List of EastEnders spin-off characters


The following is a list of fictional characters that appeared in televised spin-offs of the BBC soap opera EastEnders, but have not appeared in EastEnders itself.

''[CivvyStreet]''

Albert Beale

Albert Beale appeared in the 1988 EastEnders spin-off CivvyStreet, played by Gary Olsen. He also appeared in the EastEnders novels by Hugh Miller. Albert and his wife Lou moved into 45 Albert Square shortly after their wedding. They had seven children. Their first child, Maggie, was conceived out of wedlock and adopted by an Irish family shortly after she was born. Albert and Lou had four sons and three more daughters. Dora, Norma, Ronnie and Harry never appeared in the TV series. Albert fought in World War II, and was awarded the War Medal 1939–1945 — which is now in Ian Beale's possession. When Albert died in 1965, Ronnie inherited the stall but discovered he had a fatal heart defect and passed the stall onto Pete. Albert's three grandsons that appeared in the show, Mark Fowler, Ian Beale and Martin Fowler, all have Albert as a middle name.

Harry Beale

Harry Beale appears in the 1988 EastEnders spin-off CivvyStreet, played by Aaron Mason. He also appears in the EastEnders novels by Hugh Miller. Harry is born to Albert and Louise Beale in 1936, their first legitimate child. He lives with his mother until his twenties, when he moves to Bradford in Yorkshire, and takes a job in a hotel. He is quickly promoted to hotel manager, but struggles to find a girlfriend. He eventually becomes an alcoholic, and regularly turns up to his mother's house in Albert Square, Walford drunk and unruly.
He eventually loses contact with Lou, after his drunken visits get worse. He sends flowers to his family's weddings and funerals.

Ronnie Beale

Ronnie Beale appears in the 1988 EastEnders spin-off CivvyStreet, played by Chase Marks. He also appears in the EastEnders novels by Hugh Miller. Ronnie is born to Albert and Louise Beale, their third child, and second son. He lives with his mother until he marries a woman named Gail, then he moves into his own flat in Walford. The Beale family business, a fruit and vegetable stall in Bridge Street, is passed on to Ronnie upon the death of his father. In 1964, Ronnie discovers he has a heart condition that will eventually be fatal. He decides to move away from London so his family will not have to watch him die. He passes the stall on to his brother Pete, whom he had taken in after he had been homeless, after leaving his wife Pat. He and Gail move away, and it has been confirmed by the official EastEnders website that he has died since.

Other characters

  • Lou's mother, played by Avis Bunnage, is the mother of Lou Beale and her siblings. She lives with her and her husband Albert at 45 Albert Square during the Second World War.
  • Richard and Marty, played by Otto Jarman and Julian Hill, are two American soldiers that Lou Beale and Ethel Skinner dance and drink with. Lou invites Richard back to her house but then feels guilty for not honoring her husband Albert Beale and asks Richard to leave.
  • Ray and Lil Sewell, played by Robert Putt and Frances Cuka, are the landlord and landlady of The Queen Victoria pub during World War II.
  • William Skinner is played by Ian Brimble. William is the husband of Ethel Skinner. They begin dating during the Second World War and eventually marry. William dies in 1970 but Ethel outlives him by 30 years. They have no children.

    ''[Return of Nick Cotton]''

Eddie Newton

Eddie "the Extinguisher" Newton appears in the episode Return of Nick Cotton, a special spin-off episode dedicated to the character of Nick Cotton. He is the brother of Zoe Newton who was once married to Nick Cotton. Nick tracks him down to North London where Eddie is selling extinguishers. Nick asks him for ex-wife Zoe and son Ashley's whereabouts. Although Eddie is reluctant to tell him about Zoe's whereabouts he eventually reveals where she works when Nick threatens him with one of his extinguishers.

Colin

Colin appears in the episode Return of Nick Cotton, a special spin-off episode dedicated to the character of Nick Cotton. Colin is a fellow inmate of Nick Cotton and become enemies after Nick cheats on a card game. Colin is in prison with his son Col for unknown reasons. On the day of Nick's release, Nick teases Colin for grassing to get his time reduced. Colin swears revenge on Nick and he and Col are released 10 weeks later and track Nick down to a squat in North London. After threatening the people in the squat, they reveal that Nick is going to find his wife Zoe Newton and son Ashley Cotton. They later arrive at Zoe's house where she, Nick and Ashley lock themselves in the bathroom after being threatened with a chainsaw. Zoe phones the police who arrive moments later and arrest Colin and Col.

Other characters

  • Little Col, played by Gerard Bentall is the son of Colin. He and his father try to kill Nick Cotton after he cheated at a card game and told other prisoners that Colin is an informer. Bentall previously played a homeless youth in 1998.
  • Mr Frensham, played by David Semar is the prison officer in HMP Blackmoor, where Nick is carrying out his sentence. When Nick is released Mr Frensham escorts Nick out of prison.
  • Biscuit and Darren, played by Don Gilet and Norman Roberts are two lovers that both squat with Nick Cotton in an abandoned building. They tell Nick that his dream about his late father, Charlie is an omen and that something is going to happen to him. Biscuit was portrayed by Don Gilet who later went on to play another character, Lucas Johnson.

    ''[Ricky & Bianca]''

Cassie

Cassie appears in the two-part episode Ricky & Bianca a special spin-off episode that revolves around the characters Ricky Butcher and Bianca Jackson. She is played by Sally Ann Triplet. Cassie is the girlfriend of Ricky and goes along with him to Manchester where Ricky tries to track down his ex-wife Bianca and his son Liam to discuss Liam's custody. He then gets caught up with Bianca's problems when she steals money from her drug dealing boss. After he gets her out of trouble he has sex with Bianca. He then reveals he doesn't love Cassie and is still in love with Bianca. He ends his relationship with Cassie and just as it looks like Ricky and Bianca could be getting back together, Cassie manipulates Bianca into believing she and Ricky will never be happy together after all they have been through. Bianca then leaves Liam with Ricky and leaves in a taxi alone. Ricky subsequently returns to Walford and Cassie is not seen again.

Vince

Vince appears in the special spin-off episode Ricky & Bianca played by Craig Charles. He is the owner of a nightclub and a drug dealer who employs Bianca Jackson in his club. Bianca is going through financial difficulties and in desperation she steals money from Vince's office which turns out to be drug money. Bianca's ex-husband Ricky Butcher gets caught up in the middle of this when he and Bianca are held hostage by Vince when he discovers Bianca stole the money. Eventually Ricky and Bianca escape from him.

Other characters

  • Gail, played by Nicola Murphy is a neighbour of Bianca, who babysits Liam when Bianca is at work.
  • Gerry, played by Robert Shaw Cameron is Bianca's landlord, who demands she pays her overdue rent to him immediately.
  • Moira, played by Joanne Gerrard is a nursery worker, who tells Bianca that as she has not paid for her son Liam to attend nursery his place has been given to someone else.
  • David, played by Steven Finch is Bianca's college tutor that she has an affair with. He tells her it was not his decision and not understanding him, Bianca later discovers that the college is not allowing her to continue with her art course.
  • Mrs. Burrows, played by Meryl Hampton is another of Bianca Butcher's college tutors. In a meeting she tells Bianca that she will not be allowed to continue with her course.
  • Debbie, played by Lisa Rigby is a receptionist in the college where Bianca is studying her art course.
  • Dean, played by Dean Andrews is the manager in the Viper Bar and is asked by Bianca for an advance in her wages. Dean refuse to give her the money unless she performs a sexual favour for him. Bianca declines telling him she is not that desperate.
  • Sophie, played by Kate Ford is a student studying the art course as Bianca Butcher. She is asked by Bianca to look after Liam Butcher but she tells Bianca she needs to be somewhere.
  • Brian, played by Damian Christian is a camp barman that works in the viper bar. He tells Bianca that he heard that she had carried out sexual favour for Dean.
  • Harry, played by an uncredited actor is one of Vince's henchmen that he tells to get a hammer to break one of Ricky's legs.

    ''[Dot's Story]''

Gwen

Gwen is a fictional character in a special episode of the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Gwenllian Davies in the episode, Dot's Story, but played by Eve Myles in flashbacks within the episode.
Gwen takes care of Dot Cotton during World War II, when Dot is evacuated to the countryside. In the present Dot goes to visit Gwen who is sick and frail. Dot refers to her as Auntie Gwen, in EastEnders episode 5447 Dot tells Sian Davies that she only washes her face with soap and water and that her Auntie Gwen swears that it will keep you looking young.

Will

Will is a fictional character in a special episode of the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Dafydd Emyr in the episode, Dot's Story, but only in flashbacks within the episode.
Will takes care of Dot Cotton when she comes to stay with him and his wife Gwen and he gave her a toy soldier as he thought they would be looking after a boy rather than a girl.