April Branning

Name: April Branning
First Appeared: 28th December 1995
Last Appeared: 24th October 1996
Played by: Debbie Arnold

April Branning’s arrival in Albert Square in December 1995 was anything but low-key. She came to invite her sister Carol Branning and her boyfriend Alan Jackson to her wedding. Having spent eight years in Greece selling time-share apartments, April had met and gotten engaged to a local named Nikos. Carol initially resisted the invitation, knowing her racist father Jim Branning wouldn’t approve of her black boyfriend. However, Alan was determined to attend, so April recruited her niece Sonia Jackson as a bridesmaid.

The wedding, scheduled for April 1996, turned into a dramatic fiasco. At the last minute, Nikos’ best man showed up with news that Nikos had fled back to Greece, leaving April devastated and humiliated. The day wasn’t a complete waste, though, as Alan and Carol seized the opportunity to tie the knot themselves.

April returned to Walford in July, deciding to stay after meeting and being attracted to market inspector Michael Rose. She landed a job at Kathy Beale’s café and soon became aware of her brother-in-law Alan’s flirtations with the scheming Frankie Pierre. When it became clear that Frankie and Alan were involved, April informed Carol, leading to the end of Carol and Alan’s relationship.

April’s relationship with Michael blossomed over the following months, and he eventually fell in love, asking her to move in with him. April was hesitant to take such a big step, and while she was mulling it over, Nikos reappeared, trying to win her back. Despite his previous jilting, April decided to give Nikos another chance. She left Walford with him in October 1996, finally managing to get him down the aisle.