List of EastEnders characters introduced in 1998
The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the BBC soap opera EastEnders in 1998, by order of first appearance.
Lola Christie
Lola Christie is played by Diane Parish. Lola was introduced as a love interest for Mick McFarlane. Parish notably returned to EastEnders in 2006 playing a different character, Denise Fox.Lola Christie auditions as a singer for Mick's band. Mick is impressed with her singing talents and offers her the job. Mick is attracted to Lola, they start dating, but she is always rushing off without warning and Mick is surprised to discover that Lola has a secret young son named Carl whose father, Neil, had abandoned Lola when she was 5 months pregnant. Mick proves supportive, but Lola eventually leaves Mick and the band when she gets her own recording contract as a soloist.
Creation
At the time, Lola was the highest profile role for actress Diane Parish. The character was a singer in Mick's jazz band; Parish had worked her way through drama school at RADA by doing session singing at a recording studio, though she had never seriously considered singing as a career. Parish has commented, "The only reason I took on the role of Lola was because her storyline wasn't really to do with her singing, that was just incidental. There was a bit of interest at the time – but I have to confess I didn't exactly have Island Records beating my door down with a contract!". In a televised interview in 2020, Parish described the singing aspect of the role as "excruciating", claiming it made her unsuited to play Lola.Following the end of her initial six-month contract, Parish decided to leave EastEnders. In a 1998 interview she revealed, "I had made a decision that I would stay only six months, whatever happened. But I was tempted to stay longer because it is such a great show and lovely people. Leaving was like ripping away from real friendships – but I'm not in this business to settle down. I get itchy feet and I left to do Picking Up the Pieces which is a real challenge. Being a part of EastEnders is like nothing else, a whole different beast from other shows because practically everyone has watched it at some time and you get to be known wherever you go. I thought that would end when I left, but I still get it even now."
She has since revealed that she found it hard to cope with the fame of being in such a high-profile soap, and in a 2002 interview with the Daily Mirror it was reported that she "hated" her time in the soap so much, that she had no qualms about turning down a long-term contract: "I resented being a 'star' and I resented acting like one. It is cliquey, and once you are in a soap, that is it. The soap just clings on to you. People say: 'Everything you do before a soap and after does not matter.' It is true. EE made me odd. I was bobbing along happily as a jobbing actress, and then EE came along. I found it strange to lose my anonymity. People really believe they own you. They grab you, scream at you. I did not cope well. I became introverted and I stayed in a lot. I felt a bit depressed, too. I felt I had lost something. In the end I just had to get out. I lost the point as to why I was doing the job, and to be perfectly frank it just got messy." However, in the same interview, Parish said she would consider returning to EastEnders if they asked her: "I'd handle things better. I love watching it. Jim Branning is fab." Parish did return to the soap in 2006, but playing a completely different character, Denise Fox. On her decision to return, Parish said, "EastEnders was different back then. There was a spotlight on anyone in it – some actors were akin to pop stars. It's calmer now."
Beppe di Marco
Beppe di Marco, played by Michael Greco, is first seen when local residents George Palmer and Peggy Mitchell attend his father's funeral. He soon moves to Albert Square with the rest of his family. Beppe is his family's pride and joy, so it is a big shock to them when he is fired from the police force for attempting to frame his sworn enemy and Peggy's youngest son Grant Mitchell for GBH on his long-suffering wife Tiffany Raymond. The character Beppe is ta heart-throb and he becomes involved in numerous relationships, which of all ended in disaster.Bruno di Marco
Bruno di Marco, played by Leon Lissek, is the patriarch of the di Marco family. He moves to Albert Square with his family after the death of his son. Bruno's wife, Luisa suffers a stroke shortly before Bruno's birthday in July 1998. She recovers but remains frail and in December Bruno and Luisa decide to take a trip to Italy, before it is too late. When they get there they like it so much that they decided to stay.Gianni di Marco
Gianni di Marco, played by Marc Bannerman, is Beppe di Marco's hotheaded younger brother. He works as a chef in the family restaurant, and later becomes manager of the business. Gianni has relationships with several women in Walford, and backs Beppe in various run-ins with Grant and Phil Mitchell, as the two groups of brothers often have conflicts over several interests.Luisa di Marco
Luisa di Marco, played by Stella Tanner, is married to Bruno. She is often troubled by the antics of her grandchildren, and when she sees her youngest granddaughter [|Nicky] kissing Martin Fowler, the shock is too much and she suffers a stroke. She recovers but remains frail and in December Luisa and Bruno decide to take a trip to Italy before it was too late. When they get there they liked it so much that they decide to stay.Nicky di Marco
Nicoletta "Nicky" di Marco, played by Carly Hillman, arrives in Albert Square as a teenager with her mother Rosa, brothers Beppe and Gianni, and sister Teresa in 1998. Nicky becomes the best friend of Sonia Jackson and briefly dates Jamie Mitchell, Asif Malik and Martin Fowler.In 2000, her mother Rosa arranges for some home maths lessons to help with Nicky's exams. Her tutor is Rod Morris, whom she falls in love with. Nicky makes the first move on her tutor and he initially reciprocates, but then takes things too far and sexually assaults Nicky, who then tells her family what has happened, but doesn't reveal she is partly to blame. This leads to her overprotective brother Gianni attacking Rod. Gianni is charged with assault but the charges are dropped when Nicky admits that she has not told the whole truth. Nicky then admits that she was afraid that her family wouldn't have believed that she had been molested if she had admitted she'd made the first move. When she realises her family have doubts of her innocence, she decides to leave home, and explains that she has received the address for a hostel. However, she returns when the Di Marcos decide to Walford leave for a new life in Leicester in August 2000. The charges against Rod are also dropped.
Rosa di Marco
Rosa di Marco, played by Louise Jameson. She is the mother of Beppe, Gianni, Teresa and Nicky di Marco. After the death of her husband, she moves to Walford along with the rest of her family, and she soon sets up her own restaurant with the help of her old friend, George Palmer. It is later revealed that Rosa and George had a fling many years ago during the time her husband was in prison. This leads George to believe that Rosa's son Gianni could be his son.Teresa di Marco
Teresa di Marco, played by Leila Birch, is Rosa di Marco 's eldest daughter and a wild child, despite the fact she has her overprotective, big brothers Beppe and Gianni looking out for her.She first appears at her father's funeral in January 1998, and had recently failed her A-level exams, making her mother suspicious that she had done this on purpose, so she can stay as a waitress in the family restaurant. However, Teresa has higher aspirations than working in the family business, and so gets her own stall on the market.
Teresa also knows how to find trouble. She is caught with drugs by the police, finds out that her bisexual boyfriend Tony Hills had an affair with his ex-boyfriend Simon Raymond. Teresa also had flings with Lenny Wallace and the married Ricky Butcher. Teresa then runs away with her then boyfriend, Matthew Rose, who is suspected of murdering Saskia Duncan. When they are finally found, Matthew is found guilty and Teresa is crushed. She campaigns to get him freed, and when he is the two are reunited, but his desire for revenge on the real murderer Steve Owen scares her and they break up.
Following her sister Nicky 's accusations of assault, most of the di Marcos decide to leave for Leicester and, after a heart to heart with brother Beppe, makes Teresa realise she needs a new start. She then joins her family and heads out of Walford.
Joe di Marco
Joe di Marco is played by Jake Kyprianou between 1998 and 2002. Joe's most notable storyline is being "the focus of a tug-of-love" between his mother and father. Joe, along with his father Beppe di Marco, was axed by the executive producer of EastEnders, John Yorke.The Italian di Marco family were introduced early in 1998 by executive producer Jane Harris. They were heralded as the "family that would rival the Mitchells"—who are one of the most successful and long-running families to have been featured in EastEnders.
The di Marcos "landed with an almighty thud in January , turning out in force for the funeral of patriarch Giuseppe", Joe's grandfather. The following month, the family moved to the area in which the soap is set, Walford. Joe is featured in various storylines that focus on his relationship with his father, Beppe, and Beppe's struggles as a single parent. "There was a flurry of interest" in 2000, when Joe's estranged mother Sandra was introduced into the serial. She vows to take Beppe to court for custody of Joe, but after a lengthy battle, and a tug-of-love that leads to Joe getting injured, this does not occur. In the storyline, Joe remains with his father after Beppe agrees to give Sandra visitation rights.
The majority of the di Marcos stayed in EastEnders until 2000, when a new executive producer, John Yorke, decided to cull them all, except Joe, Beppe and his estranged wife Sandra. The di Marcos were reportedly "slaughtered because of a shortage of ideas for what to do with them." However, a spokesperson at the time commented: "These changes…are just part of plans to revamp the series and give it a new look." The cuts paved the way for the arrival of the "hugely popular" Slater family. Beppe and Joe remained until 2002, when they were also axed. The characters departed in June, two months earlier than contracted. This was due to Beppe's actor Michael Greco, who requested to be released early from his contract. The boy who played Joe, Jake Kyprianou, reportedly gave up acting after leaving the role. The di Marcos are now deemed as something of a failure for EastEnders.