List of EastEnders characters introduced in 2011

The following is a list of characters who first appeared or are due to appear in the BBC soap opera EastEnders in 2011, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the series' executive producer, Bryan Kirkwood. The first main character to be announced was Eddie Moon, the father of Michael Moon. Poppy Meadow was introduced in January 2011, and Rob Grayson joined the series in February, as did Shenice Quinn. Ashley Chubb was introduced in March as the father of established character Fatboy. In April, Janine Butcher's grandmother, Lydia Simmonds, and Tanya Branning and Rainie Cross's mother, Cora Cross, both joined the series and Martin was introduced as the new love intrest for Jane Beale. Eddie's sons Tyler and Anthony were announced in May.

Poppy Meadow

Poppy Meadow
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Rachel Bright
Duration	2011—
First appearance	11 January 2011
Classification	Former; guest (returning)
Introduced by	Bryan Kirkwood

Poppy Meadow, played by Rachel Bright, is a friend of Jodie Gold's (Kylie Babbington) who initially appears on 11 and 13 January 2011. In the episodes, Jodie and her boyfriend Darren Miller (Charlie G. Hawkins) try to get Poppy to go on a date with Tamwar Masood (Himesh Patel), but later Tamwar is called away by his mother Zainab (Nina Wadia) before he has spoken to Poppy. Jodie and Poppy have a conversation about Jodie's father, and Darren promises to give Poppy a "proper London experience", despite the fact she lives in Shepherd's Bush. Darren ends up buying Poppy a meal in the local café instead of going to another pub, and Poppy tells Jodie to give Darren the silent treatment in order to get him to do what she wants. Poppy is subsequently mentioned by Jodie in conversation, after Jodie and Darren go to Poppy's off-screen party where Poppy falls of a chair and injures herself.

Poppy's orginal scenes were described as "a bizarre and utterly irrelevant chat" by Jody Thompson from the Daily Mail when it was reported that they were used as "filler" for scenes from the funeral of Tommy Moon that were cut from the episodes. Daniella Graham from the Metro said that "viewers were left questioning why on earth anyone thought this pointless sub-plot was necessary." However, Derek Lord from The Press and Journal said it was a "a welcome addition to the show," saying that "as a double act, [Jodie and Poppy are] no Morecambe and Wise, but at least they bring an element of something approaching humour to the otherwise soul-destroying drabness of the London soap." Jim Shelley from the Daily Mirror called Poppy "Optimist of the week" for her line "I bet it's really nice here when they ain't having a funeral." Stuart Heritage from The Guardian said that Poppy made an impact in her two episodes, calling her "perhaps the greatest television bit-part character of the modern age". Heritage said she has "the name of a Bond girl, the hair of a Winkleman and the voice of a Katie Price robot running low on batteries" and called the scenes "a bizarre sequence [...] where [she spouted] torrents of charmingly directionless nonsense about peanuts and oily T-zones at regular character Jodie Gold. And then Poppy disappeared forever." He called her electrifying and hoped that she would return. Daniel Kilkelly from website Digital Spy called Poppy "ditzy". On 12 May 2011, Babbington revealed on This Morning that she had filmed scenes with Bright and Poppy would be returning, with comical scenes.

Rob Grayson

Rob Grayson
EastEnders character
File:Rob Grayson.jpg
Portrayed by	Jody Latham
Duration	2011
First appearance	22 February 2011
Classification	Former; guest (returning)
Introduced by	Bryan Kirkwood
In-universe information Occupation Pimp

Rob Grayson, played by Jody Latham, is a pimp who exploits Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) for financial gain. His first appearance was on 22 February 2011, and he appeared until a special Comic Relief episode on 18 March 2011. He is due to make a short return in the coming weeks.

He first appears when he witnesses Whitney attempting to pickpocket a man but ending up with cuts on her face.Rob rescues her from the situation, and buys her a meal. He gives her his number so she can contact him any time she needs get away, before taking her home. They stay in contact and Rob is seen showing a friend a photo of Whitney. When Whitney either rejects or is rejected by all her friends and family, she contacts Rob and he takes her to stay with him. After Whitney has been missing for several days, Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) tries to phone her, leaving several messages. When she finally gets a voicemail back, it is from Rob saying if she calls again, there will be trouble.

Lauren tracks Whitney down to Dartford, but Whitney insists she is fine with Rob, and that they are in love. Rob meets Lauren at their bedsit and invites her out with them, but Lauren leaves. Rob then leaves Whitney alone with Chris (Richard Simons) and it is revealed that Rob is using Whitney to pay off his debts. Rob meets Lauren in a café and again invites her out and calls her beautiful. He then threatens her, saying he does not want to see her again. When Rob returns to the bedsit, Whitney is there with Janine Malloy (Charlie Brooks), who says she is taking Whitney home. Whitney refuses to go and Rob ejects Janine from the building. Rob then tells Whitney they are going out immediately, and drags her to the car as she refuses to go. Lauren and Janine watch as Rob drives away with Whitney. Rob takes Whitney to a house where she meets Chloe (Georgia Henshaw), another girl being exploited. Whitney realises she is there to have sex with men, so asks Rob if she can leave. Rob says to either be nice to his friends or he will hurt her. He grabs her and locks her in a room. She is unable to open the windows so when she hears people outside the door, she smashes a window, jumps to the ground and runs away with Rob calling after her. She then stops a car and asks for help. She later returns to Walford after being arrested for shoplifting. Her half brother Ryan Malloy (Neil McDermott) learns of what happened and wants to find Rob but Whitney says he has moved.

Development

In January 2011, it was announced that Whitney would be part of the sexual exploitation storyline. She is left alone and vulnerable, and falls for Rob, who then exploits her. EastEnders worked alongside charity Comic Relief on the storyline, which started planning in 2010. The storyline culminated during Red Nose Day 2011 on 18 March 2011, in a special 10-minute episode. Gilly Green, Head of UK Grants at Comic Relief, said: "It is vital that we continue to alert young people to the dangers if we are to stop them being exploited and the opportunity to work with EastEnders will make a huge audience aware of this issue. We have been working with the EastEnders script writers and some of the young women from projects we support to ensure the story reflects the reality of young people caught up in sexual exploitation." Kevin Cahill, Chief Executive of Comic Relief, added "We have worked over many years with EastEnders in all kinds of ways. It's been a real pleasure this year to work together on a piece of serious drama, in the best traditions of public service, which will highlight an important issue and also, because it occurs on the night of Comic Relief, actually help raise crucial funds to help young women caught up in it." An EastEnders insider spoke of the storyline leading up to Rob's arrival: "Janine's a terrible influence and is soon dragging Whitney into all sorts of shady schemes. Given that Janine used to be a prostitute, it makes sense that she's part of Whitney's journey. Whitney has no idea what she's letting herself in for. Janine is only part of the problem though. It's when she meets Rob—a deeply unscrupulous man—that her life starts to fall apart in a terrifying way." Rob has been called "evil" by The People, and a "nasty piece of work" by Orange.

McGarty hoped the storyline would raise awareness of the issue for young people, and explained that the storyline would be a continuing one, as "Whitney will live in fear that Rob and his gang are going to come after her when she escapes. That's what these people do. They don't just leave you to get on with your life. In their mind they own you." She also added that she hopes that the storyline will lead to better conviction rates as she said that they aren't 'good enough'. Latham met real-life prostitutes at a drop-in centre as research, which he described as "heartbreaking". Latham revealed after his stint that he hoped to return, saying, "I always say it's better to play the bad guy—everyone remembers the bad guy. They get the best endings. I had an absolutely great time on EastEnders. It was a breath of fresh air. [...] Judging from the way it was left, the door is wide open, so you never know. I would love to come back and cause some trouble."

On 1 May 2011 it was reported by the Daily Star that Latham would return to EastEnders in a couple of weeks time to film the conclusion to the storyline. A source said, "Whitney will not be going back on the streets but the writers felt the storyline needed to be tied up so Jody is coming back for a couple of episodes. Whitney is currently having to come to terms with everything that she did while under Rob's spell and she's not coping very well. She's trying to move on but, with everyone knowing that she worked as a prostitute, she's finding it all very ­difficult. The writers decided it would be good for her to come face to face with Rob again once she's strong enough to do so. They've written the conclusion to her storyline and Jody will be back to film the dramatic ending in a couple of weeks time. Rob is set to finally get his come-uppance." An EastEnders spokeperson confirmed this.

It was reported by The People that Latham had received criticism from viewers who struggled to understand his Burnley accent. He said, "I'm sorry people are having ­difficulty with my accent. I'm sure the great fans of EastEnders will get used to it!" The storyline reportedly received criticism from fans. The BBC issued a statement, saying:

The EastEnders audience would have been aware of the dark situation Whitney was getting into. In the preceding episodes viewers saw Whitney feeling increasingly unwanted and unloved, with her brother and her step-mother absent, her life was taking a downward spiral. [...] It was a natural progression of Whitney's story thus far and we felt it was an important story to tell, and hopefully to raise awareness of amongst our audience. In doing so, we believe it was right to show the—albeit unpleasant—reality of the situation faced by these girls, rather than put a gloss on it. In the episode Whitney is seen to escape and to raise the alarm—we did not leave the audience on a cliffhanger. The menace and danger Whitney is in whilst clear is implied rather than graphic or sensationalised and is in keeping with the audience expectations of how EastEnders would tackle a tough story in a pre-watershed manner and indeed how Whitney's story has evolved over the last few years. We are conscious that Red Nose Day programming includes many different tones and themes, ranging from light comedy sketches to difficult and emotional appeal films, all of which played out around the time the EastEnders episode was scheduled to transmit. We hope that the majority of the audience would have heard the first extended warning and that the serious tone of the introduction, though truncated, pointed to the fact that the upcoming film was a gear change. It was further put into context by the presenters at the end of the piece, when they talked about the Comic Relief-funded charities working to help girls like Whitney."

Speaking about how members of the public reacted to the storyline, Latham told OK!, "Considering Rob makes Phil Mitchell look like a field mouse, I've got to be quite grateful. I've not had a tin of baked beans chucked at me in Asda by some nice old lady. It's just a bit of banter off the public, which I relish. I've not had anyone threaten to beat me up yet, which is a plus point!"

Shenice Quinn

Shenice Quinn
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Lily Harvey
Duration	2011
First appearance	28 February 2011
Classification	Returning; recurring
Introduced by	Bryan Kirkwood
In-universe information Mother Martina Quinn

Shenice Quinn, played by nine-year-old Lily Harvey, is the daughter of Martina Quinn (Tamara Wall), who is is an old friend of Kat Moon's (Jessie Wallace) from Spain. Martina reported Kat and her husband Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) to the police in Spain, leading to some animosity between Kat and Martina. Martina and Shenice arrive at The Queen Victoria, and Kat immediately throws water over Martina. However, she reveals that her bar was smashed up by the police and she was worried that she would lose Shenice if she did not tell the truth. Alfie bonds with Shenice, and Martina tells Kat that she has lost her bar and has nothing left, so Kat allows her them to stay. After a night out with Kat, Martina spends the day in bed. Kat later finds Shenice wearing her clothes and makeup. Kat shouts at Shenice to take the clothes off, and Shenice flinches thinking Kat is going to hit her. The next day, Shenice is caught trying to steal cigarettes from the local shop, which Kat chastises a drunken Martina for. Martina calls her daughter useless before going to bed, and Shenice tells Kat and Alfie that Martina says things she does not mean when she is drunk. The next day, Martina tells Kat that she will get some money so she and Shenice can move out and that she is back with her boyfriend. Kat and Alfie organise a birthday party for Shenice as Martina has forgotten and Shenice takes a disliking to Tiffany Butcher (Maisie Smith) as they are wearing the same outfit. Shenice has to leave half-way through the party as Martina finds a place to live, and they move out, leaving Alfie and Kat distraught.

Development

Harvey is the real-life sister of Lacey Turner who played Stacey Slater. Shenice is described as a cheeky youngster. Harvey and Wall started filming in January 2011 and first appear on screen on 28 February 2011. Harvey has grown up around the EastEnders set but had to audition for the part. Producers were unaware that Harvey and Turner were related until after the casting was made. Executive producer Bryan Kirkwood explained: "I sat down and watched a tape of a very talented young girl and it was only after we decided to cast [Harvey] that I was told [she] was [Turner]'s sister. [Harvey] got the role entirely on her own merits." In April 2011 it was announced that Harvey would be reprising the role. It was reported that Kat and Alfie will meet Martina and Shenice while on holiday in Spain. A source told The Sun that "Kat and Alfie have just got their family back together when they turn up with another kid in tow. Poor old Shenice has not been having a great time in Spain with her mum, who won't win any prizes for mother of the year. Martina may be an old friend, but Kat is fed up because she keeps neglecting her daughter and going on the razz. She seems incapable of settling down. So she and Alfie convince Martina that Shenice would be better off back with them in Walford. Alfie has missed her like mad." It was said she will be returning for a number of weeks.

Ashley Chubb

Ashley Chubb
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Colin Mace
Duration	2011
First appearance	31 March 2011
Classification	Present; guest
Introduced by	Bryan Kirkwood
In-universe information Sons Fatboy

Ashley Chubb, played by Colin Mace, is the father of established character Fatboy (Ricky Norwood). He is mentioned in the episode broadcast on 14 March 2011 when Fatboy says his parents have split up because Ashley has lost his job. Ashley arrives in Walford two weeks later needing a place to stay. Fatboy invites him to stay with his friend Mercy Olubunmi (Bunmi Mojekwu) and her grandmother Grace Olubunmi (Ellen Thomas), but has to sneak him in so Grace does not find out. Ashley then rents a room at the local bed and breakfast, run by Kim Fox (Tameka Empson). He asks Fatboy for money, saying he has a job interview out of town, but spends it on alcohol, telling Kim that he has done a one-off job for a friend. Fatboy discovers that Ashley is simply drinking away the money he lent him, and Kim leaves, telling Ashley not to stress about the rent. Fatboy tells Ashley that he is in love with Mercy, but she has a boyfriend, so in order to help Fatboy, he reports Mercy to the border agency for having an expired visa, which Fatboy told him about. Ashley then leaves Walford and two days later the UK Border Agency talk to Mercy and make her leave the country. Before she leaves, Fatboy proposes.

It was announced on 23 January 2011 that EastEnders producers were planning to expand Fatboy's family due to his popularity, and were in the process of casting his father. The part was cast to Mace, who filmed five episodes. Ashley is said to be a wheeler-dealer like his son. Ashley's arrival is reported to be due to difficulties in his personal life. An EastEnders insider is reported to have said "Fatboy has been a real hit with viewers and the bosses have decided that it's now time to bring in his dad so people can see what Fatboy is really all about." Ashley has been described as "dishevelled". Although Ashley only makes a guest appearance, Norwood expressed a hope for the character to return so the relationship between father and son could be further explored, adding, "There's great chemistry between Ashley and Fatboy". Ashley appeared in episodes between 31 March and 21 April 2011. He returned once again on 31 May 2011.

Lydia Simmonds

Lydia Simmonds
EastEnders character
File:Lydia Simmonds (Heather Chasen).jpg Heather Chasen as Lydia Simmonds (2011)
Portrayed by	Margaret Tyzack (2011) Heather Chasen (2011)
Duration	2011
First appearance	5 April 2011
Last appearance	13 June 2011
Classification	Present; regular (departing)
Introduced by	Bryan Kirkwood
In-universe information Occupation Retired Daughters June Butcher Grandsons Ricky Butcher Granddaughters Janine Malloy

Lydia Simmonds, initially played by Margaret Tyzack and then by Heather Chasen, is the maternal grandmother of Ricky (Sid Owen) and Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks). She made her first appearance on 5 April 2011. She will depart on 13 June 2011.

She is first seen when Janine visits her in hospital and realises that Lydia needs somewhere to stay. Lydia says she will sell her house and go into care, then sends Janine to her house to take photos, knowing that Janine will see how valuable the house is. Janine then invites Lydia to stay with her, and Lydia refuses, so Janine says that it is what Janine's mother and Lydia's daughter, June, would have wanted, so Lydia agrees. Although Janine believes she has manipulated Lydia, Lydia reveals to her nurse that she had in fact manipulated Janine. Lydia moves in and receives a letter that Janine tries to look at. Lydia tells Janine that she knows all she is intrested in is her money and wants her dead, but says Janine will have a long wait. On the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton she attends Dot Branning's (June Brown) street party but insults Tiffany Butcher (Maisie Smith) so Dot wheels her to The Queen Victoria where she watches the wedding. She is seated in front of the television, blocking everyone's view, so Winston (Ulric Browne) wheels her out of the way, pulling the cable out of the television, which causes it to lose picture. Lydia then manages to sell her house and so moves her belongings into Janine's flat and removes a canvas picture of Frank from Janine's living room. Janine disapproves but is forced to let her stay permanently. Later, Lydia then patronises everyone including Pat Evans (Pam St. Clement), Frank's mistress when he was still married to June.

Development

Described as twisted, manipulative, damaged and "[a] lady of class and dignity", Lydia's backstory states that she loved her daughter June but hated the man June married, Frank Butcher (Mike Reid), so she grew old alone and lived a life of solitude. Lydia and Janine were estranged for years and Janine is shocked to have her grandmother back in her life. The character and casting were announced on 15 February 2011, and of her casting, Tyzack said "I am delighted to be joining a great British tradition and a fine company of actors", and Executive Producer Bryan Kirkwood said: "What a coup to have Margaret Tyzack starring in EastEnders. She is an actress of incredible class and talent. Lydia has endless possibilities as a character, and I can't wait to see Janine meet her match." Former EastEnders actress Natalie Cassidy predicted that Tyzack would be "fantastic" in the role. An EastEnders source revealed that Lydia is more of a schemer than Janine, saying "Janine is going to think there's a potential meal ticket arriving in the form of Lydia. But she's a very complex woman—and Janine won't be able to manipulate her as easily as she'd imagined."

On 13 April 2011, it was reported that Tyzack had pulled out of the role for personal reasons. Producers wanted to keep Lydia in the show as they had plans for her. Two episodes featuring Tyzack had already been broadcast, and she featured in a further one on 14 April. It was announced that 83-year-old (at the time of casting) Heather Chasen, who was previously best known for playing "super bitch" Valerie Pollard in ITV soap opera, Crossroads, would replace Tyzack in the role, beginning filming on 15 April for scenes to be broadcast from 21 April.

Cora Cross

Cora Cross
EastEnders character
Cora Cross in 2011
Portrayed by	Ann Mitchell
Duration	2011—
First appearance	11 April 2011
Classification	Returning; regular
Introduced by	Bryan Kirkwood
In-universe information Daughters Tanya Jessop Rainie Cross Debs Cross Grandsons Oscar Branning Granddaughters Lauren Branning Abi Branning

Cora Cross, played by Ann Mitchell, is the mother of Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner) and Rainie Cross (Tanya Franks). On her first appearance, she turns up at Tanya's house unannounced, and revealing that Tanya's fiancé Greg Jessop (Stefan Booth) invited her to their wedding against Tanya's wishes. Rainie arrives at Tanya's house and Tanya is initially unhappy at the sight of Rainie but Cora vouches for her by promising that she is now clean from drugs and her counsellor thinks Rainie should reconnect with her family. Tanya soon softens towards her mother and sister. On Tanya's hen night, Cora takes a dislike to Vanessa Gold (Zoe Lucker) after Vanessa laughs about them living on a council estate. The next day, Tanya's ex-husband Max Branning (Jake Wood) goes to Tanya's house after tearing their daughter Abi Branning's (Lorna Fitzgerald) bridesmaid dress; Tanya does not want to see him so Cora attempts to sort him out, claiming she knows how to "push his buttons". She tells Max that although the girls have his name, they are Crosses deep down. It is revealed that Rainie is staying at Cora's house. Cora then attends Tanya's wedding, and finds it amusing that Jane Beale (Laurie Brett) has kissed Greg the night before as Jane said he was kind to her when she was crying about a fight she had with Tanya when Tanya thought Jane was trying to get close to Greg. Cora says it is interesting, saying that Tanya would have ripped her eyes out if she had kissed Max when they were together. Cora departs after the wedding on 15 April, and Rainie later reveals that she has moved out of her mother's home.

Creation and development

Cora and her casting were announced on 21 March 2011, when she was described as having "a brash, outspoken attitude and does not care who she offends. She also quickly puts Tanya under scrutiny, believing that success has turned her into a snob". It was said that she secretly wants to heal the rift between Tanya and Rainie. She has also been described as a "bolshie battleaxe". Mitchell said of her casting "As a lifelong fan of EastEnders, I am thrilled to join the cast. I am a great fan of June Brown's [who plays Dot Branning] and am looking forward to sharing some scenes with her." Executive producer Bryan Kirkwood opined: "I'm very excited to have the much-loved Ann Mitchell joining us. Cora Cross is a formidable woman, cut from the same cloth as many glorious Walford women of the past, and Ann Mitchell is just perfect for the role." It is Mitchell's second role in EastEnders, having previously played Jane Williams from 2001 to 2002. Cora initially appeared from 11 to 15 April 2011. On 31 May 2011, it was confirmed that Cora would be returning to EastEnders as a regular character. Kirkwood said, "We all love Cora here—actress Ann Mitchell could be one of the Walford greats. She'll be returning late in the summer and is here to stay." Kirkwood added that he was keen to establish the Cross women.

The Daily Mail's Jaci Stephen deemed Cora "an archetypal East End matriarch". Stephen wrote: "brash and blunt, what she lacks in diplomacy she makes up for in style, even if that's not the way daughter Tanya always sees it. The role is a perfect fit for actress Ann who, as gangster Dolly Rawlins in Widows, was one of the Eighties' most iconic TV females. Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy said, "During her brief stay on Albert Square, Cora quickly became known for her brash attitude and outspoken ways."

Martin

Martin
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Alasdair Harvey
Duration	2011
First appearance	26 April 2011
Last appearance	3 May 2011
Classification	Former; guest
Introduced by	Bryan Kirkwood
In-universe information Occupation Bus driver

Martin, played by Alasdair Harvey, is a love interest for Jane Beale (Laurie Brett), who appears between 26 April and 3 May 2011. He first appears when he is seen sitting at the bar of The Queen Victoria and Jane asks him to join her pub quiz team. Afterwards, Martin asks Jane to invite him next time. Martin passes his number to Jane via her brother Christian Clarke (John Partridge), asking her to call him. On Jane's 40th birthday, he turns up at the pub and goes over to Jane. They both lie about their lives and jobs, but as they are about to kiss, Martin says he cannot keep lying as he likes Jane too much, and says he's divorced with a child and lives in a pokey flat. Jane also tells the truth and stops Martin leaving, saying her house is not pokey and they can go there. They kiss as they enter the house but are surprised by Jane's husband Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and his son Bobby Beale (Alex Francis), throwing her a surprise dinner. The next day, Jane tries to end their brief relationship, but he kisses her, which Ian sees through the window, though Jane dumps him.

The Daily Star reported that Jane will have a one-night stand with Martin and viewers would be left wondering if she would confess to her husband, Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt). However, an EastEnders source told Digital Spy, "It doesn't go as far as a one-night stand, but Jane is flattered by the attention, they exchange phone numbers, there's some flirting and a couple of kisses." Martin has been described as a "hunk".

Marta Demboski

Marta Demboski
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Magdalena Kurek
Duration	2011—
First appearance	6 May 2011
Classification	Present; recurring
Introduced by	Bryan Kirkwood
In-universe information Occupation Carer

Marta Demboski, played by Magdalena Kurek, is a Polish carer interviewed and subsequently hired by Dot Branning (June Brown), who first appears on 6 May 2011. When she starts working, Dot is strict and wants everything done a certain way. Marta tells Dot's friend Edward Bishop (Frank Barrie) that nothing she does is right in Dot's eyes. Dot later finds out that Marta is working nights as well, and Marta explains that her husband drinks and lost his job. She begs Dot not to tell the agency, and Dot allows her to continue working for her. When Marta returns a week later, Dot says she does not need any help and makes Marta look after her husband, Jim Branning (John Bardon), but Marta protests that that is not her job. The following day, Marta arrives late, annoying Dot. While Dot is looking through her purse, she finds a £10 note which she drops on the floor. She leaves the room, but comes back having lost the cash and accuses Marta of stealing it, thinking she put it on the table; Marta is fired by Dot. Dot later finds the money on the floor and regrets sacking Marta.

After Marta was seen smoking an electronic cigarette, it was reported that some viewers who smoked had switched from real cigarettes. The electronic cigarettes were supplied by E-Lites, and Adrian Everett, one of the company's founders and directors, said: "[W]e were delighted to be asked to supply E-Lites to the makers of EastEnders as part of a new storyline. The fact that electronic cigarettes were featured in an everyday scene is a fantastic example of how our products are being accepted by the wider population. More people are becoming aware of E-Lites every day and this is yet another big step forward."

Eddie Moon

Eddie Moon
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	David Essex
Duration	2011—
First appearance	3 June 2011
Classification	Future; regular
Introduced by	Bryan Kirkwood
In-universe information Sons Michael Moon Tyler Moon Anthony Moon Grandsons Tommy Moon Nephews Alfie Moon

Eddie Moon, played by David Essex, is the father of Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd) and uncle of Alfie Moon (Shane Richie). Eddie will make his first appearance on 3 June 2011.

The character and casting were announced on 24 January 2011, and it was stated that his other children will arrive after him, and his "fractured" relationship with Michael will be explored. Of his role, Essex said "Being an East-Ender myself, I'm really excited to be joining the Square. Eddie Moon is a great character and I can't wait to get to grips with the role and work with such a fantastic cast. I'm really pleased that I've been able to make filming work around my tour dates this time." Executive producer Bryan Kirkwood said that Essex would "bring warmth and charisma to the role of Eddie Moon" and added that Eddie and the return of Michael will bring "a new generation of the Moon family to Walford." On 27 February 2011, Essex told Elaine Paige on Sunday that he would start filming as Eddie in April and that the character and his storylines were being brainstormed. Eddie's sons, Tyler (Tony Discipline) and Anthony (Matt Lapinskas), were announced on 10 May 2011, and Kirwood said that the Moon family were "on their way to becoming an established family in the Square." Writers were banned from getting Essex to sing in the programme, as producers wanted to concentrate on his acting rather than his singing. Kirkwood later said, "[Essex] is a legend in his own right. I can't wait for the audience reaction when he hits the screens in a few weeks. I'm hoping viewers come to love him." It was reported by The Sun that Eddie would be a love interest for Carol Jackson (Lindsey Coulson).

Essex explained Eddie's backstory in an interview with Digital Spy: "Eddie is a strong character. He's an ex-boxer, he has a chequered past, which will unfold. He's not a bad guy, but there's a massive rift between Eddie and his son Michael. We see Eddie for the first time in a café, where he spots the name of his nephew Alfie in a newspaper and decides to go to see him. When he arrives, he has no idea that Michael is around! Eddie and Michael haven't really spoken for years, but as a father does, Eddie reaches out and reaches out, trying to mend that." Essex opined that Eddie and Michael may be quite similar, not Eddie would not be as manipulative as "the ages are different—with age comes a certain attitude for Eddie that's a bit more philosophical and not so hot-headed." He explained that Eddie is separated from his wife, and that Tyler and Anthony are Michael's half brothers.

Tyler Moon

Tyler Moon
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Tony Discipline
Duration	2011—
Classification	Future; regular
Introduced by	Bryan Kirkwood
In-universe information Father Eddie Moon Brothers Anthony Moon Half-brothers Michael Moon First cousins Alfie Moon

Tyler Moon, played by Tony Discipline, is the son of Eddie Moon (David Essex), half brother of Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd), brother of Anthony Moon (Matt Lapinskas) and cousin of Alfie Moon (Shane Richie). The character was announced on 10 May 2011, along with Anthony. The younger of the brothers, Tyler was described as having a short fuse and"quick to use his fist to sort things out", and the two new brothers are said to be "a couple of likely lads who are more than likely to cause a stir in Albert Square." Additionally, Tyler was called a "bloke's bloke" who loves to have fun with his friends, but often ends up in trouble, especially because of women. A source told Inside Soap that Tyler would quickly get to know some of the "gorgeous girls" of Walford, and the two brothers would be "heart-throbs" and "ladykillers". Discipline said of his casting: "It's really exciting to be able to work on a show that you have grown up watching and have followed your whole life. I am very grateful to be given this opportunity and am looking forward to working on the show and becoming an East-Ender!" Executive producer Bryan Kirkwood said, "Both Tony and Matt are fabulous additions to the show. Headed up by David Essex, the Moon clan are on their way to becoming an established family in the Square."

Anthony Moon

Anthony Moon
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Matt Lapinskas
Duration	2011—
Classification	Future; regular
Introduced by	Bryan Kirkwood
In-universe information Father Eddie Moon Brothers Tyler Moon Half-brothers Michael Moon First cousins Alfie Moon

Anthony Moon, played by 22-year-old Matt Lapinskas, is the son of Eddie Moon (David Essex, half brother of Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd), brother of Tyler Moon (Tony Discipline), and cousin of Alfie Moon (Shane Richie). The character was announced on 10 May 2011, along with Tyler. He was described as someone who "will rely on his brains and natural wit to find a more sensitive solution to any conflict" and the two new brothers are said to be "a couple of likely lads who are more than likely to cause a stir in Albert Square." Although Anthony shares some personality traits with Tyler, he is more calm. A source told Inside Soap that Anthony is likeable but would cause problems for the Moon family by making enemies, and the two brothers would be "heart-throbs" and "ladykillers". Lapinskas said of his casting: "I'm absolutely over the moon! It's has been my lifetime ambition to be on EastEnders—I have watched it growing up with my nan, who is a big fan. I'm so pleased to get my first TV role, I just didn't believe it would be so big. I've met some of the cast I will be working with who were very friendly and welcoming and I can't wait to start filming." Executive producer Bryan Kirkwood said, "Both Tony and Matt are fabulous additions to the show. Headed up by David Essex, the Moon clan are on their way to becoming an established family in the Square."

Rose

Rose, played by Polly Perkins, is the estranged half sister of Dot Branning (June Brown). The casting was announced on 27 May 2011 and will first appear on screen in summer. She was described as "flighty, fun and not one to age gracefully". Rose and Dot have been estranged for most of their lives, since Rose had an affair with Dot's first husband, Charlie Cotton. Dot will decide to track Rose down after after suffering a bout of hypochondria, feeling it is time to put things right, however, Rose will not be pleased to see Dot again after so many years. Perkins said of her casting, "I am thrilled to be joining the cast of EastEnders, the show is a real British institution with an extraordinary creative team. I'm really looking forward to working with June again, who I have been friends with for over 30 years."

Others

Character	Date(s)	Actor	Circumstances
Midwife David	3-4 January	Daniel Abelson	The midwife who attends when Alfie and Kat Moon visit who they believe is their dead son Tommy in hospital.
DI Sallinger	4 January	Sam Barriscale	A police detective inspector who investigates into the sudden death of whom is believed to be Tommy Moon.
Taneshia	4 January	Cecilia Noble	A midwife who visits Jack and Ronnie Branning to see who she believes is their baby James, though it is actually Tommy Moon as Ronnie secretly swapped the babies after James died suddenly. Taneshia is surprised to note that James's club foot has cleared up so quickly.
Mrs Dibley	17 January	Jo-Anne Stockham	Tiffany Butcher's school headteacher. Tiffany's parents Ricky and Bianca visit Mrs Dibley when Tiffany received a two-day suspension for getting into a fight.
Kendra Stanley	24 January	Sharon Clarke	Connor Stanley's mother. She visits Connor in hospital where Carol Jackson is also visiting him, and they fight over Connor, with Kendra telling Carol to leave Connor alone. It is revealed that Kendra was a drug addict but is now clean.
Ms Underwood	28 January	Joy Blakeman	Ben Mitchell's head of year at school. She visits Jane Beale and Shirley Carter to discuss Ben's truancy and bullying, and assumes they are in a relationship. Ms Underwood says this may be why Ben is being bullied but Shirley insists the problem is with the school.
David Priors	1–7 February, 24 February	Daniel Coonan	A man in R&R nightclub who assumes Whitney Dean and Janine Malloy are prostitutes. Knowing this, Janine tries to put an oblivious Whitney off him but Whitney refuses. Back at Whitney and Janine's flat, Janine asks David for £50 before he has sex with Whitney. The next day he and his friend Gary Dewsbury meet Whitney and Janine in R&R. When Whitney and David are left alone, he makes it clear he wants sex again but Whitney says she would rather go home alone. She steals his wallet while he is in the toilet, so David goes to the flat where Janine tells him if he calls the police, she will tell his wife, so he leaves, saying it is not over. Later, Janine arranges to meet him, but when he arrives he is expecting Whitney so refuses to sleep with Janine, offering her £10. She feels insulted and orders him out of her flat.
Dr Griffiths	1 February	Michael Mueller	Ronnie Branning visits Dr Griffiths when her baby (actually Tommy Moon) has a temperature.
Gary Dewsbury	7 February	Daniel Husbands	David Priors' friend who meets Janine Malloy in R&R nightclub. When Janine says she wants to leave, he tries to kiss her so she knees him in the groin. He attacks her but she is saved by her brother Ricky Butcher.
Jenny Ashwood	14–17 February	Tracey Pretty	Michael Moon's date, whom he met in Brighton. Roxy Mitchell, who has been seeing Michael, is annoyed when she sees Michael with her, and later when she tries to make up with him, Jenny tells Roxy to leave and get her own man.
Doris Hounslow	15 February	Maryann Turner	A former neighbour of Queenie Trott. When Queenie's daughter Heather tries to visit her, Doris says that Queenie moved away a few years ago. Heather gives Doris a photo of her son George to pass on before leaving.
Sarah Holding	18 February	Uncredited	A woman sent to Kat Moon by the coroner to deliver the report on her baby Tommy Moon's autopsy.
Nick Meth	21 February	Hywel Morgan	A journalist who attends the opening of Kim Fox's new bed and breakfast. He pretends to be a friend of Denise Johnson's daughter Chelsea but Denise realises he is from the press. He says that Denise's story of how her husband Lucas Johnson kidnapped her is great but Denise and Patrick Trueman tell him to leave.
Seb Parker	24 February, 8–19 April	Tommy Bastow	A friend of Lauren Branning's from college. Lauren invites him to her house for a horror film night with her friends Mercy Olubunmi, Fatboy and Whitney Dean, and Lauren is annoyed at Mercy for flirting with him as Lauren is interested in him. Fatboy later becomes jealous when he sees Mercy and Seb together, and accuses Mercy of sleeping with Seb. He ends his relationship with Mercy off screen.
Martina Quinn	28 February–10 March	Tamara Wall	An old friend of Kat Moon's from Spain, who reported Kat and her husband Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) to the police in Spain, leading to some animosity between Kat and Martina. Martina and her daughter Shenice arrive at The Queen Victoria, and Kat immediately throws water over Martina. However, she reveals that her bar was smashed up by the police and she was worried that she would lose Shenice if she did not tell the truth. Alfie bonds with Shenice, and Martina tells Kat that she has lost her bar and has nothing left, so Kat allows her them to stay. After a night out with Kat, Martina spends the day in bed. Kat later finds Shenice wearing her clothes and makeup. Kat shouts at Shenice to take the clothes off, and Shenice flinches thinking Kat is going to hit her. The next day, Shenice is caught trying to steal cigarettes from the local shop, which Kat chastises a drunken Martina for. Martina calls her daughter useless before going to bed, and Shenice tells Kat and Alfie that Martina says things she does not mean when she is drunk. The next day, Martina tells Kat that she will get some money so she and Shenice can move out and that she is back with her boyfriend. Kat and Alfie organise a birthday party for Shenice as Martina has forgotten and Shenice takes a disliking to Tiffany Butcher (Maisie Smith) as they are wearing the same outfit. Shenice has to leave half-way through the party as Martina finds a place to live, and they move out, leaving Alfie and Kat distraught.
Chris	17 March	Richard Simons	A man who has sex with Whitney Dean so that Rob Grayson can pay off a debt he has with Chris.
Chloe	18 March	Georgia Henshaw	A girl at a party attended by Whitney Dean and Rob Grayson. She is being exploited sexually and tells Whitney she is pleased there is another girl there, and says she is Whitney's future.
Tommy	22 March	Uncredited	A boy who is a friend of Morgan Jackson-King's. They play in Albert Square's gardens and Alfie and Kat Moon are disturbed by Morgan shouting his name, as their supposedly deceased son was also called Tommy.
Jools	25 March	Sophie Austin	One of four promo girls hired by Michael Moon to help promote his new gym, Basher Jim's.
Dr Will	25 March	Andrew Forbes	The doctor that Kat and Alfie Moon visit at a fertility clinic to discuss IVF.
Tammy	5 April	Emma Carryl	A prostitute who Ricky Butcher sees when searching for Whitney Dean, who is missing. Tammy wants payment to help search for Whitney, but she leaves when DC Newton arrives to question Ricky.
Andy	8 April	Terence Frisch	A builder hired by Masood Ahmed to provide a quotation for repairs at the Argee Bhajee restaurant after the roof collapses. Masood's wife Zainab Masood mistakenly assumes that Andy is from their insurance company.
Rev Jonathan Bryars	14–15 April	Paul Cawley	The reverend at Greg Jessop and Tanya Branning's wedding.
Lynette	18 April	Rebecca Charles	The Forensic Medical Examiner who interviews Ronnie Branning after she confesses to stealing Kat Moon's baby Tommy.
Dr Niall Heaton	18 April	Andrew MacBean	A doctor who confirms to Jack Branning that the baby Tommy Moon is not James Branning, who Jack believed him to be, as a DNA test does not match the hospital records.
PC Cyril Hickey	18 April	Simon Killick	A police constable who attends when Jack Branning finds out that the baby he thinks is his son James do not match the DNA samples the hospital have on record.
Jill	18 April	Paddy Navin	A social worker who interviews Alfie Moon so that he and his wife Kat can be reunited with their baby Tommy, who was swapped with Ronnie Branning's baby James.
Steve Merryman	19 April	Richard Pepper	A journalist from the Walford Gazette, who interviews Whitney Dean about Ronnie Branning's story. When the story is published, Whitney insists Steve has twisted her words.
Nathan Clayton	22 April–12 May	Sam Melvin	A bully at Ben Mitchell's school. In Albert Square, he and two friends call Ben a weirdo, saying that Ronnie Branning, who stole a baby to replace her dead baby, is his sister, and madness must run in the family. He later threatens Ben, saying he will end up back in prison. A few days later, he chases Ben through Albert Square, but Ben is saved by Abi Branning and Nathan leaves when Jack Branning gets involved. When Jay Mitchell finds out that Nathan is bullying Ben, he forces Nathan into the house to apologise, but when Ben leaves, Jay lets Nathan go and Nathan threatens Jay. Later, Ben attacks Nathan, pushing him to the ground, but Jay stops him from attacking him further.
Daniel Mansard	26–28 April	Richard Galazka	A man from the UK Border Agency who Fatboy sees on Bridge Street market, and calls him dodgy as he is just looking at people. The next day, he and a colleague approach Mercy Olubunmi, saying she is four months past her permit to stay in the UK.
Mr Kendrick	2 May	Edward Hughes	Ronnie Branning's solicitor, who tells Ronnie's sister Roxy Mitchell that Ronnie has refused bail and she has fired him.
Jeanette	3–5 May	Georgia Reece	An escort hired by Ian Beale. He takes her for drinks in The Queen Victoria and tells her about his estranged wife Jane Beale. Ian gives her a necklace that he planned to give Jane for her birthday. The next day, Ian introduces Jeanette to people as his new girlfriend and tells Jane they knew each other from school. However, Jeanette tells Jean Slater that they met online. Jean tells Jane, who gets the truth from Jeanette and tells her some things about Ian, so Jeanette decides to leave.
Kevin Flynn	3 May	Ben Frimstone	A mechanic who Heather Trott tracks down as she thinks he is a man she has been speaking to on the Internet.. They get on well and he says he will have something interesting to blog about later. She asks him to have a drink with her, but he rejects her politely by saying that he is in a relationship.
Brenda	6 May	Fiz Marcus	A woman interviewed by Dot Branning and Carol Jackson to be Dot's carer though Dot dislikes her and sends her away.
Warren	10 May	Darren Daly	Ben Mitchell's youth offending officer.
Jimmie Broome	17 May	Samuel James	Phil Mitchell's lawyer, who he hires to represent Jane Beale in her divorce hearing with Ian Beale.
Elaine	17 May	Rebecca Saire	Ian Beale's solicitor in his divorce hearing with Jane Beale.
Diane Finn	20 May	Sally Hurst	A woman from an adoption agency who meets Christian Clarke and Syed Masood.
Lorna	2 June	Kate Sissons
Gavin	3–6 June	Bob Goody
Catherine Kane	June	Tracy Wiles
Danny	June	Andrew Jones
DS Tanfield	June	Bob Cryer
Jasper Patterson	June	Ian Targett
Shameen	June	Seeta Indrani	Afia Masood's maternal aunt, who will attend her wedding ceremony to Tamwar.
Craig		Marc Zammit