Liam Butcher

Liam Butcher
File:Liam butcher 2008.jpg James Forde as Liam in 2008.
Duration	1998–1999, 2000, 2002–2004, 2008—
First appearance	25 December 1998
Classification	Present; regular
File:Liambutcher2.JPG Nathaniel Gleed as Liam.
File:Butcher, Liam 2.JPG One of the Vaughan twins as Liam in the 2002 special EastEnders: Ricky and Bianca.
In-universe information Family Beale family Branning family Father Ricky Butcher Mother Bianca Jackson Sisters Natasha Butcher Half-brothers Morgan Jackson-King Half-sisters Tiffany Dean Grandfathers Frank Butcher David Wicks Grandmothers June Butcher Carol Jackson Uncles Danny Butcher Robbie Jackson Joe Wicks Billy Jackson Aunts Clare Butcher Diane Butcher Janine Butcher Karen Wicks Sonia Fowler First cousins Jacques Butcher Rebecca Miller

Liam Butcher is a fictional character in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. He was originally played by twins Jack and Tom Godolphin in 1998 and 1999, then by twins Gavin and Mitchell Vaughan in 2002, and by Nathaniel Gleed from 2002 to 2004.

It was announced on 29 October 2007 that Liam would return to EastEnders in April 2008. Upon his return, it was said that he had "taken to being the man of the house", and was described as "not very academic, but [...] always willing to try new things – a trait which sees him quite often in trouble. His laddish demeanour, however, is softened by the affection he is not afraid to show his mum." Since 1 April 2008 he has been played by James Forde.

Liam has more relatives than any other character in the show, as he is related to members of the Beale family, the Branning/Jackson family and the Butcher family.

Storylines

Birth

Liam was born on Christmas Day 1998 to Ricky and Bianca Butcher on the floor of the Queen Vic, with his mother being assisted by her archrival Grant Mitchell (Liam was named after Liam Gallagher of the rock group Oasis, who were at the height of their popularity at the time). In September 1999, Liam's parents separated when Bianca's affair with her mother Carol Jackson's fiancé Dan Sullivan was revealed and Liam soon left Walford to live with his mother in Manchester, where she had began attending fashion college.

Return to Walford with Ricky

Despite returning to Walford briefly in April 2000 to visit his father, Liam very rarely saw Ricky. In May 2002, Ricky turned up in Manchester with his fiancée Cassie to discuss custody of Liam. After a series of events, including his parents having a one-night stand, Bianca gave Liam up to Ricky and hitchhiked a lift from a stranger to a destination unknown. Shortly afterwards on 8 August 2002, Ricky and Liam returned to Walford after Ricky discovered that his agoraphobic younger sister Janine Butcher had been reduced to prostitution and drugs and was now reclusive, refusing to leave her home after being left scarred by Laura Beale who threw a pot of boiling milk over her for sleeping with her husband Ian Beale. During his time back on Albert Square, Liam spent a lot of time with family members that he hadn't seen for years such as his great-grandfather Jim Branning, uncle Robbie Jackson and aunt Sonia Jackson, and grew exceptionally close to his aunt Janine. However after just two years in Walford, Liam departed again on 3 February 2004 with his father after his aunt Janine revealed to Ricky that she had in fact killed her husband Barry Evans. Despite Ricky having custody of Liam since 2002, when father and son left Walford in 2004 Ricky found a job selling cars and he fell for his employer's daughter Melinda. Ricky began dating Melinda and they were soon engaged. However Melinda made it clear to Ricky that she was not interested in his son and just before Christmas 2006, Liam was sent away to live with Bianca and her other children until Melinda could get used to having him around. In February 2007, Liam's aunt Sonia turned up in Manchester with her fiancé Martin Fowler and their daughter Rebecca Miller. They lived with Liam and his family until deciding to go and tour America and live with Martin's sister Michelle Fowler in June 2007.

Return to Walford with Bianca

Liam returned to Walford on 1 April 2008 when he, along with his mother Bianca Jackson, his half-siblings Tiffany Dean and Morgan Jackson-King and his step-sister Whitney Dean, was being thrown out of their house by their landlord. Meanwhile his father, Ricky Butcher was trying to call Bianca to get Liam to attend his grandfather Frank Butcher's funeral.

After spending a week in care due to the police finding them homeless (which led to Bianca getting arrested as she punched a police officer), Liam returned to Walford after departing four years previously and stayed with his great-grandmother Pat Evans, along with his half-siblings, stepsister and mother. A week later his father Ricky also joined Pat's household when it was revealed that he was also homeless after separating from his fiancée Melinda.

Although initially refusing to speak to his mother after his ordeal in social care, Liam eventually came round and reunited with Bianca at a Branning family party, where he met the rest of his extended family. He then began skipping school by feigning illness, before confessing to his parents that he was scared of going to school. Both Ricky and Bianca tried to encourage him but later on they were called into Liam's school, where it soon became apparent that Liam was not doing well in all of his academic studies. In order to help him improve, Ricky began paying Libby Fox to tutor Liam but when he was still struggling he was advised to take a test for dyslexia. After taking the test in June 2008 it was revealed that there was a strong possibility that Liam was dyslexic.

Most recently in December 2008 Liam was shown helping his half sister Tiffany raise money for her sponsored silence and he, along with Tiffany and Morgan, sang carols around Albert Square in order to raise money to buy Whitney a present for her 16th birthday. However they were unsuccessful and only received £5 from their great uncle Ian Beale who gave it to them on the condition they stopped singing.

External links

• Liam Butcher at BBC Online