Charlie Cotton

Name: Charlie Cotton Jr.
First Appeared: 11th March 2014
Last Appeared: 15th December 2017
Played by: Declan Bennett

Charlie Cotton Jr., the son of the notorious Nick Cotton and grandson of the beloved Dot Branning, lied the minute he stepped foot in Walford! Initially posing as a police officer, Charlie’s true identity was soon revealed, much to the shock of the residents. With a family tree as tangled as the Cotton’s, it’s no wonder Charlie’s life in Albert Square was filled with drama and deception.

Charlie’s arrival was anything but smooth. He came to inform Dot of Nick’s supposed death, only for it to be revealed later that Nick was very much alive. Talk about a plot twist! Despite the rocky start, Charlie quickly became a fixture in Walford, especially after his whirlwind romance with Ronnie Mitchell. Their relationship was a rollercoaster, complete with secret affairs, a dramatic wedding, and the birth of their son, Matthew. But in true Ronnie fashion, happiness was fleeting, and their marriage soon crumbled under the weight of lies and betrayal.

Things took a turn for the worse when Ronnie and Vincent Hubbard conspired to get rid of him. Eventually, realising that they held all the cards, Charlie took off for Ireland for a fresh start.

He returned briefly following Ronnie’s death to collect his baby son Matthew, and, shortly thereafter, Dot joined him in Ireland too.