The Year Was… 2012

Farewell Pat
Pat Evans, the legendary matriarch of Albert Square, finally hung up her oversized earrings and bid farewell to EastEnders on New Year’s Day. Her departure was as dramatic as her life, succumbing to pancreatic cancer in a storyline that had viewers reaching for tissues and possibly a stiff drink. Pat, played by Pam St. Clement, had been a fixture on the show since 1986, outlasting many a scandal, affair, and questionable fashion choice.

Pat’s time was up. She knew it, but was determined not to burden her family around her. But, in the end, it was time and she convalesced in her room on Albert Square as a steady stream of residents knocked on the door to share their respects. Ian and Dot were the first round, stunned at their long-time friend’s sudden deterioration, but they made it brief. Janine refused to even see Pat, not even believing the whole situation was true until she pushed her way upstairs and saw it for herself. It was then that Janine broke, making peace with the woman who had to all intents and purposes been her mother and mending that last broken fence.

As time ticked on, the rain poured down outside. Pat was steadily getting worse. Then a knock on the door – her son David. For a while, it looked like he would walk away from his mother, but despite some old scores arising with Derek Branning, David remained at his mother’s side as she passed.

David stuck around for a bit, helping to organise the funeral (a huge horse-drawn carriage affair) and even found some time to give Ian some words of encouragement. But in the end, it was too much for David, and, although he had loved spending time with Carol and Bianca, he ran away again, leaving Carol sobbing in the rain. There was one other final treat however: in a surprise post-credit scene, in the dead of night, the churchyard and Pat’s newly dug grave was visited by a shadowy figure who, although he’d aged, we’d recognise anywhere: Simon Wicks had stopped by for one night only to say goodbye to his dear old mum.

The Many Schemes of Derek Branning
Derek Branning, the charming rogue, was up to his neck in schemes during his stint on the Square. He was the kind of character who could make a cup of tea seem menacing. His year was packed with enough dodgy dealings to make even the most seasoned con artist blush.

Some of Derek’s most notable schemes involved getting Max to sell a stolen car for him. Because, you know, nothing says brotherly love like dragging your sibling into a life of crime. He also roped Alfie Moon into a tax scam, selling alcohol in the Queen Vic that was supposedly for sale in Europe. Alfie, ever the reluctant accomplice, found himself knee-deep in Derek’s shenanigans, proving that no good deed goes unpunished in Walford.

Derek’s interactions with the other residents were as explosive as his schemes. He had a particularly tumultuous relationship with his brother Max, often manipulating him into doing his dirty work. Their sibling rivalry was the stuff of legend, with Derek always managing to stay one step ahead, much to Max’s frustration.

Then there was his affair with Kat Moon, which was revealed in a dramatic twist just before Christmas. Because what’s a festive season in Walford without a scandal? The revelation sent shockwaves through the Square, especially for poor Alfie, who had to deal with the double whammy of betrayal and tax fraud.

Derek also had a knack for making enemies. He managed to run both David Wicks and Anthony Moon off the Square, proving that he was not someone to be trifled with. His interactions with Michael Moon were equally fraught, with Derek bullying Michael just as he had in their youth. It was a classic case of the schoolyard bully never really growing up.

In the end, Derek’s schemes and interactions culminated in a heart attack on Christmas Day, a fittingly dramatic exit for a villain who lived life on the edge. His death left a void in Albert Square, but his legacy of chaos and manipulation lived on, a reminder no one is ever truly safe from the machinations of a Branning.

The Return of Mandy Salter
When Ian Beale had stumbled across Mandy being unceremoniously thrown out of a strip club by a man, he was as surprised to see her as she was to see him. It turned out the man was actually her employer at the strip club, from whom Mandy had nicked £5000. Ian, ever the knight in shining armour, allowed her to stay with him in Walford. A friendship blossomed as Mandy bonded with Ian’s son Bobby Beale and helped Ian rediscover his frivolous side.

Ian, smitten by Mandy, popped the question in a rather impromptu manner, and Mandy, perhaps caught up in the moment, accepted. However, a reunion with her old friend Ricky led to a night of reminiscing, drugs, and a bit more than just catching up. This made Mandy rethink her impending nuptials to Ian. She decided to skip the wedding ceremony, but Ian, not one to give up easily, pleaded with her to change her mind, and the wedding was rearranged.

In January, Ian discovered the tryst between Ricky and Mandy, which promptly ended Ricky’s marriage to Bianca Butcher. Mandy confessed to Ian that she had become pregnant with Ricky’s child back in January 1994 and had given birth to a premature daughter, Kira Salter, who sadly died. She suggested that her fling with Ricky was due to unresolved feelings about her deceased daughter. Ian, initially sceptical and critical of Mandy’s reasoning, quickly forgave her after a heated exchange where Mandy pointed out that nobody wanted to be with Ian and that he was alone.

Lucy Beale made her grand re-entrance in the spring and immediately declared Mandy public enemy number one. Lucy became a mastermind of mischief, trying to pit Ian against Mandy with a series of devious plots, including a brainwashing campaign targeting poor Bobby and throwing a wrench into Mandy’s matrimonial machinations. The plot thickened when Lucy mistook Mandy’s texts to “L Stevens” as a secret lover’s code, not guessing that “L” was actually Lorraine, Mandy’s mum and the family’s resident ‘Bad Girl’. Lorraine played the doting mother card to Ian, only to flip the script and unleash her fury on Mandy the moment Ian’s back was turned. After her true colours were exposed, Ian gave Lorraine the boot, narrowly saving his and Mandy’s rocky romance.

When months later Lorraine made a comeback, Ian played the overprotective fiancé, banning Mandy from playing nurse. Mandy, in a covert operation, visited Lorraine in the hospital, and they shared a fleeting moment of mother-daughter drama before Lorraine lashed out, crushing Mandy with harsh words – the last words they would ever have, as Lorraine died that afternoon. Meanwhile, Ian, juggling a financial fiasco and erratic episodes, bulldozed over Mandy’s mourning period, steamrolling straight into speeding up their wedding saga.

On the day destined for marital bliss, Mandy was rattled by Ian’s odd antics and called off the wedding, confessing her love was more forced than a sitcom laugh track. Ian, in a scene worthy of a soap opera, pleaded for her to reconsider. Alas, Mandy exited stage left, leaving Ian to melodramatically bellow her name.

Ian vanished, leaving his family in the dark, last seen walking down the street in his PJs, oblivious to his surroundings. Lucy got concerned and asked Phil for help, tracking down Ian’s credit card to Rochester – only to find Mandy living it up. Ian was eventually seen by Lauren, working at a homeless shelter and told her mum and dad, and Max and Tanya brought a dishevelled and emotionally battered Ian home to Walford to begin recovery.

Murdered: Heather Trott
Heather Trott’s life in Walford was never short of drama, but her story took a particularly dark turn. It all started when Heather and Shirley decided to take a little holiday to Southend-on-Sea. There, she met Dot’s charming nephew, Andrew Cotton. They hit it off, but Heather, ever the discerning lady, decided not to pursue things further after witnessing Andrew’s less-than-stellar treatment of his mother, Rose Cotton.

Back in Walford, Darren Miller had departed the year prior and had entrusted Heather with the care of little George, along with some cash. This windfall allowed Heather and George to move into their own flat, and Heather took up a cleaning job at Janine Butcher’s property maintenance firm. Just when things seemed to be settling down, Andrew returned to Walford, determined to make amends. Heather, initially sceptical, eventually shared a kiss with him, and they even spent Christmas together. Andrew proposed, Heather accepted, and they finally sorted their heads out!

However, things took a turn when Andrew started dieting, prompting Rose to accuse Heather of trying to change him. Heather and Dot stood up to Rose, who was clearly bullying Heather. Despite Rose’s doubts about their marriage plans, Heather and Andrew insisted they were committed. Heather asked Patrick Trueman to give her away at the wedding and Shirley to be her maid of honour.

Heather’s hen night revealed Andrew’s temper when he almost hit Shirley, but Heather decided to stick with him. The next day, Heather tried to reconcile with Shirley, feeling the wedding wouldn’t be the same without her, but Shirley rejected her. Meanwhile, Ben Mitchell, convinced Heather had overheard a sensitive conversation between him and Ian about Phil’s imprisonment, confronted her.

Andrew, ever the romantic, gave Heather two train tickets, suggesting they elope. Heather, after another failed attempt to reconcile with Shirley, decided to go for it. She returned home to find the tickets, but Ben, arrested for perverting the course of justice, showed up at her flat. In a heated argument, Ben searched for the money Dot had given Heather. When Heather tried to stop him, Ben, in a fit of rage, picked up a photo frame and struck her on the head, killing her.

Andrew was initially a suspect but was soon cleared. Ben, ever the cunning one, hid the murder weapon under his bed, only for Jay to discover it months later. The truth eventually came out when Shirley, accusing Phil of the murder, inadvertently prompted Ben to reveal crucial details only the killer would know. Ben, in a surprising twist, went to the police and confessed to Heather’s murder. His murder charge was dropped, and he pleaded guilty to manslaughter, receiving a four-year prison sentence.

And so, Heather Trott’s tragic tale came to an end, leaving Walford a little less cheerful and a lot more complicated.

Two Sides of a Coin: Janine and Michael
Janine Butcher, ever the business mogul, decided to expand her empire by snapping up properties and businesses left, right, and centre. She even started a property management company and a women’s fitness centre with her charming yet slippery boyfriend, Michael Moon. Not one to shy away from a challenge, she also bought a share in the nightclub R&R, making Phil Mitchell her reluctant partner. Naturally, sparks flew as they clashed over the club’s management. And despite their rocky relationship, Janine made peace with Pat before her passing, with Pat convincing a pregnant Janine to keep Michael’s child.

Michael, sensing an opportunity, proposed to Janine, who accepted after he begrudgingly agreed to sign a prenuptial agreement. Drama ensued when Jean Slater accused Michael of stealing her money and lying, but Janine dismissed Jean’s claims, attributing them to her bipolar disorder. Enter Kat Moon, Janine’s nemesis, who demanded repayment or threatened to go to the police. On their wedding day, Michael confessed his misdeeds and gave Janine an ultimatum: tear up the prenup or no wedding. Torn but determined, Janine agreed, and they tied the knot. However, the wedding reception took an unexpected turn when Janine went into labour eleven weeks early.

At the hospital, Janine underwent a caesarean, and their daughter was placed in an incubator, much to Janine’s distress. They named the baby Scarlett, but after a spat with Ricky, Janine decided to rename her Patricia in honour of Pat and had her christened.

In an attempt to make amends with Jean, Janine wrote her a cheque for double the owed amount, but Michael, ever the meddler, tore it up and paid Jean the correct amount plus £1000 from Janine. Janine’s suspicions about Michael grew when he asked to be a signatory on the business accounts and bought a flashy sports car. She ordered Billy to change the office safe combination, convinced Michael was up to no good.

Michael’s odd behaviour continued, leading Janine to believe he was having an affair. She confronted him with a suitcase full of money, challenging him to refuse it if he truly loved her. Michael, furious, told Janine she was unfit to be a mother. Believing him, Janine packed her bags, handed Scarlett to Michael, and left with the money. Michael soon discovered Janine had drained her bank accounts and shut down her business, Butcher’s Joints, transferring all her properties to another estate agent, leaving him with nothing but his own scheming self.

The Princess Returns…
There was a shock for the Mitchells in August or, more importantly Phil, as Sharon Watts knocked on his door, begging for help! After six years away, Sharon had returned to England to get married. But the groom, John Hewland, hadn’t been the one for her and she had left him at the altar – and he had taken her and Dennis son, Denny Jr, hostage!

Phil couldn’t say no to Sharon of course and leapt into action. Chasing John and Denny down, Phil rescued the boy and Sharon delivered a well deserved slap in her almost-husbands direction.

With no where else to go, Sharon was stuck in Walford for a while. She need not have worried, as Jack Branning, always looking for something with a Mitchell surname (well, she did once), decided to make his move. Phil was having none of this and told Jack Christmas time with no qualms or concerns whatsoever that Sharon would be a Mitchell again by this time next year. He was right as well…

The Other Mrs. Branning
With Tanya finally cancer free, she and Max were still on rocky ground, trying to rekindle their relationship. Lauren did not help: growing increasing dependent on alcohol and making goo-goo eyes at cousin Joey. She even got drunk and crashed a car into a shop, which would have killed them if not for uncle Derek! She was told by the doctors that enough was enough – one more drop would kill her…

However, through thick, thin and Derek’s machinations and all of Lauren’s drama, Tanya and Max survived and he even proposed marriage. Their second time was going to be delightful – she was better, and would be married in her own home, surrounded by family, on Christmas Day. Oh, it nearly went wrong a few times, but in the end, Tanya was ready to once again become Mrs. Branning.

Of course, Derek had one last trick. He arranged for whomever Max had been running from the year before to come as his plus one, and, lo and behold, as the bride was preparing, a woman knocked on the door demanding to see Max. Her named was Kirsty Branning – and she wanted words with her husband: Max.

The Other Stuff
After a brief relationship with Anthony Moon, Amira leaves Walford for Birmingham. After giving her blessing to a now-married Christian and Syed, they follow her to be close to their daughter Yasmin. Bianca is the ultimate Christmas present for the Butcher family as she’s released from prison early.