Demi Miller

Name: Demi Miller
First Appeared: 6th September 2004
Last Appeared: 7th July 2006
Played by: Shana Swash

Demi Miller made quite the entrance in Walford at just 13 years old. She instantly became the talk of the Square due to her pregnancy, and this feisty troublemaker wasted no time making her mark. Demi and her twin brother Darren were a dynamic duo, frequently playing truant and causing all sorts of mischief. Their escapades included breaking into the Slater house and giving poor Garry a good scare.

Nearly two months after arriving, Demi’s waters broke in the playground, leading to a dramatic moment where she begged Pauline Fowler for help. Despite their rocky history, Pauline came through and helped Demi give birth to her daughter Aleesha in October. That evening, Aleesha’s father, Leo Taylor, arrived with his menacing dad Ray. Ray quickly decreed that Leo was to have no further contact with Demi or Aleesha, setting the stage for some serious family drama.

As Demi adjusted to motherhood in 2005, she found it challenging to bond with Aleesha due to her own mother, Rosie, stepping in at every turn. Rosie eventually realized her overstepping and let Demi take on her role as a proper mum. This led to Demi maturing into a caring and responsible mother. However, the Millers’ return to their old block of flats brought Leo back into her life. Despite their parents’ meddling, Demi and Leo reunited, but their romance faced numerous obstacles, including interference from Leo’s father and a tumultuous christening.

The young couple’s decision to run away together with Aleesha led to dire consequences. They ended up squatting and struggling to survive, with Demi making the heart-breaking decision to send Aleesha back home for her safety. The situation took a tragic turn when Leo, attempting to make money by selling drugs, overdosed on heroin after believing Demi had died. In a heart-wrenching moment, Demi woke up to find Leo dying in her arms, just as their families arrived to save them.

After Leo’s tragic death, Demi slowly started to rebuild her life. She forgave her family for their harsh treatment of Leo and found her way back to school. In October 2005, she celebrated Aleesha’s first birthday with her older half-sister, Dawn Swann. By 2006, the Millers faced more upheaval, including Rosie’s ex-husband re-entering their lives. After some family drama and a failed wedding, Rosie decided to start fresh, and Demi agreed it was time for a change. She left Walford with Rosie and Aleesha, ready to begin a new chapter away from the chaos of Albert Square.