James Willmott-Brown

Name: James Willmott-Brown
First Appeared: 20th March 1986
Last Appeared: 28th December 2017
Played by: William Boyde

James Willmott-Brown, the suave yet sinister businessman, first graced Albert Square with his presence in 1986, following the yuppies to the neighbourhood. With his polished manners and charming smile, he seemed like the perfect gentleman. But as we all know, appearances can be deceiving. James quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with, opening The Dagmar pub and setting his sights on making a name for himself in Walford. However, his true nature soon came to light, revealing a man driven by power and control.

James’s most notorious storyline involved his heinous assault on Kathy Beale. This shocking act sent ripples through the community, exposing the dark side of his character. Despite his attempts to maintain a façade of respectability, James’s actions left a lasting stain on his reputation. He was drummed out of town, and, despite a later attempt at a comeback, knew what was good for him in the long run. So he left town, preferring to work and watch from a distance…

Fast forward to 2017, and James returned to Walford with a vengeance. This time, he had a new plan up his sleeve, involving his children, Fi, Luke, and Josh. His goal? To take over Albert Square and exact revenge on those who had wronged him. James’s manipulative tactics and ruthless ambition made him a formidable adversary. His interactions with the residents, particularly the Carters and the Beales, were filled with tension and intrigue, keeping everyone on their toes.

While he tried to present himself as a loving father, his true motives were always self-serving. Fi, in particular, struggled with her loyalty to her father and had growing doubts about his plans. Ultimately, as his plans crumbled around him, Willmott-Brown suffered a heart-attack and was last seen clutching his chest as daughter Fi walked away…