Annie Palmer

Name: Annie Palmer
First Appeared: 6th May 1997
Last Appeared: 10th June 1999
Played by: Nadia Sawalha

Annie Palmer made a dramatic entrance in Albert Square on May 6, 1997, and from day one, she was a force to be reckoned with. Running illegal schemes with her father, George, Annie quickly established herself as a business powerhouse, opening a print shop called “By The Letter” to cover their shady deals. When Grant Mitchell caught them hugging and reported back to his mum, Peggy, George revealed the truth—Annie was his daughter. From there, Annie took control of George’s nightclub, The Cobra Club, renaming it The Market Cellar, and used it to further her money-laundering and gambling operations. With the Palmer name carrying serious clout in the underworld, Annie soon built a small business empire in Walford.

Annie’s shrewdness and business acumen were matched by her steely demeanour, a façade to prove she could cut it in a male-dominated world. Despite her tough exterior, she had a hidden vulnerability, rarely letting men get close. She juggled flings with Conor Flaherty and Phil Mitchell, delighting in their competition for her affections. Things took a twist when she grew close to her childhood friend, Gianni di Marco. Just as a serious relationship seemed possible, George dropped the bombshell that Gianni might be his son, the result of an affair with Gianni’s mother, Rosa. The revelation devastated Gianni, who cut ties with both George and Annie, though blood tests later confirmed George wasn’t his father.

Annie’s dealings took another turn when she got involved with fellow businessman Steve Owen, engaging in a cat-and-mouse game of one-upmanship. Steve managed to pierce her defences and bought her nightclub, renaming it The E20. Annie’s loan-shark business hit a snag in 1999 when a rival gang’s threats led to a brutal beating. Despite a brave front, her confidence was shattered, and Steve’s rejection further humiliated her. In retaliation, she sold her health-club shares to Grant instead of Steve, but it was a hollow victory. By June 1999, Annie left Walford, joining her father in New Zealand to manage his import/export business.