Joey Branning

Name: Joey Branning
First Appeared: 22nd June 2012
Last Appeared: 26th December 2013
Played by: David Witts

Joey Branning showed up in Walford to persuade his sister, Alice, to return home, but things quickly went south when he punched Derek Branning and revealed he was his son. Joey made it clear he wanted nothing to do with Derek, setting the stage for a tumultuous relationship.

Joey soon met his cousin Lauren Branning and took a liking to her friend Lucy Beale. In a classic move, he tricked Derek into giving him money, which he then handed over to Lucy, as Derek had been stealing from her. Joey’s attempts to bring Alice home were futile, so he accepted work from Michael Moon, much to Derek’s displeasure. Joey’s plan to expose Derek’s true nature to Alice backfired when a family dinner turned into a disaster, leaving Alice angry at Joey for ruining her day.

Joey’s love life was as chaotic as his family drama. He helped Lucy when she was being pestered, and they ended up kissing. Joey managed to con Derek out of more money for Lucy, and she invited him to stay with her. However, things got complicated when Joey kissed Whitney Dean, angering her. Lauren noticed Whitney’s discomfort around Joey, and he admitted to the kiss. Lauren, Lucy, and Whitney decided Joey needed a lesson, so they handcuffed him to a gate and left him there. Lauren later freed him, but not before slapping him for his cheeky remark.

Joey’s relationship with Lucy ended, and he moved in with his uncle Max Branning, much to Derek’s dismay. He then began a relationship with his cousin Lauren, and they quickly fell in love. Derek caught them kissing and threatened to tell Max, leading Joey and Lauren to attempt a getaway in Derek’s car. Unfortunately, Lauren, who had been drinking, crashed the car. Derek saved them, but Joey’s dislike for him remained.

Joey took the blame for the crash but ended his relationship with Lauren when Derek threatened to expose her as the real driver. They reconciled, but Lauren’s mother, Tanya, discovered the relationship, and Derek blackmailed her to force Joey to break up with Lauren. Derek’s death from a heart attack left Joey feeling guilty, and he broke down at the funeral, blaming himself. Despite the family drama, Joey and Lauren continued their relationship with her parents’ approval.

In a fit of jealousy, Lucy spiked Lauren’s drink, leading Joey to break up with Lauren. She left Walford to get over her alcoholism, and upon her return, she discovered Joey had slept with Whitney. Despite this, Joey and Lauren decided to remain friends, though Joey was jealous of her new relationship.

Joey’s concern for his sister Alice grew as she became embroiled in a custody feud between Michael Moon and Janine Butcher. After Alice was imprisoned for Michael’s murder, Joey tried to get Janine to change her statement, but she refused. Joey and Janine had a brief fling, but it ended when Janine realized Joey was trying to get her to admit she killed Michael. Joey provided the police with a tape of Janine’s confession, leading to her arrest, but Alice remained in prison due to her guilty plea. With nothing left in Walford, Joey left to live with his mother, asking Lauren to join him, but she decided to stay.