Garry Hobbs, Walford’s resident ladies’ man, burst onto the scene with his girlfriend Lynne Slater and her boisterous family. Despite thinking he was quite the charmer, Garry’s roving eye often got him into trouble. But love, or something like it, prevailed when he and Lynne got engaged and eventually tied…

Gus Smith, a name that brings a smile to the faces of many EastEnders fans, made his grand entrance in Walford in May 2002. With a day job at a bed company, he managed to catch the eye of Sonia Jackson, and a whirlwind romance ensued after her split with…

Jim Branning, or should we say Basher Branning, was a staple in the drama and chaos that is Albert Square. Born in 1933, in Walford, Jim had quite the legacy even before his dramatic arrival on the show. His father never met his own father, who died in action during…

If there was ever a character who embodied the drama and heartache of Albert Square, it was Joe Wicks. Hailing from Bolton, Joe’s life had been anything but easy. Tragedy struck early, with the heartbreaking loss of his sister Karen in a car accident. Joe, haunted by guilt because of…

Julie Perkins, the no-nonsense, straight-talking geezer-bird, made quite the splash when she rocked up in Walford. A childhood friend of Billy Mitchell, Julie had a tough exterior but a heart of gold. Her backstory was a rollercoaster, having been separated from Billy and their son, Dan Pearce, who was taken…

Mercy Chubb, the ever-compassionate and sometimes chaotic character, had quite the journey in Walford. Her story began in the spin-off series E20, where she was trying to create a project for the local church with youth minister Benjamin. With her grandmother promising to fund her university place if the project…

Rob Grayson was the smooth-talking charmer who turned out to be anything but charming. Making his first appearance, Rob swooped in like a knight in shining armour when he rescued Whitney Dean from a botched pickpocketing attempt. He bought her a meal and gave her his number, promising a way…

Faith Olubunmi’s time in Walford was nothing short of a whirlwind. Sent to Nigeria by her grandmother, Grace, to straighten out her life, Faith returned to the Square in September 2011, bringing with her a knack for stirring up trouble. Her first order of business was to inform Fatboy that…

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…

Darren Miller, the lad who always seemed to find himself in a pickle, had quite the journey in Walford. Born to Rosie and Keith Miller, Darren was part of the chaotic Miller clan. His dad, Keith, was more interested in the telly than finding a job, leaving Darren to fend…