Nellie Ellis, the ever-resourceful cousin of Lou Beale, made her debut in Walford in December 1993, attending the funeral of her first cousin once removed, Pete Beale. Nellie’s knack for getting what she wants became apparent when she broke her hip shortly after and emotionally blackmailed Pauline Fowler into letting…

Peggy Mitchell, born in East London, 1942, was the formidable matriarch of the Mitchell family. Her life was a rollercoaster of drama, resilience, and unyielding love for her family. She met Eric Mitchell when she was 18, quickly becoming pregnant with Phil. Eric proposed to her at Upton Park football…

Grant Mitchell burst onto the scene in 1990, arriving with his brother Phil as the co-owner of The Arches garage. Fresh from the Army, where he served as a paratrooper in the Falklands War, Grant carried the scars of PTSD. His initial time in Walford was marked by a brief…

Guido Smith made his entrance in Albert Square in October 1988 as a business contact of graphic designer Colin Russell. Initially, their meetings were all about business, but it soon became apparent that there was a spark between them. When Colin finally plucked up the courage to make a move,…

Felix Kowalski, born in 1929, was a Jewish-Polish immigrant who brought a touch of old-world charm to Walford when he arrived in November 1995 to open a barbershop. A Holocaust survivor, Felix had spent his life searching for his family, assuming they had perished in the Nazi concentration camps. Imagine…

Lorraine Wicks had quite the tumultuous time in Albert Square. Married to David Wicks, their union was marred by David’s infidelities, leading to their separation around 1990 in Bolton. David abandoned Lorraine and their two children, Joe and Karen, having no part in their lives. The tragedy deepened when Karen…

Guppy Sharma strutted into Walford in October 1995 with a business proposition for market trader Gita Kapoor: supply her with mock designer clothing at cut prices. While Gita’s husband Sanjay was away tending to a dying relative, a flirtatious relationship blossomed between Guppy and Gita. However, Gita’s suspicions were piqued…

Frankie Pierre sauntered into Walford in June 1996 with the sultry vibes of a soul singer in Mick McFarlane’s band. Almost immediately, she set her sights on café worker Alan Jackson, completely undeterred by his marriage to Carol Jackson. Frankie was relentless in her pursuit, moving to Albert Square, sharing…

Ted Hills, born in 1945 in Walford, hailed from a destitute East End family living in a tenement block. With six siblings, including Kathy, Ted’s early life was anything but easy, especially with an alcoholic father, Dennis. During the 1960s, Ted hung around with the likes of Gavin Sullivan, Henry…