Emma Summerhayes

Name: Emma Summerhayes
First Appeared: 21st April 2014
Last Appeared: 2nd January 2015
Played by: Anna Acton

Emma Summerhayes, Walford’s very own detective extraordinaire, arrived in the Square with a mission: to solve the murder of Lucy Beale. From the moment she stepped into Ian Beale’s living room with her colleague DS Bryant, it was clear that Emma meant business. Tasked with being the Family Liaison Officer, she had the unenviable job of breaking the news to Ian that his daughter was dead. Talk about a tough first day on the job!

Emma’s investigation took her all over Walford, from the Beales’ kitchen to the Brannings’ living room. She was like a bloodhound on the scent, determined to uncover every secret and lie. When she revealed to Ian, Peter, and Denise that Lucy’s death was no tragic mugging but a cold-blooded murder, the stakes were raised. And let’s not forget the bombshell that Lucy had been having an affair with a mystery man. Walford was buzzing with speculation, and Emma was right in the thick of it.

Despite her professional demeanour, Emma’s personal life was anything but straightforward. Her interactions with Max Branning added a whole new layer of drama. After a heart-to-heart with Max, the two couldn’t resist their feelings and ended up in a passionate affair. It was classic Walford: secrets, lies, and forbidden love. Emma’s relationship with Max was a rollercoaster, filled with stolen moments and whispered conversations. But in true EastEnders fashion, it was doomed from the start.

Emma’s dedication to the case led her to arrest Jake Stone, convinced they had their man. She was relentless, building a case against him and ensuring he wouldn’t get bail. But as we all know, in Walford, things are never that simple. The twists and turns of the investigation kept everyone on edge, and Emma was at the centre of it all, trying to piece together the puzzle of Lucy’s final days.

Tragically, Emma’s time in Walford was cut short. In a shocking turn of events, she was hit by a car driven by Roxy Mitchell, with the brakes tampered by none other than Nick Cotton. However, her files later led Lauren to figure out the truth and it was Lauren who first uncovered who had murdered her best friend…