Josh Saunders

Name: Josh Saunders
First Appeared: 18th November 1997
Last Appeared: 30th April 1998
Played by: Jon Lee

Josh Saunders made a memorable first impression when he swooped into Walford on November 18, 1997. Initially seen as the knight in shining armor rescuing Clare Tyler from a gang of bullies, Josh quickly became the object of Clare’s affections. She spent weeks trying to win him over, and despite her guardian Nigel Bates’s initial reservations, the two began dating. The twist? Josh was the son of Clare’s teacher, Julie Haye. Clare was mortified at first but eventually came around, especially when Nigel started dating Julie.

Caught in the crossfire of his parents’ disputes, Josh’s life was anything but straightforward. His father, Eliot Saunders, was furious when Julie announced plans to move to Scotland with Josh. As a compromise, Josh was roped into having a Bar Mitzvah to appease his Jewish father, despite his lack of interest in religion. After initially skipping his tutorials, Josh decided to go through with it, and the ceremony took place in March 1998, with Clare proudly by his side. Soon after, Julie and Nigel’s relationship hit the rocks, and Julie and Josh left for Scotland in April 1998. Just as they were about to leave, Nigel had a change of heart, asking Julie if he and Clare could join them in Scotland. Delighted, Clare saw Josh return to collect them a few weeks later.

Josh’s time in Walford was brief but impactful. He navigated the complexities of teenage romance, parental conflicts, and religious expectations with a level of maturity beyond his years. His departure to Scotland with Clare and their respective parents marked the beginning of a new chapter.