Della Alexander

Name: Della Alexander
First Appeared: 1st March 1994
Last Appeared: 16th May 1995
Played by: Michelle Joseph

Della Alexander made her debut in Walford in March 1994, joining as a new assistant to market trader Sanjay Kapoor. A former hairdresser who attended school with barman Steve Elliot, Della’s talent didn’t go unnoticed. Steve, recognizing her potential, decided to partner with her, and together they opened the hairdressing salon Kool for Kutz on George Street in April. However, it wasn’t long before things got complicated.

Following some personal problems, Della moved in with Steve in the flat above the Queen Vic. Steve, developing feelings for her, actively pursued her, which Della appeared to encourage. But it was all a façade to hide the fact that she was a lesbian. The truth came out when Steve caught her in bed with her girlfriend, Binnie Roberts. This revelation led to Steve throwing Della out and ignited a feud between him and Binnie. Della’s shame over her sexuality became a major source of conflict with Binnie, who was openly gay. Despite his feelings, Steve eventually accepted Della’s sexuality, but the tension remained.

Della and Binnie soon moved into a bedsit on the Square, where they faced homophobic rumours spread by Natalie Price. This intensified Della’s anxiety about living openly as a lesbian, leading her to deny the rumours. Fed up with Della’s shame, Binnie threatened to leave. To convince her to stay, Della publicly kissed Binnie on Bridge Street, which was a turning point in their relationship. However, the pressure continued as Binnie urged Della to come out to her mother, Alice Alexander, causing frequent arguments.

Their relationship hit a rocky patch in January 1995, driving Della to seek support from Steve. After a night out, Steve misinterpreted her intentions and attempted to kiss her, leading to another fallout. Jealous and misunderstanding the situation, Binnie accused Della of infidelity. Steve, witnessing their turmoil, decided to exit their business partnership, leaving the salon to Della. Eventually, Della and Binnie reconciled, but Della grew disillusioned with life in Walford. They decided to start fresh in Ibiza. Before leaving, Della planned to come out to her mother but stalled until Alice found out from Peggy Mitchell. On her final day, Della finally told her mother, who had already guessed the truth. Della left Walford with a clear conscience, ready for her new life.