Grace Olubunmi

Name: Grace Olubunmi
First Appeared: 4th June 2010
Last Appeared: 20th September 2011
Played by: Ellen Thomas

Grace Olubunmi was the no-nonsense grandmother who brought a mix of discipline and drama to Walford. She first appeared in the spin-off series E20, where she quickly made it clear that she thought Fatboy was a bad influence on her granddaughter, Mercy. When Grace arrived in June, she had plans to whisk Mercy off to Lagos, but Fatboy’s intervention led to a change of heart, and they ended up moving into a property on Albert Square instead. Grace’s stern exterior often clashed with the more laid-back residents, but she had a knack for making friends, including Liz Turner.

Grace’s time in Walford was marked by her attempts to keep Mercy on the straight and narrow. She attended Bible classes with Mercy, even though Lucas Johnson’s teachings sometimes led to awkward moments. Grace’s old-school values often put her at odds with the younger generation, but she wasn’t above getting her hands dirty, literally, as she urged Mercy and Fatboy to help clean up the litter-strewn streets. Her background as a teacher came in handy when she took Mercy’s friends, Zsa Zsa Carter and Leon Small, to get their GCSE results.

One of Grace’s more memorable moments involved a broken commemorative plate. When Leon accidentally smashed it, Fatboy tried to pass off a fake as the real deal. Grace saw through the ruse but praised Fatboy for his honesty, displaying the plate with her collection. Her protective nature was evident when she discovered Mercy working in Alfie Moon’s illegal den, leading to a stern lecture about Fatboy’s corrupting influence.

Grace’s rivalry with Dot Branning provided some classic EastEnders moments. After overhearing Dot’s plans to collect jumble for her church, Grace swooped in and collected it herself, leading to a Bible-quoting showdown. Despite their differences, Grace admitted her loneliness and desire to meet new people, which led to a temporary truce. However, their peace was short-lived, as Grace’s stint in the launderette ended in more conflict, though it did reveal Grace’s past as a teacher and the reason for her dismissal.

In 2011, Grace took a trip to Nigeria but returned just in time for the royal wedding. However, her focus was on Mercy, who faced deportation. After an emotional farewell, Fatboy’s last-minute proposal to Mercy changed everything. Grace initially opposed the idea but came around when she saw how much Fatboy loved her granddaughter. Despite the happy ending, Mercy eventually left, and Grace had to adjust to life without her. When Faith, Mercy’s sister, arrived from Nigeria, Grace’s patience was tested once more, leading to some explosive confrontations. Grace’s departure from Walford in 2013 was quiet, as she sold her flat and moved on.