Bert Atkinson

Name: Bert Atkinson
First Appeared: 24th February 2006
Last Appeared: 29th August 2017
Played by: Dave Hill

Bert Atkinson, a proud Yorkshireman from Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, made quite the entrance when he first arrived in Walford. With his thick accent and no-nonsense attitude, Bert quickly became a character in Albert Square. He often boasted about how Southerners couldn’t hold a candle to his fellow Northerners, much to the amusement (and occasional annoyance) of the locals.

He arrived to visit his old mate Joe Macer, only to be mistaken for a tramp by Bradley Branning. Not one to be easily deterred, Bert made himself at home, even interrupting Martin and Sonia Fowler’s evening by letting himself into their house. His flirtation with Mo Harris led to some classic moments, including an awkward encounter with newlyweds Joe and Pauline Fowler, who walked in on Bert and Mo kissing on their sofa. Bert’s prison tattoo and his connection to Joe’s past added an extra layer of intrigue to his character.

Bert’s life took a dramatic turn when he was visited by a man with news about his ex-wife, Evie Brown. Evie, dying of breast cancer, confessed her enduring love for Bert and revealed that their daughter, Karen, had passed away from the same illness in 2004. Bert brought Evie back to Walford, where she spent her final days. Before she died, Evie dropped a bombshell: Bert had a grandson named Jay Brown. This revelation set the stage for Bert’s next chapter in Walford, as he tried to connect with Jay while dealing with his own health issues, including a suspected glaucoma.

Bert’s relationship with Jay was a rollercoaster. When Jay’s father, Jase Dyer, showed up in Albert Square, Bert initially clashed with him but eventually allowed Jase to reconnect with his son. Seeing that Jay was in good hands, Bert decided it was time to move on, leaving Walford in July 2007.

In 2017, Bert made a brief return to Walford, asking Jay to lay a Manchester United scarf on Jase’s grave to mark the ninth anniversary of his death. Though his time in Walford was relatively short, Bert Atkinson’s larger-than-life personality and memorable moments left a lasting impression on the residents of Albert Square, and certainly on his grandson.