Mandy Salter

Name: Mandy Salter
First Appeared: 12th March 1992
Last Appeared: 31st May 2012
Played by: Nicola Stapleton

Arriving in March 1992, Mandy was left in Pat Butcher’s care by her hospitalised mother, Lorraine. She quickly befriended Sam Mitchell but felt unwanted by Frank Butcher, leading her to start squatting. Mandy’s rebellious nature shone through as she blackmailed Ian Beale and survived by stealing and conning people. After being evicted from her squat, Kathy Beale took her in, but Mandy’s rumour-spreading got her kicked out, leaving her homeless once again.

Mandy’s knack for stirring trouble was evident when she moved in with Mark Fowler and Steve Elliot, causing the end of Steve’s relationship with Hattie Tavernier. Christmas 1992 was particularly rough for Mandy. She received a card from her mother but found her mother’s abusive boyfriend, Gary, instead. Thankfully, Mark rescued her from Gary’s clutches. In 1993, Mandy met trainee footballer Aidan Brosnan, and their relationship was a whirlwind of bad decisions. Mandy’s influence led Aidan to skip practice, get drunk, and use ecstasy, ultimately ending his football career. The pair ended up squatting and begging for money, with Mandy even losing Sharon Mitchell’s pet poodle, Roly, in a tragic accident.

Mandy’s antics didn’t stop there. She stole prescription slips from Doctor Legg’s surgery and sold them to drug dealers, leading to her sacking. She then turned to ‘clipping’ in Kings Cross, which ended badly when other prostitutes beat her up. Aidan’s depression peaked on Christmas Day 1993 when he attempted suicide, but Mandy managed to stop him. Realising she was bad for him, Aidan returned to Ireland, leaving Mandy heartbroken. Pauline Fowler took pity on her, but Mandy’s one-night stand with Ricky Butcher only made her miss Aidan more. She left Albert Square in January 1994, stealing Pauline’s purse on her way out.

Seventeen years later, Mandy resurfaced when Ian Beale found her being thrown out of a strip club. Claiming the man was her abusive ex, it turned out he was her employer, and Mandy had stolen £5000 from him. Ian let her stay, and they grew close, with Mandy even bonding with Ian’s son, Bobby. Ian proposed, and Mandy accepted, but a tryst with Ricky Butcher made her rethink. Despite the drama, they rearranged the wedding. However, Ian discovered the affair, leading to the end of Ricky’s marriage to Bianca. Mandy confessed she had a daughter, Kira, with Ricky, who died prematurely. Ian forgave her, but more trouble brewed when Lucy Beale returned and tried to sabotage Mandy.

Lucy set up a meeting with “L Stevens,” thinking Mandy was having an affair, but it was actually Mandy’s estranged mother, Lorraine. Lorraine’s abusive nature caused more strife, and when she died, Ian’s erratic behaviour led Mandy to call off the wedding. Mandy left, using Ian’s credit card to pay for her mother’s funeral, and vowed to grow up and make a success of her life.