George Palmer

Name: George Palmer
First Appeared: 4th July 1996
Last Appeared: 8th December 1998
Played by: Paul Moriarty

George Palmer, the quintessential East End crime boss, made his mark in Walford with his shady dealings and charm. Owner of an illegal gambling den and money laundering operation disguised as a members-only club, The Market Cellar, George quickly ruffled feathers, especially those of Peggy Mitchell. Initially, Peggy tried to shut his operation down, but George’s pragmatic approach saw him wooing her, turning opposition into attraction. Their relationship blossomed, and George stood by Peggy through her battle with breast cancer, leading to a Christmas 1996 engagement announcement. However, the romance crumbled when Phil Mitchell revealed George’s illegal activities, prompting Peggy to end things and George to flee to New Zealand.

George’s departure left a void filled by his daughter, Annie, who moved to Walford to help run the club. Annie’s relationship with her father was fraught, as she constantly tried to prove her worth, feeling George always wanted a son. Despite this, George found new romantic prospects with widow Rosa di Marco, leading to another engagement. Drama ensued when it was revealed George had an affair with Rosa years earlier while her husband Giuseppe was in prison, casting doubt over the paternity of her son Gianni. A DNA test cleared up the uncertainty, confirming George was not the father. Subsequently, George broke off the engagement and returned to New Zealand in 1998.