The Year Was… 2020

When Celebrations Go Overboard
Ah, the infamous boat party. Designed to celebrate the Queen Vic winning a Best Pub award, what could possibly go wrong when you gather Walford’s finest on a floating palace on the Thames? Spoiler alert: everything. With four different episodes set at the same time, and nifty night-time opening titles, the week was spectacular, filmed in studios usually reserved for Hollywood movies.

Everything was going as swimmingly (sorry) as possible, with the residents onboard all enjoying their night out. Linda wanted to celebrate more than most and went looking for an extra drink in the boat’s kitchen. Bex had overdosed on drugs provided by Dotty, but was saved in time. But the real danger was from Phil and a returned Keanu, whose battle at the helm changed the course of the boat and crashed it in the middle of the Thames.

The gunshot that erupted from their struggle deafened Ben and cause panic onboard. The ship began to sink with the people on board scrambling to lifeboats. Linda caught her foot in a steel fixture and was stuck. Luckily for her, Mick wouldn’t let her go and he broke her limb to free her. Ian and Dennis, arguing over his bullying of Bobby, scuffled in a corridor and Ian promptly locked Dennis in a room. He regreted his decision and, as water pored in, Ian desperately tried to free the boy.

As the residents made it to dry land, there was one casualty of the night: Dennis had drowned. As for Sharon, as one son died, another was born as she give birth to baby Kayden, later renamed Albie. Keanu once again disappeared into the night.

Whitney: From Stalker to Cell
By the end of January, Whitney was completely unaware of how much danger she was in. Leo King had seemingly been scared of the Square and she was starting to move on. But Leo was actually doing his best Norman Bates impression and was in the attic of the Cotton house, spying on Whit from a hole in the ceiling. Emerging after weeks, Leo finally snared his target unexpectedly.

In shock, Whitney grabbed the nearest sharp object and stabbed Leo to death. She was arrested, promptly causing cries of outrage and served time while she awaited trial. She did not fare well in prison, hallucinating and overthinking her past. When she was released, she came home and seemed to settle down with the help of her family and friends.

Phil’s Guilt
At New Years, Ben’s attempt to blackmail Martin Fowler into killing Keanu Taylor was foiled when Linda Carter drunkenly took the shot. Linda spiralled as a result, leaving Mick desperate for aid. After the boat crash left Ben deafened, he had to adapt to his new situation.

Phil was traumatised in his part in the boat crash and mourned Dennis as if he was his own. He nearly handed himself in, but Sharon told him that ultimately Dennis’ death was not his fault: it was Ian’s. But after multiple run-ins with local gangster Danny Hardcastle, Phil couldn’t forgive her and he threw her out. But Dennis’ death lingered in the air like a dark cloud, and when Ian was attacked in the Vic later on in the year, naturally suspicion went straight to Phil first.

Gray’s Domestic Horror!
Gray Atkins seemed liked the perfect husband, but we knew that he was an abusive man, his worsening behaviour towards his wife Chantelle kept hidden from the Square. After a heated argument went wrong, Gray pushed Chantelle and she fell, straight onto the open dishwasher and the cutlery stored within. Rather than help his wife, he went for a drink across the road and then returned, claiming he had found his wife dead.

There was no reason to doubt his claims. No one had been with Chantelle. She had professed feelings for Kheerat Panesar, but without her around, it was all circumstantial to her family. No, Gray was the victim and everyone had his side. Shirley, after finding him about to commit suicide and take the children with him, moved in to keep him steady. Tina came shortly thereafter and Gray began to take an unhealthy interest in first Whitney Dean and later Chelsea Fox. Tina was the only one willing to notice that something was up and, when she got too close to him Christmas time, he brutally straggled her and took her body off the Square. Since she was the principal suspect in the Ian Beale attack and had done a runner, it seemed plausible that Tina had simply run away…

Mick and Linda: Revelations and Relapsing
Linda’s drinking took a dangerous turn when she passed out and didn’t notice Ollie Carter getting onto the roof of the Queen Vic! Shirley and Mick rescued the tot. Shirley yelled at Linda and angrily told her to sort it out, or get out! Linda agreed, but she continued drinking, even signing divorce papers in the hallway of the Vic!

Of course, the boat crash brought them closer together again, but Linda couldn’t stop. A few months later, when Lockdown was over, she made a drunken mistake by kissing Max Branning. Mick was struggling with his own issues: deaf newcomer Frankie Lewis had come to the Square and had befriended the Carter family, but stunned Mick when she revealed that she was his daughter!

Mick couldn’t understand this, as this would mean he was a teenager when he had the girl and he had only been with Linda – until he remembered an encounter with a carer in his care home. Frankie’s mother Katy used to work in a care home… This revelation floored Mick, and he couldn’t cope with it, pushing Linda away and inadvertently into Max’s arms.

By the end of the year, Linda was pregnant and they took time out of the Square to put things into perspective, especially when it was obvious only Max could be the father. When Mick and Ollie returned later in the year, Linda decided to stay with her mother for awhile.

Ian vs Sharon
Ian Beale’s year was a rollercoaster of highs and lows. His decision to lock Dennis Rickman Jr. in a room on the boat during the anniversary party had tragic consequences, leading to Dennis’s death. The guilt and fallout from this incident haunted Ian throughout the year, as he struggled to come to terms with his actions.

Ian’s attempts to cover up his involvement in Dennis’s death only made things worse. His lies and deceit alienated him from his friends and family, leaving him isolated and vulnerable. Dotty Cotton proved herself just like her old man when she found out and started blackmailing him. Eventually, this secret just had to come out.

Sharon Watts, his oldest friend, discovered his involvement in her son Dennis’s death during the boat party disaster. Consumed by grief and rage, Sharon devised a chilling plan to kill Ian. The situation reached a boiling point when Ian was brutally attacked and left for dead in The Queen Vic.

As he lay unconscious, the residents of Walford speculated about his fate and the identity of his attacker. Tina Carter, who disappeared around the time of the attack, was considered main suspect and MIA. Sharon’s plan wasn’t over though – by the end of the year she had become Mrs. Beale number 6. Now she was close to her son’s killer and Sharon lost it completely, crushing pills into his food, and slowly, but surely, poisoning Ian Beale to death…

Brothers in Arms (and Trouble)
With Kheerat Panesar at the helm, the Panesar family were swooping into properties on Albert Square, opening up several businesses, including KJP Pest Control, a call centre initiative that employed several of the residents. Kheerat took a fancy to multiple ladies, starting with Stacey Slater and making his way around to Sharon… Then their mother Suki, arrived.

From the moment she stepped onto Albert Square, it was clear that Suki Panesar was not to be trifled with. Her first move was to lie about having terminal cancer to garner sympathy and bring her estranged daughter, Ash, back into the fold. This deceitful tactic worked, and Ash returned to the family, albeit reluctantly. Suki’s manipulative nature quickly became apparent as she used her supposed illness to control her children and assert her dominance.

Her relationship with Ash was particularly strained due to Suki’s disapproval of Ash’s bisexuality and past abortion. Despite her harsh exterior, Suki’s vulnerability occasionally peeked through, especially in moments of genuine concern for her children. She also had a ruthless streak…

Son Vinny was hired by Ruby Allen to cause problems in the club by committing a robbery to claim on the insurance. Vinny assaulted Martin in the process however and mother Suki, unwilling to let her youngest go to prison, had middle child Jags, expecting a child with Habiba Ahmed, take the fall. Jags went to prison, where he would be protected by Ben’s inside contacts. A competitive streak between Ben and Kheerat got heavy however, and, while the pair scowled at each other across the Square, Ben cancelled Jags protection in prison and he was murdered, leaving the Panesar’s and Habiba in pieces and Kheerat out for revenge…

Kat: Wannabe Moll
Kat decided to embrace the life of a gangster’s moll this year as she became involved in Phil Mitchell and his life of crime. Spotting some lovely motors at her place of cleaning, Kat made a suggestion to make some quick money with the car thieves of Walford. As Phil and Ben hatched a plan, Kat prepared to play her part, roping in boyfriend Kush to help. As it happened, the robbery went awry when Callum, fresh into the police force, was the officer on the scene and he had them bang to rights. Kush served some time, but by the October Kat had had enough of his crippling gambling addiction and she cut him loose. They would remain firm friends.

The Return of Lucas Johnson
Lucas Johnson, who had previously terrorized Walford with his murderous spree, was released from prison and, as you can imagine, Denise’s initial reaction to seeing Lucas was one of absolute terror. She had worked hard to rebuild her life and protect her family, and Lucas’s reappearance threatened to unravel everything. Her primary concern was for her son Raymond, whom she wanted to shield from the chaos that Lucas inevitably brought with him.

Adding to the drama was the return of Denise’s daughter, Chelsea Fox, who shockingly re-entered Walford alongside her father! Denise was horrified to see her daughter with the man who had caused their family so much pain. Chelsea’s decision to reconnect with Lucas created a rift between her and Denise, as Denise struggled to understand why her daughter would associate with such a dangerous man.

She believed that Lucas had changed and deserved a second chance, a belief that put her at odds with Denise. She also had drug-related-boyfriend-issues. Lucas, on the other hand, claimed to have found redemption and wanted to make amends for his past actions. However, his sincerity was constantly in question. Denise, understandably sceptical, found it difficult to trust Lucas, especially when he moved into the Square. At least she could keep an eye on him right? Plus, she was dating police officer Jack Branning. Safe as houses.

Despite his claims of redemption, Lucas’s presence in Walford was far from peaceful. He became entangled in various shady dealings, including drug trafficking, which eventually led to his re-arrest. His brief stint of freedom was marred by his inability to escape his past, proving that some leopards never change their spots.

The Other Stuff
Dot leaves to visit Charlie in Ireland. Sheree’s son Isaac arrives. He’s later revealed to be Patrick’s son and begins a relationship with Lola. Rainie suffers a phantom pregnancy and comes up with a surrogate baby plan, involving first Tiffany Butcher and then Bernie Taylor.