The Year Was… 2021

Hell’s Kitchen!
Ian Beale was a great many things: restauranteur, successful business and local man of repute. But at the start of the year, Ian was a shell of his former self. He was unaware of course that wife Sharon had been poisoning his food, determined to make him pay for the death of her son Dennis the year before. As the first year anniversary approached, Sharon was gearing up to deliver the final item on the menu.

Sharon crushed a truck load of poison into Ian’s next dish, a vengeful spaghetti carbonara. Ian, already suicidal and at death’s door after being attacked, took every bite he could. Ultimately Sharon confessed and stopped Ian from eating his last meal. Ian, wanting to avoid everyone in case someone else wanted him dead, left the Square in the dead of night, for parts unknown. When he would later return two years later, it wouldn’t be alone.

Sharon wouldn’t be alone for long either! A prison death notice for her biological father Gavin Sullivan had her and his ex-wife Kathy attend his funeral – where a discourteous and thoroughly disrespectful man with a very handsome face was thrown out of proceedings! This turned out to be Gavin’s long-estranged son Zack Hudson and he soon followed new-found sister Sharon home to Albert Square. He started to set hearts a flutter – Nancy Carter was quite taken – but he formed a solid bromance with Martin Fowler, who was struggling after Ruby… On Christmas Day a baby was left on their doorstep – it seemed 16-year old Dennis had startled early and baby Alyssa was revealed to be Sharon’s granddaughter!

Lies, Love and Law!
They’d only been married since October, but Martin Fowler and Ruby Allen were already going through it! During a conversation with Martin’s friend Kush, Ruby discovered that Stacey was still interested in Martin and was scheming to win him back. In revenge, on New Year’s Eve, Ruby offered Kush money to run away with his and Stacey’s son, Arthur. She then claimed to be pregnant to keep Martin with her. When Stacey discovered that Ruby was the perpetrator behind Kush taking Arthur, a confrontation ensued, during which Ruby found out she really was pregnant. Days later, Ruby and Martin wanted to take the kids on holiday, making Stacey angry about the lack of communication and worried that the kids would not return to her.

After visiting a clinic and stealing another woman’s baby scan to cover her lies, Ruby suffered a miscarriage. Later, during a confrontation with Stacey at the club, Ruby tripped and fell on the stairs. She claimed this fall caused her to lose the baby and accused Stacey of pushing her. Ruby found CCTV footage that appeared to support her story, but she deleted footage from another camera showing the truth. She then presented the manipulated evidence to the police. Jean Slater tried to convince Ruby to drop the charges by revealing she had terminal cancer and might not live to see Stacey released. However, Ruby pressed on, and Stacey was subsequently convicted of assault and sentenced to a year in prison.

Jean’s stress led to her children moving in with Ruby and Martin. Ruby often used them to navigate tricky situations. For instance, Lily, who knew about Ruby’s lies, cut up Ruby’s mum’s wedding dress in revenge. Ruby and Martin continued trying for a baby, but Ruby discovered she had endometriosis, which could affect her fertility. After suffering a second miscarriage, Jean offered her support, and the two began to grow close.

Meanwhile, Isaac Baptiste, who was struggling with schizophrenia, became obsessed with Ruby. He was convinced that her father was responsible for his brother Paul Trueman’s death and that she was covering it up. As Ruby and Jean spent more time together, Ruby’s guilt over sending Stacey to prison grew. She started sending large amounts of money to Jean to support her.

During an appointment, Ruby finally confessed the truth to Jean, who warned Ruby that she needed to tell Martin or she would do it herself. Ruby then discovered that Jean had a cannabis farm in her garage, set up by Big Mo before she left. Ruby tipped off the police, leading to Jean’s arrest before she could reveal the truth to Martin.

However, Martin eventually uncovered the lies after Lily was caught with weed. He visited Stacey in prison, where he learned about much of Ruby’s deceit. Stacey gave him an ultimatum: sort Ruby out, or she would handle it herself.

When he confronted her about it, she confessed everything to him, including the robbery with the Panesars, how she manipulated him into being on her side and how she silenced Stacey – but also revealed that she was pregnant again. Martin didn’t believe her and he encouraged her to give herself in.

Jean got there first and accused Ruby of being behind the cannabis farm and Ruby was arrested after drugs were found in the house. In the back of the police car, she clutched the positive pregnancy test – Ruby would give birth in prison, and in secret…

Max: Alone
His family gone, the only thing Max Branning seemed to have left was Linda Carter and Baby Abi. He fell for Linda hard, but at the start of the year, deciding Mick was a better option, she left Max, with him completely unaware that he was the father of her unborn child. He was determined to stand by Linda and there were several tense moments as he clashed with Mick and tried to split the Carters apart.

In a desperate attempt to salvage something from the wreckage of his love life, Max proposed to Linda, but she rejected him. This rejection was the final straw for Max, who felt he had nothing left to keep him in Walford. At the end of February, Max made the dramatic decision to leave Albert Square.

Before his departure, Max had a few final things to say to people. He had a tense exchange with Jack Branning, his brother, who tried to convince him to stay. Max also had a heartfelt goodbye with his granddaughter Abi, promising to stay in touch, but leaving her with guardian Rainie. His departure was marked by a sense of finality, as he walked away from the Square, leaving behind a trail of broken relationships and unresolved issues… He has not (yet) returned…

Mick’s Painful Past
Mick’s quest for justice against Katy Lewis intensified in March. He reported the abuse to the police, leading to an investigation. This period was emotionally taxing for Mick, as he had to relive painful memories and face the possibility of Katy escaping justice. Despite the challenges, Mick’s determination to hold Katy accountable never wavered. His courage inspired others in Walford, including his daughter Frankie, who also revealed that she was a victim of Katy’s abuse.

The court case against Katy began, with Mick and Frankie both testifying about their experiences. The trial was a harrowing experience for Mick, but he found strength in the support of his family and friends. Ultimately, Katy was found guilty, providing a sense of closure for Mick and Frankie.

With the court case behind him, Mick focused on rebuilding his life and healing from the trauma. He continued to attend therapy sessions, which helped him process his emotions and begin to move forward. Mick’s relationship with Linda also began to improve, as they worked together to strengthen their marriage, but she still spent most of the time with her mother and they were more estranged than ever by the middle of the year.

The Bitch is Back!
Oh, Walford, you never fail to deliver the drama, and 2021 was no exception with the return of the one and only Janine Butcher. Buckle up, because this ride is wilder than a night out at The Queen Vic!

In August, little Scarlett Moon decided it was time to spill the beans to Kat’s son, Tommy. Turns out, she’d been in foster care thanks to Janine’s stellar parenting skills (or lack thereof). Fast forward a month, and who should waltz back into town but Janine herself, rocking a doctor’s coat and going by the name “Judith Bernstein.” Yes, you read that right. Our Janine was playing doctor, and not in the fun way. She even treated Albie Watts while flirting shamelessly with his uncle, Zack Hudson. Classic Janine, right? Rumor had it she was trying to convince Social Services she was fit to look after Scarlett. Spoiler alert: it didn’t work.

Janine’s grand return to Albert Square was nothing short of a showdown. She confronted Kat, warning her that she’d do whatever it took to get Scarlett back. She even tried to play the sympathy card, claiming she’d lost her fortune. But Zack, bless his heart, blew her cover, revealing her doctor scam. Kat wasted no time in spilling the tea to Social Services, and soon enough, Scarlett went missing. Naturally, Janine was the prime suspect, but she found Scarlett hiding out at the Mitchell’s with Tommy. A scuffle ensued, and in true Janine fashion, she managed to start a fire. Tommy, ever the hero, locked them all in his bedroom to keep Janine from taking Scarlett. When the flames got too hot to handle, Janine stepped up, getting Scarlett to safety and going back for Tommy. She managed to lift him out of a window just as an explosion knocked her back. Tommy survived, Janine escaped, but Kat still won custody of Scarlett in court. Ouch.

Determined not to be beaten, Janine decided to stick around Walford to fight for Scarlett. She struggled to find a job but eventually landed one at The Queen Vic, thanks to Frankie Lewis. Her old partner in crime, Dr. Cole, tried to lure her back into the doctor scam, but Janine, in a rare moment of integrity, turned him down. Her fling with Zack continued, and they ended up in bed together. Kat, ever the detective, discovered that Janine had told Tommy about his biological father, Michael, and promptly kicked her out. Homeless again, Janine shacked up with Billy, Jay Brown, and Honey Mitchell.

Not one to stay down for long, Janine forced Jay to give her a job at the car lot. She, her nephew Liam Butcher, and Billy started selling stolen cars and framing Jay for the thefts. When Jay confronted her, she confessed, and he decided to join the scam. But Janine, always one step ahead, planted a stolen necklace in Jay’s belongings and called the police, leading to his arrest. When her scheme was exposed, Honey evicted her.

Janine then got promoted to bar manager at The Queen Vic and cozied up to married landlord Mick Carter, much to the annoyance of his mother, Shirley. Mick’s daughter Nancy was immediately suspicious when Janine moved in after being evicted by Honey. Janine’s plan to seduce Mick failed spectacularly when he rebuffed her advances, determined to rekindle his relationship with his wife, Linda. Never one to give up, Janine visited Linda, pretending to be “Judith Bernstein” again, and manipulated her into relapsing.

Gray’s Downfall?
Gray Atkins started the year off by developing a rather unhealthy obsession with Whitney Dean. But, plot twist! Whitney was already smitten with Kush Kazemi. Cue the jealousy and rage. Gray spent weeks trying to break them up, but his efforts were about as effective as a chocolate teapot. Things got even worse when he threw a tantrum over Kush and Whitney having a romantic dinner in his house without permission. Smooth move, Gray.

Fed up with the car robbery hanging over his head, Kush decided to spill the beans to the police about the Mitchells being behind it all. This little confession got Kush off the hook, but he knew the Mitchells wouldn’t be sending him a Christmas card anytime soon. So, he planned to skip town with Whitney and Arthur Fowler Jr., after convincing Martin Fowler to let the kid tag along.

Gray, ever the meddler, got wind of Kush’s escape plan and went full-on stalker mode. He followed them to the tube station, where he confronted Kush. Things got heated, and Gray confessed his obsession with Whitney. Kush, being the sensible one, told Gray he needed help. They tussled, and Kush, in a moment of heroism, saved Gray from an oncoming train. But Gray, never one to miss an opportunity for villainy, pushed Kush onto the tracks, where he met his untimely end. Gray then tried to comfort Whitney, but she wasn’t having any of it and accused him of murder. Gray had to make a hasty exit, leaving Whitney in tears.

Next up, Gray started a relationship with Chelsea Fox. This didn’t sit well with his in-laws, Karen Taylor and Mitch Baker. Chelsea, meanwhile, was living her best life on Gray’s credit card and neglecting his kids. Their relationship hit the rocks when Chelsea witnessed Gray’s volatile behaviour. She planned to have an abortion after discovering she was pregnant, but Whitney convinced her to keep the baby. Chelsea decided to keep the pregnancy a secret, but Whitney urged her to tell Gray. When Gray found out, he initially wanted no part of it but soon changed his mind and proposed to Chelsea.

On their wedding day, Whitney dropped a bombshell on Chelsea, revealing that Gray had murdered Chantelle. Chelsea tried to call off the wedding, but Gray manipulated her by revealing that Whitney had kissed him. They tied the knot on Christmas Day, but Chelsea soon discovered the truth about Gray’s abuse. She planned to flee to Ibiza with stolen money from Ruby’s, but Gray caught her. In the ensuing confrontation, Chelsea’s waters broke, and she went into premature labour. Gray helped her, and she gave birth to a son, Jordan Atkins.

Chelsea decided to stay with Gray for the time being, but she confided in Whitney that she was only using him for stability and planned to expose him eventually. For that, they would need an ally and more evidence…

The Other Stuff
Isaac reveals that he struggles with schizophrenia which threatens his teaching career and his relationship with Lola… Denise and Phil fight for custody of Raymond when his adoptive parents are killed… Ben and Callum get married in May… Jags Panesar is killed in prison… Keegan cheats on Tiffany, who leaves for Germany with brother Liam… Bernadette agrees to become Rainie and Stuart’s surrogate mum – but departs while pregnant…