Alice Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Jasmyn Banks.

The character and casting was announced on 14 April 2012 with executive producer Lorraine Newman stating that Alice will allow the audience to see a softer side to Derek.

The Daily Mirror praised the character for revealing herself as Derek's daughter on her first appearance, comparing her to Danielle Jones (Lauren Crace) after she kept her identity to her mother Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Womack) a secret for months and then dying minutes after revealing herself.

In September 2013, it was announced that Banks would be leaving the show as part of Michael Moon's (Steve John Shepherd) exit storyline.

However, Derek asks her to meet with him next week so he can introduce her to his family, telling her he is a good man who has done bad things.

When Alice arrives in Walford to meet her family, she walks in to find the Brannings arguing and Derek absent.

[5] Alice returns to spend time with her cousin Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) and eventually visits Derek.

He promises to live a crime-free life from now on, but Alice discovers that Derek is dealing in forged banknotes, so leaves again.

[7] She continues to return and takes a liking to Anthony Moon (Matt Lapinskas), which Derek notices.

[8] He later tells her that he will definitely change his behaviour for her, and they can keep seeing each other as long as they keep it a secret from Alice's mother, who has discovered their meetings.

[15] Later, during a game of spin the bottle, Anthony and Alice kiss,[16] and he then decides that he really does like her and invites her on a proper date.

Ray Dixon (Chucky Venn) witnesses this and helps,[21] and the next day he agrees to give her classes in self-defence.

[23] Joey fakes a punch to the face to convince Alice to move out of Derek's home.

[24] Alice decides to leave Walford,[25] but stays after Joey and Lauren are involved in a car crash.

Her split loyalties stress her and she starts shoplifting[34][35] and when Janine catches her stealing from her, Alice admits to taking Scarlett to see Michael.

[49] Michael then plans to kill Janine, so steals her credit card and orders sleeping tablets from the internet.

Forensics confirm that a second stab wound was fatal, so Alice is wrongfully charged and remanded by the incompetent police, devastated she breaks down in the interview room begging to be released and protesting her innocence.

It's such a privilege to be working alongside Jamie [Foreman] and I can't wait to find out what's in store for Alice.

Alice decides to search for her father and arrives in the show's setting of Walford to meet him and get some answers.

[58] Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy said, "Ever the optimist, nice girl Alice is eager and excited to meet Derek [...] but whether she'll be pleased by what she finds remains to be seen.

She's an optimist, and looks for the good in people.Banks said that viewers will see a "lovely" side of Derek when Alice arrives in Walford.

[59] She added that Derek wants to have a relationship with Alice, making her thing she is a nice guy while covering up his dark past.

The dynamic is quite an unusual one, because Joey became a father figure to his sister at a very young age once he became the man of the house.

[67] Witts later added that Joey hopes to convince Alice that Derek is a "really bad guy".

[70] Allison Jones of Inside Soap said that "any bloke who falls for Alice Branning is going to a real battle on his hands, thanks to overprotective dad Derek and big brother Joey.

[80] The Daily Star Sunday said that Alice will be written out as part of Michael Moon's exit storyline.

[82] To facilitate the return of Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), the storyline sees Janine, who has been arrested following a taped confession being handed to the police, face trial alongside Alice.

This is how a long-lost daughter should greet an estranged parent – by blurting it out on Day One, not moping about mysteriously for months on end until Janine Butcher eventually squashes you with her car.

"[84] Tony Stewart of the Daily Mirror said: "While nobody in Walford is likely to bet their kneecaps on it, the arrival of Derek's daughter Alice seems to have had a colossal impact on him.

"[85] Simon from the Daily Mirror later said that "meetings between Derek and his daughter Alice are often short and painfully awkward.