The Year Was… 2013

Branning Family Turmoil!
Would 2013 finally be Max and Tanya’s year, or would Kirsty’s schemes end their turbulent life together for good? Their relationship was like a soap opera within a soap opera, complete with all the drama, tears, and more plot twists than you could shake a stick at. The year started with Tanya and Max trying to navigate the choppy waters of their relationship, but things took a turn for the worse when Kirsty, Max’s now-wife, entered the picture. Talk about a love triangle that could rival any geometry lesson!

Max, ever the charmer, seemed to have a knack for getting himself into sticky situations. He thought he was divorced from Kirsty, thanks to a little white lie from his brother Derek. But when Tanya found Kirsty’s keys in Max’s pocket, all hell broke loose. It was like finding a grenade in your handbag – you just knew it was going to explode. Tanya, not one to take things lying down, demanded that Kirsty sign the divorce papers. Kirsty, of course, refused. Because why make things easy when you can make them dramatically difficult?

The tension between Tanya and Kirsty was palpable, and Max was stuck in the middle like a rabbit caught in the headlights. Kirsty, trying to play the dutiful wife, even made dinner with wine, completely forgetting that Lauren, Max and Tanya’s daughter, was battling a drinking problem. Smooth move, Kirsty. This little faux pas led to Kirsty being unceremoniously booted out of the Branning household. You could almost hear the collective sigh of relief from the rest of the family.

Meanwhile, Tanya was dealing with her own set of problems. She was trying to keep her family together while dealing with the fallout from Max’s antics. It was like trying to juggle flaming torches while riding a unicycle – impressive if you can pull it off, but disastrous if you can’t. Tanya’s patience was wearing thin, and who could blame her? Max’s charm could only get him so far, and his habit of getting into trouble was starting to take its toll.

As the year went on, the drama only intensified. There were heated arguments, tearful confrontations, and enough emotional turmoil to fill a year’s worth of therapy sessions. Tanya and Max’s relationship was hanging by a thread, and Kirsty’s presence was like a ticking time bomb. It was only a matter of time before things came to a head.

Before the end the of the year, Tanya had had enough. She decided to leave Walford, taking a break from the never-ending drama that seemed to follow her and Max around like a bad smell. It was a bittersweet farewell, but one that was probably long overdue. As for Max and Kirsty, well, let’s just say their story was far from over.

Liam and the Gang: Bianca’s Nightmare
Liam Butcher, the poor lad, found himself tangled up with a gang, and let’s just say it wasn’t exactly the Walford Scouts. Liam went from being a typical teenager to living out a storyline that could rival any crime series. His involvement with the gang led by the menacing Kane was a recipe for disaster, and it wasn’t long before Liam was in way over his head.

The gang’s influence on Liam was like watching a car crash in slow motion – you knew it was going to end badly, but you couldn’t look away. From petty thefts to more serious crimes, Liam’s descent into gang life was a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in Albert Square. His mum, Bianca, was beside herself with worry, and who could blame her? Trying to keep Liam out of trouble was like trying to keep a cat out of a fish market.

In a special episode for Comic Relief, the show highlighted the dangers of gang culture with a storyline that saw Bianca desperately trying to save Liam from the gang’s clutches. It was a heart-wrenching segment that brought a serious issue to the forefront, all while raising money for a good cause.

Meanwhile, the arrival of Terry Spraggan and his children TJ and Rosie brought a new dynamic to the Butcher household. Terry was Bianca’s new love interest, and their decision to move to the Square was like adding a new ingredient to an already bubbling pot of drama. Terry’s easy-going nature was a stark contrast to the chaos surrounding Liam, and his relationship with Bianca was a breath of fresh air – at least when they weren’t arguing.

Bianca and Terry’s arrival in the Square was met with the usual mix of curiosity and scepticism from the residents. After all, new faces in Walford always mean new drama. Terry’s attempts to bond with Liam were commendable, but trying to win over a teenager involved with a gang is no small feat. It was like trying to tame a wild horse with a handful of sugar cubes.

As the year progressed, Liam’s troubles with the gang escalated, culminating in a dramatic showdown that left viewers on the edge of their seats. The tension between Liam and Kane’s gang reached a boiling point, and it was clear that something had to give. Liam was stabbed, and though he survived, he had learnt to keep his family close and choose his future friends more carefully.

By the end of the year, Liam had managed to extricate himself from the gang’s grip, but not without a few scars – both physical and emotional. His journey was a rollercoaster of highs and lows, and it was clear that the Butcher family would never be the same. As for Terry and Bianca, their relationship continued to blossom, proving that even in the midst of chaos, love can find a way. That was until Nikki, Terry’s ex-wife, and her dad, David Wicks knocked on the door…

It’s War: Janine vs. Michael
Janine and Michael Moon’s relationship could only be described as a soap opera lover’s dream – or nightmare, depending on how you look at it. Their marriage was a ticking time bomb, and the countdown was filled with enough drama to keep the entire population of Albert Square on the edge of their seats.

The year started with Janine and Michael’s relationship already on the rocks. Trust issues? Check. Custody battles? Double check. A plot to kill each other? Oh, you bet. Michael, ever the schemer, was plotting to get rid of Janine and take their daughter Scarlett. But Janine, being Janine, was always one step ahead. She discovered Michael’s plan and decided to turn the tables in the most dramatic way possible.

Their confrontations were the stuff of legend. Picture this: Janine, with her trademark icy glare, and Michael, with his sinister smirk, facing off in the kitchen. It was like a scene from a Shakespearean tragedy, but with more eyeliner and less iambic pentameter. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife – which, incidentally, is exactly what happened.

In a twist that no one saw coming (except maybe everyone who’s ever watched a soap), their final showdown ended in a knife fight. Alice Branning, caught in the middle of their twisted love-hate relationship, ended up stabbing Michael first. But it was Janine who delivered the fatal blow, ensuring that Michael’s days of scheming were well and truly over.

The aftermath was a whirlwind of police sirens, tearful confessions, and Alice and Janine’s arrest. Janine, ever the survivor, managed to turn on the waterworks and play the victim card, but even her crocodile tears couldn’t wash away the blood on her hands.

Michael’s death left a gaping hole in the lives of those around him – mainly because they were all too busy trying to figure out who would be the next to fall victim to Janine’s machinations. As for Janine, she continued to be the queen of chaos, even from inside, proving that there’s no such thing as a quiet life.

Enter Carl White and Ronnie’s Release
Carl White’s time in Walford was like a masterclass in how to be the ultimate soap opera villain. Carl swaggered into Albert Square in June, and from the moment he arrived, it was clear he was trouble with a capital T. His ex-girlfriend Kirsty Branning probably wished she had a restraining order ready the moment she saw him.

Carl’s deeds were a whirlwind of blackmail, intimidation, and general bad behaviour. He had a knack for making enemies faster than you could say “Queen Vic.” One of his first orders of business was to track down money owed to him by the late Derek Branning, which had somehow ended up in the hands of the ever-unlucky Ian Beale. Poor Ian – if it wasn’t one thing, it was another. Carl’s method of persuasion? Burning Ian’s hand on a hot stove. Subtlety was clearly not his strong suit.

But Carl’s villainy didn’t stop there. He managed to get involved with Roxy Mitchell, which, let’s be honest, was never going to end well. His relationship with Roxy put him on a collision course with her cousin Phil Mitchell, and if there’s one person you don’t want to cross in Walford, it’s Phil. Carl’s feud with Phil was the stuff of soap legend, with threats, fights, and enough testosterone to fuel a rugby team. Eventually, the pair were involved in a car crash, arranged by Carl, which almost killed Phil. Peggy turned up to give him a shake and get him back on his feet, but it would take another Mitchell to take Carl down…

Enter Ronnie Mitchell, Roxy’s sister, and a woman who could give Carl a run for his money in the “don’t mess with me” department. Recently released from prison, Ronnie and Carl’s interactions were like watching two cobras in a staring contest – you knew it was only a matter of time before one of them struck. And strike Ronnie did. In a dramatic New Year’s Day episode, Carl met his end in a way that only a Mitchell could deliver. After a tense confrontation, Ronnie slammed the boot lid of a car down on Carl’s head, killing him instantly!

Ronnie, ever the resourceful Mitchell, decided to dispose of Carl’s body by having the car crushed with him still inside. It was a move that would make any crime drama proud. Of course, in true soap fashion, the evidence of her crime – Carl’s blood-stained mobile phone – was discovered by Phil shortly afterwards…

Lauren: Drinking to Forget
Lauren Branning’s year was a rollercoaster ride that would make even the most seasoned EastEnders fan clutch their pearls. The year kicked off with Lauren’s drinking problem taking centre stage, and boy, did it escalate faster than a soap opera wedding. Lauren seemed to have a permanent reservation at the Queen Vic, and her drink of choice? Anything with a high enough alcohol content to make her forget her troubles.

Her parents, Tanya and Max, were at their wits’ end, trying every trick in the book to get her to sober up. But Lauren was having none of it. She was like a rebellious teenager on a mission to outdrink the entire population. Her antics included everything from drunkenly stumbling around Albert Square to getting into heated arguments with anyone who dared to suggest she might have a problem.

One of the most memorable moments was when Lauren, in a state of inebriation that would make a sailor blush, decided to confront her ex-boyfriend Joey. The scene was a masterclass in soap opera drama, with Lauren slurring her words and Joey looking like he wished he were anywhere else. It was the kind of cringe-worthy moment that makes you want to hide behind your sofa cushions.

As the year progressed, Lauren’s drinking problem started to have serious consequences. She ended up in the hospital with liver damage, a wake-up call that even she couldn’t ignore. But in true soap opera fashion, her road to recovery was anything but smooth. There were relapses, dramatic confrontations, and enough tears to fill the Thames.

Despite the heavy subject matter, there were moments of unintentional comedy. Like the time Lauren tried to hide her drinking from her family by stashing bottles in the most ridiculous places. Spoiler alert: hiding vodka in a cereal box is not as clever as it sounds. Or when she tried to convince everyone she was fine by showing up to family dinners with a smile plastered on her face, only to end up face-first in the mashed potatoes.

By the end of 2013, Lauren had made some progress, but it was clear that her battle with alcohol was far from over. And worse was around the corner…

The Other Stuff
After everything Yusef put them through, Zainab leaves the Square for Pakistan. Jean meets gardener Ollie and is smitten. She follows her heart and leaves Walford with him, deliriously happy. Jack cannot reconcile with Ronnie and leaves the Square. At Christmas time, Shirley’s family, the Carters arrive to take over the Queen Vic…