List of EastEnders characters introduced in 2011
In April, Janine Butcher's (Charlie Brooks) maternal grandmother, Lydia Simmonds (Margaret Tyzack/Heather Chasen), and Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner) and Rainie Cross' (Tanya Franks) mother, Cora Cross (Ann Mitchell), both joined the series and Martin (Alasdair Harvey) was introduced as the new love interest for Jane Beale (Laurie Brett).
Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold), the granddaughter of Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) and Julie Perkins (Cathy Murphy), was announced in June along with Norman Simmonds (George Layton), Lydia's son.
In October, Syed (Marc Elliott) and Amira Masood's (Preeya Kalidas) daughter Yasmin arrives and Mark Garland (Chris Simmons) was introduced as a new love interest for Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace).
Poppy Meadow, played by Rachel Bright, was introduced by executive producer Bryan Kirkwood on 11 January 2011 as the best friend of established character Jodie Gold (Kylie Babbington) in scenes filling in for those cut from a controversial baby-swap storyline.
[1][2] Poppy returned to the series in June 2011 as a supporting character and comedy element, in a move that was generally welcomed by the tabloid press; her storylines focused on her friendship with Jodie and their intertwined love lives.
[12] 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.
"[12] 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.
"[14] Rob has been called "evil" by The People[15] and by executive producer Bryan Kirkwood,[16] a "nasty piece of work" by Orange,[17] and "sinister" by Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy.
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.
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.
"[25]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.
In July 2020, Wall, who was now known for playing series regular, Grace Black in Channel 4 soap opera, Hollyoaks, explained to Digital Spy why her character "disappeared into obscurity back in 2011.
[29] Wall told The Dog in the Pond podcast host, Kelly Condron, "I ended up doing this little part in EastEnders, which was meant to develop into something more.
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.
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.
[40] 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).
[56] 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.
[56] Marta Demboski, played by Magdalena Kurek,[57] is a Polish carer interviewed and subsequently hired by Dot Branning (June Brown),[58] who appears from 6 to 24 May 2011.
Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) takes a liking to Norman and asks him to dress as a Pearly King to help with her campaign to stop the community centre closing.
When Pat discovers that her son, Simon Wicks (Nick Berry), who lives in New Zealand, is going to lose his home, she fails to get a loan because of her age.
"[83] Lola Pearce, played by Danielle Harold, is the 15-year-old granddaughter of Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) and Julie Perkins (Cathy Murphy).
Described as someone who "will rely on his brains and natural wit to find a more sensitive solution to any conflict",[70] it is shown that Anthony has a gambling problem before his arrival, which is later a focus of a storyline.
In 2022 after Dot's death, Rose is mentioned by Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) as not being able to attend the funeral as she and Andrew are stuck on a cruise The casting of Perkins in the role was announced on 27 May 2011 and the character first appeared on screen on 22 August 2011.
Heather is unsure, so he gives her two train tickets and tells her to meet him at The Queen Victoria public house by 6 pm if she wants to elope with him.
"[113] She arrives in Walford to tell Mercy's husband Fatboy (Ricky Norwood) that she has had the marriage annulled and asks for his wedding ring so she can sell it.
In EastEnders: E20, she is unable to find anywhere to live so starts squatting with Donnie Lester (Samuell Benta) and Ava Bourne (Sophie Colquhoun).
In May 2014, Yasmin appears when Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) visits Christian at his home in Birmingham, following the death of his daughter Lucy (Hetti Bywater).
It was reported that Kat faces temptation from Mark when she goes through marriage problems with her husband, Alfie Moon (Shane Richie), after he accuses her of having an affair.
