Nick Cotton

Name: Nick Cotton
First Appeared: 19th February 1985
Last Appeared: 19th February 2015
Played by: John Altman

Nick Cotton, the notorious bad boy of Albert Square, made his grand entrance in the very first episode of EastEnders. The discovery of Reg Cox, left for dead by Nick, set the tone for his reign of terror. From the get-go, Nick was a spitting, snarling beast, causing chaos and leaving a trail of destruction. His early antics included mugging Ethel Skinner and blackmailing Kathy Beale, which earned him a swift beating from Pete Beale and a stern warning from Den Watts to stay away from the Square.

Nick’s relationship with his mother, Dot Cotton, was a rollercoaster of manipulation and betrayal. In 1990, he returned to Walford claiming to be a born-again Christian, conveniently around the same time Dot won £10,000 on the bingo. With the help of a fake priest, Nick tried to poison Dot to get his hands on her money. However, in a rare moment of conscience, he backed out at the last minute, leaving Dot heartbroken once again.

The early ’90s saw Nick battling a heroin addiction, which led to one of the most dramatic storylines in EastEnders history. After being locked in his room by Dot to go cold turkey, Nick witnessed the murder of Eddie Royle from his window. Despite initially framing Clyde Tavernier, Nick eventually confessed to the crime, but managed to escape a murder conviction thanks to his silver tongue and a good lawyer.

Nick’s return in 2000 brought more drama, including the tragic death of his son, Ashley. After sabotaging the brakes on Mark Fowler’s motorbike, Nick inadvertently caused Ashley’s death when the boy stole the bike and crashed it. This led to Dot finally disowning Nick, unable to forgive him for the loss of her grandson.

In 2008, Nick made yet another comeback, this time with his daughter Dotty in tow. Pretending to be a changed man, Nick’s true colours soon emerged as he plotted with Dotty to kill Dot for her life insurance. The plan fell apart when Dotty had a change of heart, leading to a dramatic showdown in the café that ended with Nick being disowned by Dot once more.

Nick’s final act came in 2015, when he returned to Walford one last time. His life of crime and deceit finally caught up with him, and he died of a heroin overdose in the same spot where Reg Cox was found all those years ago. It was a fitting end for one of EastEnders’ most iconic villains, leaving a legacy of chaos and heartbreak in his wake.