/enders-jo-joyner-wants-feisty-tanya.html. Retrieved 17 July 2011. 
  12. ^ Green, Kris. "Walford's Jo Joyner reveals burial script shock". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a92072/walfords-jo-joyner-reveals-burial-script-shock.html. Retrieved 17 July 2011. 
  13. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (22 February 2011). "'EastEnders' cast film wedding scenes". Digital Spy (London: Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a305197/eastenders-cast-film-wedding-scenes.html. Retrieved 22 February 2011. 
  14. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (7 March 2011). "'EastEnders' films car crash scenes". Digital Spy (London: Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a307517/eastenders-films-car-crash-scenes.html. Retrieved 7 March 2011. 
  15. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (23 February 2011). "Wedding day shock for 'Enders Tanya". Digital Spy (London: Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a305456/wedding-day-shock-for-enders-tanya.html. Retrieved 23 February 2011. 
  16. ^ a b c Kilkelly, Daniel. "'EastEnders' confirms cervical cancer storyline". Digital Spy. London: Hachette Filipacchi UK. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a326847/eastenders-confirms-cervical-cancer-storyline.html. Retrieved 8 January 2012. 
  17. ^ a b c Kilkelly, Daniel. "'EastEnders' cancer plot is a responsibility, says Jo Joyner". Digital Spy. London: Hachette Filipacchi UK. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a332946/eastenders-cancer-plot-is-a-responsibility-says-jo-joyner.html. Retrieved 8 January 2012. 
  18. ^ a b c d Eames, Tom. "'EastEnders' Tanya storyline praised by cancer charity". Digital Spy. London: Hachette Filipacchi UK. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a336744/eastenders-tanya-storyline-praised-by-cancer-charity.html. Retrieved 8 January 2012. 
  19. ^ Millar, Paul. "'EastEnders' Jo Joyner 'privileged by cancer storyline'". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a341418/eastenders-jo-joyner-privileged-by-cancer-storyline.html. Retrieved 8 January 2012. 
  20. ^ a b Kilkelly, Daniel. "'EastEnders' Tanya will have a slow decline, says Jo Joyner". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a343170/eastenders-tanya-will-have-a-slow-decline-says-jo-joyner.html. Retrieved 8 January 2012. 
  21. ^ "Digital Spy Soap Awards 2008: Jo Joyner". Digital Spy. 21 March 2008. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/i126527/jo-joyner.html. Retrieved 13 July 2009. 
  22. ^ "Eastenders Tops 2007 Ratings". Contactmusic. 18 January 2008. http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/eastenders-tops-2007-ratings_1056744. Retrieved 12 October 2010. 
  23. ^ "'Enders rapped over "harrowing" burial". Digital Spy. 23 June 2008. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/s2/eastenders/news/a103137/enders-rapped-over-harrowing-burial.html. Retrieved 12 October 2010. 
  24. ^ "Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin 112". Ofcom. 23 June 2008. p. Page 17. http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/prog_cb/obb112/issue112.pdf. Retrieved 13 July 2009. 

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