User:AnemoneProjectors/Joey Branning

Joey Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by David Witts. Joey is the estranged son and eldest child of Derek Branning (Jamie Foreman), and the brother of Alice Branning (Jasmyn Banks). He made his first appearance in the episode broadcast on 22 June.

Storylines
When Joey arrives, he punches Derek, then reveals he is his son. He makes it clear he wants nothing to do with Derek. Later, he meets his cousin Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) and takes a liking to her friend Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater). He tricks Derek into giving him money, which he gives to Lucy, as Derek has been stealing money from her. He tries to bring Alice home but she insists she is staying, and Joey accepts work from Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd) as Derek does not like Michael. He then decides to show Alice what Derek is really like, so invites several friends to a family dinner, leading to Derek trying to punch Joey. However, Alice is just angry at Joey for ruining her day. He later helps Lucy when she is being pestered by someone, and they end up kissing. Joey manages to con Derek out of more money for Lucy, and she invites him to stay with her. When Derek gains ownership of the emporium, he gives it to Joey. He later kisses Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty), angering her. Lauren notices that Whitney is unhappy around Joey, and Whitney tells her Joey kissed her. Lucy confronts Joey but he insists he does not need to tell Lucy.

Casting and characterisation
The character was revealed at the same time as his sister, but the fact the character would appear on screen, and Witts' casting was not announced until 9 May 2012. Of joining the soap, Witts said, "I am delighted to be joining EastEnders after being a fan for so many years. Joining the Branning family couldn't have come at a better time, especially after the recent British Soap Awards wins." Joey arrives in Walford after being sent by his mother to tempt Alice back home. When he sees that his sister wants to stay, he then decides to show her what their father is really like. Joey has been described as "charming", and he "prides himself on telling it how it is, but is in fact a compulsive liar." Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy also reported that Joey finds it easy to attract girls. EastEnders' executive producer Lorraine Newman stated that Joey is "a fantastic addition to the Brannings" and that after his explosive entrance, he will break a few hearts as he tries to bring Derek down.

Relationship with Lauren Branning
In September 2012, Alison Rowley of entertainment website Digital Spy said that Joey's cousin Lauren will fall in love with him. An EastEnders insider told the Daily Star that it would be a huge storyline across the autumn. The insider said, "Lauren hits the booze and shows her vulnerable side to Joey. He's there for her and feels very protective. The more time they spend together the more they start to realise their feelings for each other are not just that of cousins." As the chemistry between the pair intensifies, they try to hide the relationship from their parents. The insider said that it is a powerful force and the attraction between them is so strong that it will take something huge to "stop them jumping into bed". Witts told Inside Soap that the feelings between Joey and Lauren were there from "the start", but they both tried to hide them in the hope they would pass. Joey realises it is more than a crush when Lauren drunkenly kisses him. However, he told Soaplife that Joey realises that Lauren feels the same way about him before then, when she releases him from his handcuffs in the playground, and Joey could not ignore his feelings after that. He said that Joey would find it "excruciating" living with Lauren, and there would be lots of sexual tension. However, he wants to treat her with respect and not take advantage of her. Witts said that Lauren being Joey's cousin does not bother him because he is in love with her, and does not think his feelings can be wrong, though Joey probably does not care about the consequences or anybody else's opinions. Witts did not blame them for trying to hide their attraction because of Joey's relationship with Lucy and the expected reaction from their family, but said that they should not let the fact they are cousins get in the way, because they had not grown up together or known each other as children, so they only know they are related because they have been told so. He said that if their respective parents found out, it would "tear the family apart". On the moment Joey and Lauren have their first sober kiss, Witts said, "They just can't fight how they feel any more. Both Lauren and Joey are quite complex characters, and finding someone he loves will bring out a much more vulnerable and insecure side of Joey. This is love—these two people have found something very special in each other." Witts also said that he hoped Lauren and Joey would have a future together.

Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy later revealed that Lauren and Joey will be in a "horrifying" car crash. Filming for the car crash scenes began on 10 September. The details of the storyline were being kept under wraps but the Daily Mail reported that Lauren will joyride her Derek's car but it goes horribly wrong and their lives are left hanging in the balance when Lauren loses control of the car and goes through a shop window. An insider commented, "Everyone is really excited about these scenes. It's going to be a huge storyline for us in a few weeks' time, so it's definitely one for the fans to watch out for." The storyline will reportedly air in November 2012 and is said to be one of the show's biggest moments of the year.

Reception
Gay Times said of the character: "[David Witts] plays Joey Branning. A quick Google on that shows the script writers are already making him take his clothes off. Bravo EastEnders script writers!" Heat called Witts one of their "TV hunks", saying, "The more evil Joey Branning gets, the more we swoon." Inside Soap called Joey "the very definition of a soap bad boy" due to his good looks and charisma, the fact he has been damaged by his past and his success with women.