Josh Saunders made a memorable first impression when he swooped into Walford on November 18, 1997. Initially seen as the knight in shining armor rescuing Clare Tyler from a gang of bullies, Josh quickly became the object of Clare’s affections. She spent weeks trying to win him over, and despite…

Polly Becker made her dramatic entrance into Albert Square in March 1997, ready to stir up the pot as a journalist for the Walford Gazette. With a nose for news and a knack for making friends, Polly quickly befriended Tony Hills and got him a job shadowing her at the…

Neelam Kapoor, the matriarch with a knack for meddling, made quite an entrance in Walford. She and her husband had built a profitable clothing business before leaving it in the hands of their son, Sanjay, and emigrating to India. Unfortunately, Sanjay’s poor business decisions led to bankruptcy, a fact he…

Huw Edwards, the amiable Welshman from Pontardulais, brought a touch of chaos and camaraderie to Albert Square. Best mates with Lenny Wallace, the dynamic duo lived in a squat, blasting loud music and making it their mission to wind up Ian Beale. Their antics included operating a pirate radio station,…

Mary Flaherty made quite the entrance in Walford, arriving as the granddaughter of Maggie Flaherty, Pauline Fowler’s long-lost sister. Although she didn’t get along with her father, Conor Flaherty, their trip to Ireland to meet relatives marked the beginning of Mary’s journey. A teenager in trouble, Mary was having an…

Conor Flaherty first made waves in Walford in 1997 when his aunt, Pauline Fowler, tracked him and his mother, Maggie Flaherty, down in Ireland. This reunion was a family surprise, as Pauline discovered Maggie was the sister she never knew she had. Conor, already dealing with a rocky relationship with…

Susan Rose made her debut in Walford on August 25, 1997, arriving with her son Matthew. Life took a challenging turn when Susan started suffering from multiple sclerosis, and her ex-husband, Michael, along with Matthew, stepped in to care for her. This period of hardship actually brought Susan and Michael…

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…

Lilly Mattock, the former showgirl of the Westwood Girls, waltzed into Albert Square in 1998 with a splash of glam and cheeky charm. A hoofer who’d performed throughout Europe and the Far East post-World War II, Lilly was no stranger to the spotlight. After her husband, Jack Temple, passed away…

Simon Raymond, older brother to Tiffany Mitchell, made his dramatic entrance in Albert Square in June 1996, bringing with him a mix of charm and complexity. Raised alongside Tiffany by their abusive, alcoholic father Terry after their mother Louise left, Simon’s early life was anything but easy. He eventually came…