Hazel Hobbs

Name: Hazel Hobbs
First Appeared: 10th April 2007
Last Appeared: 24th April 2008
Played by: Kika Miraylees

Hazel Hobbs, the vivacious and unpredictable mother of Garry Hobbs, certainly knew how to make an entrance. She first appeared in Walford when Garry attended her wedding. However, Hazel had a change of heart and decided not to marry her fiancé Gerald, citing his excessive nasal hair as the deal-breaker. The mother and son duo quickly rushed to Gerald’s house to collect her things, but Gerald mistook Garry for Hazel’s toyboy and hit him. Thus began Hazel’s stay in Walford, where she soon developed feelings for Garry’s best mate, Minty Peterson. This, of course, led to some classic soap opera drama with Garry punching Minty and Hazel leaving Walford.

But Hazel wasn’t gone for long. In August 2007, it was revealed that she and Minty had started a secret relationship behind Garry’s back. Their romantic weekend in Brighton coincided with Garry’s own trip with Dawn Swann, leading to an inevitable showdown. Back in Walford, Minty’s unintended proposal – thanks to finding Garry’s engagement ring on the floor – had Hazel enthusiastically planning their wedding. She even got a job as a receptionist at Booty to help with the preparations.

Hazel’s friendly nature shone through when she befriended Heather Trott, who was infatuated with her son Garry. Hazel asked Heather to be her bridesmaid, much to Heather’s delight. However, after fainting at work, Hazel mistakenly believed she was pregnant. Minty’s excitement was short-lived when Hazel tearfully revealed that it was the menopause, meaning she could never have children. Hazel left Walford again, thinking it was the best thing for Minty’s future, but she returned on Minty’s wedding morning to Heather, proposing they run away together and live a life on cruise ships. Minty declined, choosing Heather, and Hazel watched the wedding from the side-lines before bidding Garry a heartfelt goodbye and leaving the Square.

Hazel’s departure was her last on-screen appearance, but in February 2009, it was mentioned that she was living her best life on a cruise ship heading for Monaco. Hazel Hobbs’ time in Walford was brief but packed with memorable moments, leaving a lasting impression on the residents and viewers alike. Her larger-than-life personality and whirlwind romance with Minty added a splash of drama and humour to Albert Square.