User:Bluebolt94/List 2010

The following is a list of characters who first appeared or are due to appear in the BBC soap opera EastEnders in 2010, by order of first appearance. Executive producer Diederick Santer left EastEnders on 26 February 2010, handing over to Bryan Kirkwood, who fully took control from 1 March 2010, onwards. Santer introduced five new main characters in January, three from the online spin-off EastEnders: E20 (Zsa Zsa Carter, Leon Small and Fatboy) as well as two members of the long-established Mitchell family, Glenda Mitchell and her son Danny. February saw the show's first birth of 2010, with Kamil Masood, the fourth child of the established Zainab Masood and Masood Ahmed. The character of Harvey Freeman was introduced in April, and the fourth main character from EastEnders: E20, Mercy Olubunmi, joined EastEnders in May. Kirkwood's first major casting was Zöe Lucker in the role of Vanessa Gold and later cast her daughter Jodie and husband Harry, as well as Mercy's grandmother Grace, all of whom appeared in June. June also saw the show's second birth of the year, that of Lily Branning, the daughter of Stacey Branning and Ryan Malloy. In September, Richard Mitchell became the third birth of the year, born to Sam Mitchell and Jack Branning. Greg Jessop, Tanya Branning's fiancé, and Michael Moon, Alfie Moon's cousin, joined the show in October. The character of Julie Perkins is also scheduled to join in October.

Zsa Zsa Carter
Zsa Zsa Carter is played by Emer Kenny and made her first appearance on 5 January before appearing in the Internet spin-off EastEnders: E20. She is one of four characters created for the spin-off who also appear in the main show. Kenny's casting was announced on 25 November 2009. She was cast while writing the second episode of E20. Zsa Zsa is the niece of regular character Shirley Carter (Linda Henry), with whom she is said to have a lot in common. She is described as "Beautiful, funky and an outspoken tomboy," as well as "a lone wolf [who] doesn't care about anyone." Zsa Zsa was axed in May 2010 by new executive producer Bryan Kirkwood, though Kenny continued to write for EastEnders: E20. Her storylines mostly revolve around her relationship with Leon Small (Sam Attwater). The character's last appearance was on 30 September 2010.

Leon Small
Leon Small is played by Sam Attwater and makes his first appearance on 5 January before appearing in the Internet spin-off EastEnders: E20. He is one of four characters created for the spin-off who also appear in the main show. Attwater's casting was announced on 25 November 2009. Leon is described as "Sexy and effortlessly cool [with] a short fuse and a lack of respect for those in authority." His mother died when he was a child and he was left in charge of his alcoholic father. He also practices boxing. He was axed in May 2010 by new executive producer Bryan Kirkwood. His storylines revolve around his relationships with Zsa Zsa Carter (Emer Kenny) and Lucy Beale (Melissa Suffield). The character's last appearance was on 30 September 2010.

Fatboy
Arthur "Fatboy" Chubb is played by Ricky Norwood and made his first appearance on 5 January before appearing in the Internet spin-off EastEnders: E20. He is one of four characters created for the spin-off who also appear in the main show. Norwood's casting was announced on 25 November 2009. Fatboy is described as having "invented all manner of personas since he was seven years old – in an attempt to avoid being his real self. His current and most sustained self-creation is brash wheeler-dealer Fatboy."

Glenda Mitchell
Glenda Mitchell is played by Glynis Barber and first appears on 7 January 2010. Jill Gascoine was orinally cast as Glenda, but she withdrew during her first day on set and the part was quickly recast to Barber. Glenda has been described as "complex", "vulnerable", "demure, dynamic and assured". She is the former wife of Archie Mitchell, played by Larry Lamb, and mother to Ronnie (Samantha Womack), Roxy (Rita Simons) and Danny (Liam Bergin).

Danny Mitchell
Daniel Nicholas "Danny" Mitchell is played by soap newcomer Liam Bergin and made his first appearance on 21 January 2010. The character's arrival and casting was announced on 26 December 2009. He arrives for his father Archie Mitchell's (Larry Lamb) funeral to meet his sisters Ronnie (Samantha Womack) and Roxy (Rita Simons). Archie did not know of Danny's existence before his death, as his mother Glenda (Glynis Barber) left Archie after discovering she was pregnant. A secret son for Archie was discussed by the programme's makers for almost a year before the character was announced. However, later episodes reveal that Danny is not Archie's son.

The character is described as a "loveable rogue" and "a charmer with an eye for the ladies, while guys instantly see him as competition in the alpha male stakes." Speaking of his role, Bergin said: "The first time I walked into Albert Square and saw the Queen Vic was a very special moment and I'll have that memory forever. All of my on-screen family have made me feel very welcome from the first moment that I met them and I am enjoying every minute working here." Executive producer Diederick Santer said "Liam is a fine young actor, and a proper East Londoner, who I've been keen to bring into EastEnders for quite some time. His character Danny Mitchell is something of an enigma. [...] Is he simply [Ronnie and Roxy's] kid brother, keen to get to know his exciting big sisters? Or is there something else that he's after?" Bergin previously auditioned for another part in EastEnders early in 2009. Then he auditioned again for the part of Danny, but was not told the character was part of the Mitchell family, and was offered the part within 90 minutes of the audition. He was surprised when he was offered the part as he felt his audition did not go well. He started filming about a week and a half later.

Discussing his relationship with the rest of the Mitchell family, Bergin has assessed that Peggy is "the one person he wants to get on with" as she is the family matriarch. He feels that Danny genuinely likes and respects Peggy, impressed by her ability to handle trouble in the pub, explaining: "Danny wants to be liked and loved by the Mitchells and, most importantly, by Peggy." Asked why Danny desires to become part of the Mitchell family, Bergin responded: "He has no one else so maybe he wants to be part of a family. Or maybe it's because Roxy has suddenly got a lot of money. Perhaps he thinks a portion of that is rightfully his..." Bergin has heard speculation that his character may not be a Mitchell at all, but hopes that he is as he enjoys being part of the family.

In April 2010 it was announced that the character had been axed along with five others by the new executive producer Bryan Kirkwood as part of a plan to "breathe new life into the show". Bergin said of his departure: "I've had a great six months working on EastEnders playing Danny. He has been a great character to play and without giving too much away, he's sure to ruffle a few feathers before he leaves Walford." He said the conclusion of Danny's storyline was "satisfying for [him] as an actor" and that it was the ending the audience deserves. He added that he knew the length of his contract from the start, and although there is always a possibility of a contract being extended, he could never see that happening with Danny.

Storylines
Danny first appears in the show in the episode broadcast on 21 January 2010 when he turns up at his mother's house unannounced, startling her. The next week, Glenda shows Danny Archie's obituary and gives him the address of The Queen Victoria public house in Walford where his sisters Ronnie and Roxy live. Danny goes to The Queen Victoria and interrupts an argument between Ronnie and Roxy. Roxy tells Danny to go away they have just buried their father, to which Danny says he thinks they have just buried his father too. After a visit from Glenda to prove that Danny is who he claims to be, Danny gets talking to his sisters who ask him to stay. Glenda wants him to have nothing to do with them because Archie is still "inside their heads". However, he goes against Glenda's wishes. His cousin Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) is unhappy, thinking he is possibly a younger version of Archie. Danny starts working behind the bar of The Queen Victoria where he meets Amira Masood (Preeya Kalidas). He compliments her, and they later kiss, but the next day she tells him it was a stupid mistake. Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor) overhears Danny on the phone to Glenda and is furious, asking him to leave. Roxy insists that Peggy does not make the rules, but Danny decides to go anyway and packs his things. Before he leaves the Square, Amira's husband Syed Masood (Marc Elliott) confronts him about the kiss, but he assures Syed he will never be returning.

Several weeks later, Peggy receives a call from the police station. When she gets there, she finds Danny shouting to be let out, bloodied and bruised. He explains he had an argument with Glenda and left home, then got in a drunken fight and was put in cells to sober up. He tells her he hoped Roxy would come as Peggy hates him, but she confirms his identity and he is able to leave. He reunited with Roxy who is very pleased to see him, and after a heart-to-heart with Peggy, he vows to help her get The Queen Victoria back from Roxy. Roxy is angry with him for putting the bust of Queen Victoria back on the bar as it was used to kill Archie, but he tells her it is what Archie would have done and she should make him proud. He later sabotages a pump at the pub so Roxy is forced to ask for Peggy's help, and convinces Roxy to buy the beauty salon that is coming up for auction. He is befriended by Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks), who wants to turn him against his family in order get Roxy's inheritance. Ronnie tells Roxy he cannot be trusted, but he reveals Janine's plan, cementing his place in the Mitchell family. He and Glenda then plan to con Roxy out of her inheritance themselves. He later tells Ronnie that Roxy has hardly any money left because she is spending it on expensive things she hardly uses.

Roxy is curious when Danny asks her for a £700 investment, which he later returns in full, having apparently made a profit. She asks him if she can invest £1000 for his friend to do the same for her, and she is satisfied when she sees him going into a building and meeting somebody. Danny speaks to Glenda on the telephone and tells her to pack a bag. Later, Roxy overhears him on the phone saying he can get a bigger return if he invested more money, so she offers to go halves with him. Danny thinks Ronnie may have figured out his plan when she asks to invest as well, and says he was too late and the deal is off. Glenda arrives in a taxi and Danny tells her he thinks Ronnie is on to him, to which Glenda says they cannot leave empty handed and Ronnie cannot stop them. Glenda urges Danny to find out if Ronnie knows. Ronnie denies overhearing Danny's telephone conversation with Glenda, though Danny tells Glenda that Ronnie is playing games with him. Danny gives Glenda a plane ticket to the United States and says he'll meet her at the airport. Ronnie tells Danny she has worked it out – that Danny is seeing someone. Danny agrees and says it is a married woman, and then calls Glenda to say Ronnie knows about their scheme and Glenda should go to the States on her own. However, she simply tears up the ticket. Danny convinces Roxy to open a joint-signature account so he can help control her money. Glenda returns reveal the plan to Ronnie, after which Roxy catches him putting her cash in a bag. He blames Glenda and Roxy believes him. Roxy attempts to evict her mother but she reveals bruises on her arm and says that Danny has been hitting her. Danny says he is entitled to a share of Archie's money, so Glenda reveals to her daughters that Danny knows Archie was not his father. Danny denies this but Glenda insists it is true, saying that Danny has lied about his middle name being Archie. Ronnie asks to see his driver's license for proof but he says he does not know where it is. Eventually Roxy tells Danny to leave, as she believes her mother over her brother.

Kamil Masood
Kamil Masood is the son of Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra) and Zainab Masood (Nina Wadia) who is born on screen in the episode broadcast on 23 February 2010.

In August 2009, Zainab is forced to come to terms with the fact that she is 15 weeks pregnant in her mid-40s, and the pregnancy means that her and Masood's plans to see the world have to be cancelled. Wadia stated that Zainab is terrified due to her age and the fact a baby will interfere with her career, and she feels trapped because she does not want the baby but abortion is forbidden by her faith.

On 23 February 2010, Zainab becomes locked inside her office unable to contact anyone when her labour starts. She is found by Christian Clarke (John Partridge) who contacts Masood and his two sons Syed (Marc Elliott) and Tamwar (Himesh Patel). Christian calls for an ambulance, but the baby starts to come so Christian passes on instructions while Masood delivers the baby. Kamil is not breathing when he is born, so Christian instructs Masood to perform CPR, saving the infant's life. Zainab is then admitted to hospital where she and Masood name their son. After returning home, Masood looks after Kamil while Zainab goes back to work.

Kylie, Connor and Mitch
Kylie (Elarica Gallacher), Connor Stanley (Arinze Kene) and Mitch (Theo Barklem-Biggs) are friends of Billie Jackson's (Devon Anderson) from his housing estate in Balham. Kylie appears between 24 February and 1 April, Connor between 1 March and 2 April and Mitch between 2 and 29 March. Connor appears again from 8 October 2010.

Billie returns to Balham with Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) and Kylie tells him he belongs with his crew. The next week, Whitney goes there looking for Billie, and when she meets Kylie, she insults her and Kylie and her friends attack her, telling her to ask Billie for their gun back. They later arrive in Albert Square and apologise to Whitney, and Billie insists he has disposed of the gun. Kylie and Connor turn up at a grime night at The Queen Victoria where Kylie gets Whitney drunk, insults Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor) and throws drink over her, and Connor steals a bottle of tequila. Outside, Connor sprays graffiti on a bench and then Kylie and Connor run off, leaving Whitney and Billie to suffer the consequences. Kylie, Connor and Mitch return a few weeks later and take Billie for drinks where they are told to leave by Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden). The gang decide to rob the pub using a fake gun, and they get away with the money. Billie then realises the real gun that he hid has gone missing after Kylie found it earlier. Kylie tells Billie he must choose between the gang or Whitney. Billie chooses Whitney, so Kylie takes revenge by trying to shoot him during a family party. However, Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) is the one who is shot, and Kylie is tackled by a club employee. The next day, Connor arrives looking for Billie, and reveals that Kylie has been arrested.

Months later, Connor arrives at Billie's birthday party with four friends who bring lots of alcohol.

The storyline was criticised by Ruth Deller of lowculture.co.uk, calling it flawed and unrepresentitive of the real Balham, and describing Kylie as an "irritant".

Harvey Freeman
Harvey Freeman is a freelance journalist, played by Martin Jarvis. He appears between 15 April and 3 June 2010. He is described as a mysterious 60-something and a perfect gent who arrives to report on local elections for Walford Gazette, and is said to be a potential love interest for characters Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor) and Pat Evans (Pam St. Clement). Jarvis said on his casting: "I'm absolutely thrilled to be a potential thorn between two roses working with two actresses I greatly admire and have had the pleasure of working with before. I'm delighted to be reunited with Pam and Barbara and to have a part in EastEnders."

He arrives in The Queen Victoria public house to interview Peggy on the upcoming council elections in which she is running. He later interviews Pat Evans for the same reason, but Peggy plies them with free drinks and Pat gets drunk. Peggy tells Harvey that Pat cheated on her husband with Peggy's husband, and that anything she has said about the Mitchell family is a lie. After Pat pours a drink on Peggy's head, Harvey announces that he has more candidates to interview and leaves, after wiping Peggy's face. After hearing that Pat and Peggy have both chosen to withdraw from the election, Harvey visits them indidually, giving them his card and inviting them out for drinks. A week later, they both decide to call him on the same day. He takes Pat out for lunch and Peggy out for dinner without them knowing he is seeing them both. The next day he tries his best to stop them finding out but eventually they realise what he has been doing, so he quickly leaves. Pat and Peggy argue over him but eventually agree not to let him come between their friendship. They tell him so and tell him to get out in unison. Later, Harvey talks to Pat and she asks who he would have chosen if he had to choose. He says Pat as he prefers a more intelligent woman. He then waits for Peggy and she asks him the same question, to which he says he would have chosen Peggy as he prefers a woman with class. Pat and Peggy meet again and agree they did the right thing, but then both their mobile phones receive text messages at the same time and they walk away from each other smiling.

Harvey spends time with Pat while Peggy is away but when Peggy returns he invites her to the theatre. She says she cannot make it so Harvey invites Pat who agrees. Peggy later says she can come but Harvey says he has given the tickets to someone else. Peggy buys tickets of her own and Pat and Peggy both turn up at the theatre together, and Harvey's face drops when he sees them both. He explains that they are at fault for not telling each other they were seeing him. Pat and Peggy begin to argue so Harvey leaves and escapes onto a tour bus. Pat and Peggy catch him up and take over the tour guide's microphone, saying that Harvey is vermin and slapping him before they get off. Harvey returns to Walford to explain that he wants to carry on seeing them both, but if it can only be as friends then sobeit. When he goes to the toilet, Pat reveals that she has slept with Harvey and Peggy reveals that she has not. They realise he is just trying to get as much sex as he can and plan to humiliate him. Pat leaves Peggy and Harvey alone and Peggy says that night she was going to sleep with Harvey and they could still do so. He goes upstairs and Peggy steals his clothes. When he comes downstairs, Pat and Peggy are waiting and they tell him to leave after Pat throws his clothes out the door. Harvey has a sheet around him but Pat snatches it off him before he leaves humiliated.

Mercy Olubunmi
Mercy Olubunmi is played by Bunmi Mojekwu. Mercy originally appears in the Internet spin-off series EastEnders: E20 as one of the main characters, alongside Zsa Zsa Carter (Emer Kenny), Leon Small (Sam Attwater) and Fatboy (Ricky Norwood), between 8 and 25 January 2010, however, she was the only character from the spin-off to not feature in EastEnders. Mojekwu's casting was announced on 25 November 2009, and It was subsequently announced on 24 January 2010 that she would feature in EastEnders due to positive reaction to the character. Executive producer Diederick Santer said that once he had seen the completed episodes of EastEnders: E20, he wanted Mercy in the main show as well. She is described as "funny, warm, sensitive and rather mysterious." She has always been a good girl but she feels abandoned when her parents move back to Nigeria, leaving her with her grandmother, Grace. She first appears in EastEnders on 31 May. Her storylines include suffering a miscarriage after discovering she is pregnant by her local church's youth minister, Benjamin (Damien Lynch).

Grace Olubunmi
Grace Olubunmi is the grandmother of Mercy Olubunmi (Bunmi Mojekwu). She appears in episode 8 of the EastEnders spin-off EastEnders: E20, credited only as Mrs Olubunmi and played by Jay Byrd. New executive producer Bryan Kirkwood introduced the character to EastEnders in his first episode on 4 June 2010, this time played by Ellen Thomas.

In EastEnders: E20, Grace tells Mercy that her friend Fatboy (Ricky Norwood) is a bad influence on her. When the character arrives in EastEnders, she urges Mercy to tell Fatboy that they are moving to Lagos. She makes friends with Liz Turner (Kate Williams), mother of Owen Turner (Lee Ross) and later tells Fatboy about their plans. She hosts a lunch at the community centre and tells Lucas Johnson (Don Gilet) that she has grown fond of London but is going to Lagos for Mercy's sake. Fatboy then realises that neither Grace nor Mercy want to go and makes them realise this after Mercy has returned the key to their former home. Fatboy then says he has a plan for somewhere for them to live, and they move into a property on Albert Square. Grace attends a bible class with Mercy, held by Lucas, although Lucas is later. She apologises for Mercy's behaviour when she continues to ask about false prophets and a passage that states that anyone who questions a priest should be put to death, causing Lucas to leave. Grace makes Mercy write Lucas a letter of apology, but Mercy bins it.

Upset with the amount of litter around the streets, she urges Mercy and Fatboy to volunteer to pick it up. She takes Mercy's friends Zsa Zsa Carter (Emer Kenny) and Leon Small (Sam Attwater) to get their GCSE results and says she used to be a teacher. The next month Leon breaks one of her commemorative plates and Fatboy tries to create a new one in the hope Grace will think it is real, but she does not fall for it. However, she praises Fatboy for his eventual honesty and displays the plate with her others. However, when she discovers Mercy has been serving drinks in Alfie Moon's (Shane Richie) illegal den, she berates her granddaughter and says Fatboy has corrupted her. Grace overhears Dot Branning (June Brown) planning to collect jumble for her church. Grace collects the jumble instead, leaving Dot upset. They quote bible passages to each other to try to show who is in the right, but Grace later admits that she is lonely and just wanted to meet new people. The next day, Mercy tries to get Grace and Dot to make up, by suggesting Grace work in the launderette. Grace puts some shirts in a broken washing machine, which annoys Dot, and after Grace gets it open Dot is still not happy. Grace later gives Dot her CV to give to her boss, and Dot says there is not a job for her but Grace tells her that Jesus disagrees.

The next day, Grace asks Dot if she has looked at her CV yet. Dot says Grace is overqualified as she used to be a teacher. Grace says she will not be teaching again as she was dismissed from her last job. Later, Dot finds a tin of cakes in the launderette with a note from Grace saying it was not about the job. Dot visits Grace and offers her a few weeks work while Dot is away. Grace feels honoured, and tells Dot she was dismissed for slapping a pupil. Dot thanks her for her honesty.

Vanessa Gold
Vanessa Gold, played by Zöe Lucker, is a businesswoman who is described as "dynamic and assured" and is a love interest for Max Branning (Jake Wood). The character was announced on 20 March 2010 and first appears in new executive producer Bryan Kirkwood's first episode originally scheduled for 7 June 2010, though actually broadcast on 4 June. Vanessa was the idea of EastEnders series consultant Simon Ashdown, who wanted a "Zöe Lucker-type" character. Lucker was approached and agreed to take on the role. She said of her casting "I'm a huge fan of the show and I'm really looking forward to working closely with Jake Wood." In a later interview with entertainment website Digital Spy, she said "It just felt so right, especially at this stage in my life. It's so perfect and lovely to be part of such an amazing show." Lucker is Kirkwood's third signing, following the reintroduction of Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Alfie Moon (Shane Richie). Kirkwood commented on the casting: "Zöe Lucker is absolutely perfect for the role of Vanessa. The character is a strong confident force of nature who will play Max at his own game. I can't wait to see Zöe come face to face with Jake Wood on screen." Additionally, a spokesperson said that "[Max and Vanessa] are both volatile and explosive characters and their meeting will be like putting a lit match next to a barrel [of] gunpowder." In an interview with Digital Spy, Kirkwood said Vanessa was strong-minded and quite positive, and they wanted a female character with a different energy to the many "strong, feisty, shouty" women in the show. He added: "She knows that she's likely to rub women up the wrong way and she knows what she wants. But she doesn't intimidate or use bullyboy tactics. She's clever, interesting and she might just have a secret." Lucker described Vanessa as glamourous, a risk-taker who gets bored very easily, complicated, hard-working, laid-back and a doting mother. Although Lucker is from the north of England and EastEnders is set in London, Lucker uses her own accent. Some of the first scenes she filmed required driving a five-and-a-half litre Mercedes, and Lucker had only passed her driving test four weeks previously so was worried she would drive into something. Lucker's initial contract was for seven episodes, with Vanessa appearing to make Max realise he still loves his wife Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner). Four days after the character first appeared on screen, it was announced that Lucker had signed a new contract to appear more permanently, as EastEnders producers were so impressed with Lucker's performance.

Storylines
Vanessa arrives in Albert Square to buy a car from Branning and Son. After buying a car from Max, she gives him her card and leaves in her own car, which she says is one of many. Later, Max calls her offering an aftercare package. She returns to sign her paperwork where she and Max kiss. She then takes the car for a test drive, after which she puts her wedding ring back on, and hands the keys to her daughter Jodie (Kylie Babbington). After Max's employee Darren Miller (Charlie G. Hawkins) takes Jodie on a date, he realises that Vanessa is her mother and then walks in on Max and Vanessa having sex on the desk. After Darren reveals to Max that Vanessa and Jodie are mother and daughter, they decide to toss a coin and if Darren loses he has to dump Jodie and if Max loses he has to dump Vanessa. Darren wins and Max is told to dump Vanessa but they continue their relationship. When Max complains about his estranged wife Tanya, Vanessa says it is obvious that he is still in love with her. She returns home to her husband Harry (Linal Haft) in Chigwell, where he is shown to be controlling of her. When Vanessa goes upstairs to bed, she deletes Max's number from her mobile phone. However, a month later, Max calls Vanessa and invites her his house where they reconcile. However, they are interrupted by Tanya's sister Rainie Cross (Tanya Franks) who tells Vanessa she is Tanya in order to get rid of her. A few weeks later Harry takes Vanessa to Walford and dumps her belongings outside Max's house, as he has discovered the affair. He leaves Vanessa to stay with Max and takes her car. While staying with Max, she takes his daughter Abi (Lorna Fitzgerald) out to get a makeover. Max is initially angered by it, but realises that Abi is not a little girl anymore. Vanessa then insists they get to know each other more, but Max is suddenly angered when his son Bradley (Charlie Clements), who died earlier in the year, is mentioned. The two then have sex on the settee, until they are interrupted by Dot Branning who has brought Bradley's ashes. Days later, Vanessa and Max go to Janine (Charlie Brooks) and Ryan Malloy's (Neil McDermott) wedding reception at The Queen Victoria public house, where a fire starts. They escape but Vanessa frantically screams for Jodie, who escapes seconds after her. Vanessa runs to Jodie and hugs her.

Jodie tells Vanessa that she needs to end her relationship with Darren because she cannot keep going to his home while Vanessa is with Max leaving Harry heartbroken. However, Vanessa allows Jodie and Darren to remain together by ending her affair with Max and moving back to Chigwell. The next day Vanessa returns to Max's to collect some of her clothes and she tells him she would sacrifice her own happiness for Jodie's. They kiss but she stops it. Vanessa returns to Walford with Harry to meet Darren, and again when Max finds one of her earrings. When she arrives she meets Max's ex-wife Tanya, and Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) walks in saying she left her phone there the night before and Vanessa thinks that Max and Stacey are together so she leaves. On Vanessa's birthday, Tanya interrupts her celebration dinner to tell her Max misses her and that she should go back to him. Vanessa goes back to her party but Jodie tells Vanessa she thinks Tanya was right she deserves better than Harry, who has shown little interest in her. Vanessa goes back to Max with no possessions.

Jodie Gold
Jodie Gold, played by Kylie Babbington, is Vanessa's daughter. The character was announced on 10 May 2010 and first appeared on screen on 7 June 2010 when she arrived in the show's setting of Albert Square in Walford looking for her mother. She is a love interest for Darren Miller (Charlie G. Hawkins) and is described as big-hearted with "an infectious smile and a personality to match." Executive producer Bryan Kirkwood told entertainment website Digital Spy, "I'm really excited about Kylie taking on the role of Jodie. She brings yet more fresh energy to the show – she's a ray of sunshine." The character is 19 years old on her arrival and Jodie is Babbington's first television role.

When Jodie arrives, she is found by Darren Miller in the road, and says she is lost. Darren gives her £10 and offers to help. He goes to ask her out but changes his mind, but she accepts anyway. She then finds her mother who hands her the keys to her new car, and Jodie reveals she got the job she had interviewed for at Roxy Mitchell's (Rita Simons) salon. The next day she goes for lunch with Darren and he tells her he owns the car lot. When Heather Trott (Cheryl Fergison) interrupts and asks him to look after George, Jodie assumes George is a dog. Darren admits that George is his son, which Jodie thinks is sweet. Darren realises that Jodie's mother is Vanessa after seeing her car, and she tells him that she lives with her parents, who are still happily together. As Darren takes her to the car lot to show her where he works, he walks in on Vanessa and Max Branning (Jake Wood) kissing passionately on the desk. He tells Jodie that Max is busy with a customer and she realises that he is not the boss but says he does not have to lie to impress her. Darren, unable to find his World Cup tickets, suspects Jodie of having hidden them as she said she did not want him to go as she would miss him, and starts to go through her bag and demands she empty her pockets. However, the tickets were destroyed as he left them in his pocket and they were washed with his laundry, so he phones Jodie to apologise. However, Jodie deletes the messages without listening to them. The next day she tells Darren that she learnt the offside rule just for him, but he accused her of being a thief. Later, Darren finds her and tells her he has learnt about makeup just for her.

Darren invites Jodie to a romantic dinner, and after the meal, they kiss and Jodie leaves to get a condom from her bag and freshen up. When she returns, Darren is in his boxer shorts. Jodie smiles but he then pulls down his boxers, causing her to scream and run out. After an embarrassing meeting with Max, Jodie tells Darren that there is nothing wrong with him, but she could see he was not Jewish. She explains that she is Jewish and cannot have sex with a man who is not circumcised, though she does not go to a synagogue. They break up but later agree to start dating again, saying they can wait to have sex, as Darren is willing to get a circumcision for her. They make a list of activities they can and cannot do, but after Darren gets excited by Jodie rubbing sun cream on his body, he makes a call to book his circumcision. When he goes for the operation, he tells Jodie he is on holiday while he recovers. However, when Max and Vanessa's affair is revealed and she is dumped by her husband and Jodie's father Harry (Linal Haft), she accuses Darren of laughing at her, dumps him, disowns her mother, and drives away. Jodie is in The Queen Victoria public house when a fire breaks out, and she and Vanessa are reunited.

Darren tries to win Jodie back by trying to explain that he had a circumcision but she will not listen to him because he did not tell her about Max and Vanessa. However, she finally reads a letter he wrote and they reunite. However, she tells Vanessa she needs to end her relationship with Darren because she does not want to continue to see Vanessa and Max together, as her father is heartbroken. However, Vanessa allows Jodie and Darren to remain together by ending her affair with Max and moving back to Chigwell. The next day, Jodie and Darren have sex for the first time. Harry later returns to Walford with Vanessa to get to know Darren better. During a special lunch on Vanessa's birthday, Harry shows little interest in Vanessa, and Jodie tells her that she realises now that they are not happy together and urges her to go back to Max, which she does.

Jade
Jade, played by Niamh Webb, is a character who appears in the episodes broadcast on 8, 9 and 15 June 2010. Jade was originally scripted as a prostitute who Lucas Johnson (Don Gilet) picks up and forces to pray for forgiveness before apparently strangling her. However, following the charging of Stephen Griffiths with the murder of three prostitutes in Bradford, the decision was made to reshoot the scenes to remove the prostitute references, less than a week before the scenes were due to air. A spokesperson for the programme said the decision was made to "ensure we do not cause distress to the families involved in these tragic events." Jade first appears when Lucas visits a bar and sees her on her own. He offers to take her somewhere more quiet and they leave together. He takes her to a secluded spot and tells her that drinking and throwing herself at men is wrong and that her soul is lost. He says she needs to be cleansed and forces her to pray, but she attempts to fight back. She escapes but Lucas catches up to her, again telling her to beg for God's forgiveness. Lucas then removes his tie, and when he returns home, there are deep scratch marks on his neck. Jade's fate is unknown until Lucas's wife Denise (Diane Parish) suspects Lucas is cheating on her, so Lucas takes her to see where he got the scratches. They go to Jade's flat where she tells Denise that she prayed with Lucas and he baptised her, though initially she tried to resist and scratched Lucas. She says she will get help for her alcohol dependence and get her daughter back, who was taken away from her.

Harry Gold
Harry Gold, played by Linal Haft, is Vanessa's (Zöe Lucker) husband and father to Jodie (Kylie Babbington). The character was announced on 15 June 2010 and appears from 23 June. He was created by Simon Ashdown and was described by Kris Green from entertainment website Digital Spy as being controlling and similar to the character Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb).

Harry first appears when Vanessa returns home from seeing Max Branning (Jake Wood). He asks her for a drink and then says he smells cigarette smoke on her. She lies that she was out with friends but he says one of her friends called earlier that day and has not seen Vanessa for weeks. Vanessa then says she went out on her own as she could not face being bored at home, and admits to smoking, which Harry dislikes. He wonders if she is seeing someone else, and after he watches Vanessa go upstairs to bed, he moves an ornament back to where it was before Vanessa moved it when she came home. He comes to Walford several weeks later, looking for Max. He asks Liam Butcher (James Forde) and his younger brother, Morgan (Devon Higgs) if he knows Max. Liam tells him where he lives, and Harry gives them some money. However, he mistakes Darren Miller (Charlie G. Hawkins) for him and knees him in the groin, telling him to keep off his property, leaving Darren in immense pain as he has just returned from having a circumcision operation. He takes Vanessa to Walford and dumps her bags outside Max's house, realises who Max really is, and asks Vanessa what Max has that he does not, to which she says he can manage sex more than once a week. Harry says they are welcome to each other and leaves, taking Vanessa's car.

However, when Jodie reveals to Vanessa that Harry is heartbroken, Vanessa ends her affair with Max and moves back to Chigwell. Harry then comes to Walford with Vanessa and Jodie to meet Darren. At Vanessa's birthday party, Max's ex-wife Tanya (Jo Joyner) tells Vanessa that Max misses her and she should go back to him. Jodie sees that Harry is not very interested in celebrating Vanessa's birthday and tells her mother that she agrees with Tanya as Vanessa deserves better than Harry, so Vanessa goes back to Max again.

Lily Branning
Lily Branning is the daughter of Stacey Branning (Lacey Turner) and Ryan Malloy (Neil McDermott), born on 23 June 2010. Lily is conceived in September 2009 when Stacey stops taking medication for her bipolar disorder, causing her to act irrationally and sleep with numerous men, including Ryan. Around the same time, she is raped by Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb) and after trying to tell ex-husband Bradley Branning (Charlie Clements), she was sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Upon Stacey's return to Walford, she reunites with Bradley and reveals that she is pregnant. He is overjoyed, thinking the baby is his, but she reveals she is three months pregnant, and therefore the baby cannot be Bradley's. After revealing that Archie raped her, Bradley vows to raise the child as his own. However, he later dies. It is revealed that Archie was no longer capable of fathering children, so Stacey believes the father must be Ryan. After months of failing to tell him, she goes into labour alone and Ryan finds her, going to the hospital with her. During labour, the baby is starved of oxygen, but is born healthy. After returning home a few days later, she names the baby Lily. Stacey refuses to take Lily out of the house and panics when Jean does so without Stacey's knowing. However, Max Branning (Jake Wood) soon convinces Stacey to take Lily outside. In September 2010, during the Queen Vic fire, Stacey and Lily are trapped upstairs. They are both rescued by Ryan, who has just got married to Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) and shortly after, Stacey tells Ryan he is Lily's father. The next day, Ryan declines an offer to hold Lily, and walks away.

After Ryan and Janine's honeymoon, Janine discovers that Ryan is Lily's father and is angry about it, pushing Lily's pram over, though Lily is not inside, and arguing with Stacey. She later telephones Social Services to say Stacey is neglecting Lily. However, the social worker, Maria de Costa (Judy Browne), assesses that Lily is being looked after properly and notes that the allegation was a false one.

Lewis Daley
Sargeant Lewis Daley is an army recruitment officer who was visited by Carol Jackson, Bianca Butcher and Whitney Dean to find out why Billie Jackson has been denied leave. He informs them that Billie took leave with his friends, and gives his number to Carol after Bianca tells him she is single. A few weeks later, they go on a date, but Carol walks out. He follows and shows her he would like to see her again by kissing her. They go on another date, meeting in the local park. When they see Carol's grandson Liam Butcher, who is worried about going to his new school, Lewis gives him encouragement. A few weeks later he sends Carol chocolates so she arranges to meet him again. The following day he takes her to lunch, saying he has been busy with new army recruits. After the date, Glenda Mitchell tells Carol she saw him remove a wedding ring, so Carol confronts him. Lewis says he is unhappy in his marriage but Carol pushes him away and he leaves.

Richard Mitchell
Richard Mitchell is the son of Sam Mitchell (Danniella Westbrook), born in the episode broadcast on 2 September 2010, though it is set the day before. Sam becomes pregnant while in a relationship with Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen) but has an affair with Jack Branning (Scott Maslen). At first, Sam wants the baby adopted but decides to keep him as her mother Peggy insists, saying the baby is the only way Sam can get back with Ricky, who is now married to Bianca (Patsy Palmer). Peggy promises to raise Richard, but she leaves Walford, leaving Sam on her own. Sam insists that Ricky is Richard's father, but Bianca wants a paternity test to be sure. Sam lies about the result, saying Ricky is Richard's father. However, Bianca double checks and discovers it is Jack. When Sam realises she is unable to cope with Richard, she asks Jack and his fiancée Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Womack) to have him. When Sam is due to meet Ronnie and Jack to drop Richard off, she does not turn up, so Jack and Ronnie decide to visit her. Ronnie goes in and asks Sam to think it through, and offers her money to leave Walford with Richard as when Jack finds out she is keeping Richard, he will come after her. Ronnie leaves without Richard but Sam drops him off with Jack. Later, Ronnie and Sam meet and she gives Sam the money, telling her to take Richard back and leave. Sam takes Richard and returns home. She then leaves to live with her brother Grant (Ross Kemp) in Portugal, taking Richard with her.

Following the paternity test, DNA testing laboratory Alpha BioLabs reported a 27% increase in calls for paternity tests from people who did not realise how simple the tests were.

Greg Jessop
Greg Jessop, played by Stefan Booth, is the fiancé of Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner), who first appearead on screen on 1 October 2010 to work on the reconstruction of The Queen Victoria. He is a rival of Tanya's ex husband Max (Jake Wood), and a spokesperson for the programme commented, "Max has his fair share of women but he still has a soft spot for Tanya despite all they have been through. Don't be too surprised if he makes mincemeat out of Greg." Booth, who is on a short-term contract to appear in the show, said, "I'm absolutely delighted to be coming into Albert Square. Even as a kid, [...] we'd all sit in front of the telly watching EastEnders. Jo Joyner is a splendid actress to work with and I can't wait to get my teeth into the exciting storylines ahead." The character's profile on the official EastEnders website describes him as gorgeous and loyal with a feminine side, and he cares about his looks, having regular work outs, manicures and exfoliation treatments. He is not a womaniser as his mother, Moira, showed him how to treat women properly. He is good with Tanya's children Abi (Lorna Fitzgerald), Lauren (Madeline Duggan) and Oscar (Charlee and Neo Hall). Booth told Soaplife that Greg likes being a father to Tanya's children and that Tanya "completes him."

Greg is first mentioned in March 2010 at the funeral of Max's son Bradley Branning (Charlie Clements), by Max and Tanya's daughters Abi and Lauren, who tell their father that Tanya is waiting for them outside with her new boyfriend. In June 2010, during a visit from Max, Tanya reveals that she and Greg are engaged. Greg arrives in Albert Square with Tanya, who is visiting Lauren, and Greg is met by Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) who invites him to his illegal drinking den in the basement of The Queen Victoria. Alfie and Max, who is also there, suspect Greg is gay and Alfie then jokes to Greg that Max has a crush on him. This causes animosity between them when they are locked in alone. Later, Max returns home and Tanya brings Greg to meet him, not realising they already met. Greg then reveals Alfie has given him the contract to refurbish the pub. After a few days, Greg realises Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) has stolen some of his power drills.

Michael Moon
Michael Moon, played by Steve John Shepherd, is a cousin of Alfie Moon (Shane Richie), who first appears on 1 October 2010 after Alfie's return. Michael is described as a competitive and manipulative risk-taker who lives dangerously. He is a charmer with an eye for the ladies, but is willing to stab anyone in the back. Shepherd said of his casting: "I can vividly remember watching the first ever episode of EastEnders and I'm very excited to be joining such a fantastic and iconic programme. Michael Moon will be an exciting character to play – on the surface he's a loveable, cheeky chappy, but underneath he has hidden depths which will be exciting to explore." Executive producer Bryan Kirkwood explained that he has been a fan of Shepherd for many years, adding "He's a fantastic signing for EastEnders, an exciting addition to the Moon family, and is set to cause a big splash in Albert Square from the moment he arrives."

Michael arrives in Albert Square in Alfie's Ford Capri (the same one Alfie and his wife Kat (Jessie Wallace) left in five years previously), to loan money to Alfie for the lease of The Queen Victoria public house and to deliver alcohol to the drinking den in The Queen Victoria's cellar. Kat is not pleased to see him. Kat insists that she and Alfie pay Michael back the money but Alfie wants to make him a business partner. While talking to Kat, Michael realises the baby she is carrying is his. Michael talks to Alfie who says the baby is not his, and Michael says he might find it hard to cope with someone else's child. He also tells Kat that Alfie will not want to raise someone else's child and tells her they would make a good family. Later, Kat thinks Michael has told Alfie it is his child but he has not so Michael says he is planning to go back to Spain. After Kat is trapped in the caravan she is staying in when it is hoisted into the air, Michael takes her to the hospital but she tells him to go. Before he does, he says he has left her some money and a letter in the caravan, which Alfie then finds. Kat changes her mind after an argument with Michael and agrees to go to Spain, however, at the last minute, Alfie tells Michael to look after Kat and the baby, so Kat changes her mind again. When Michael sees the light go off in Alfie's bedroom, he leaves in his car.

Julie Perkins
Julie Perkins, played by Cathy Murphy, is a woman from Billy Mitchell's (Perry Fenwick) past. She will make her first appearance on 14 October 2010. Described as a feisty character who is an "antidote to the snarling women of Albert Square", her arrival will leave Billy shocked and turn his life upside down. The character is also described as a "cockney geezer bird [who] is more at home down the pub with the boys but underneath her robust layer, there's a little girl abandoned by her mum wanting to be loved." An EastEnders spokesperson commented on Julie's storyline: "Julie and Billy have a real connection despite being out of each others lives since they were teenagers. She's a true Cockney sparrow and tells it like it is. However, Billy is staggered to learn he may have more skeletons in the closet waiting to be discovered." Speaking about the role, Murphy said: "Like our characters, I've known Perry since I was 16 and he is a brilliant actor. We've never worked together before so I am looking forward to getting stuck into our fantastic rollercoaster of a story." Julie is Murphy's third role in the soap, having appeared in 1997 as Lorna and again as Trisha Taylor in 2005.

When Billy is visited by police on 8 October, it is revealed that Julie became pregnant from Henry Mason, a paedophile who ran the children's home that Julie and Billy lived at during their childhood.