Sandra di Marco

Name: Sandra di Marco
First Appeared: 3rd January 2000
Last Appeared: 19th March 2001
Played by: Clare Wilkie

Sandra di Marco certainly knew how to make an entrance – and an exit – on Albert Square. Estranged wife of Beppe di Marco and mother to Joe, Sandra first walked out on her family when Joe was just one year old. She reappeared in 2000, tracking down Beppe and Joe in Walford. Sandra had left because Beppe’s family, particularly his grandparents, resented her for not being Italian. Sandra’s desire to return to work after Joe’s birth clashed with the family’s traditional views, and when Beppe sided with his family, Sandra decided to leave. She later moved in with Beppe’s police partner, Jack Robbins, but left him to reconnect with Joe.

Her return was met with hostility, but Sandra and Beppe soon rekindled their romance, much to his family’s disgust. Beppe, still deeply in love with Sandra, pressured her to have more children, but she flatly refused. The plot thickened when Jack arrived in Albert Square, revealing Sandra had left him after a miscarriage that rendered her unable to have more children. Despite trying to deny her feelings for Jack, Sandra eventually admitted she still loved him and had only reconciled with Beppe to gain custody of Joe. She and Jack reignited their romance and planned to flee Walford with Joe. However, Beppe caught them just in time, attacking Jack and taking Joe, denying Sandra any access.

The ensuing custody battle saw Beppe using his police connections to plant drugs on Jack, getting him sacked from the force. The constant fighting took a toll on Joe, culminating in him getting hit by a car while running to his mother. Thankfully, Joe wasn’t seriously hurt, but the accident forced Sandra and Beppe to reconsider their behaviour. Realizing the impact on Joe, Beppe eventually allowed Sandra visitation rights.