List of EastEnders characters introduced in 2004
The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the BBC soap opera EastEnders in 2004, by order of first appearance.
Wilfred Atkins
Wilfred Atkins, played by Dudley Sutton, is Nana Moon's fiancée, whom she meets on the bus travelling to her holiday in Eastbourne. She brings him back to Walford in March 2004 to meet her grandsons Alfie and Spencer. Alfie is cautious of Wilfred at first, thinking he is only interested in Nana's money, but Wilfred tells Alfie that he is rich and has fallen in love with Nana. Alfie's wife Kat later agrees that Wilfred can move into The Queen Victoria pub when he and Nana are married.Alfie is later enraged that Wilfred has not booked a honeymoon, and takes him to the travel agents to book one. Wilfred later admires the war medals of Nana's late husband William Moon, then surprises Nana with the news that he has booked a honeymoon in the West Indies. Alfie welcomes him into the family. On his wedding day, Wilfred gets nervous and tries to run away, only to be caught by Alfie at Walford East station. He confides in Alfie that he is ill, and does not want Nana to become his nurse. Alfie agrees to let Wilfred leave, but when he hugs Wilfred he feels a sharp pain, and opens Wilfred's jacket to reveal William's medals.
Wilfred is exposed as a con artist. Alfie does not want to have to break the news to his grandmother, so he takes Wilfred back to the pub, where he confesses to stealing the medals. Nana reveals that she knew all along and forgives Wilfred, but he flees Walford along with £30,000 that he has conned out of Pat Evans.
Chrissie Watts
Chrissie Watts, played by Tracy-Ann Oberman, first appears in April 2004 as the second wife of the show's "most enduring character", Den Watts, becoming a prominent regular for the next 18 months. In 2005 she is the focus of one of "the programme's biggest and most high-profile narratives" when she kills her husband in a fit of rage during the special 20th anniversary episode. The broadcast, airing on 18 February, was watched by 14.34 million people, with "almost 60% of possible viewers" tuning in to see Chrissie take revenge. The character was credited by former head of BBC Drama Serials, Mal Young, as "anchoring the success of the anniversary storyline", and was described on the news programme BBC Breakfast as the "centrepiece" of the show, with the on-screen drama playing out over the course of the year and culminating in Chrissie's departure in December.Jane Beale
Jane Beale, played by Laurie Brett, makes her first appearance on 22 June 2004 and soon starts a romance with Ian Beale. Jane later strays and has an affair with Grant Mitchell, though her and Ian overcome this and marry in 2007. Soon after, Ian's adopted son Steven Beale returns to Walford and mistakenly shoots Jane in the stomach, leaving her unable to have children. Brett took maternity leave in 2011, and Jane departed on 19 May. Jane returned to screens on 8 November before departing the series on 27 January 2012. The character returned in 2014, before leaving again in 2017. In July 2024, the character returned for a short stint to facilitate for Bobby Beale's exit story.Eddie
Eddie, played by Daren Elliott Holmes, made his first appearance on 5 July 2004 as the right-hand man and personal bodyguard of Andy Hunter, the reigning crime kingpin of Albert Square in Walford - a fictionalized borough in East London. Throughout his duration on the show, Eddie helps Andy expand his criminal empire and gangland reign upon Walford. This involves Andy ordering Eddie to get the upper hand over his rivals, as well as celebrate his wedding to local businesswoman Sam Mitchell - which is nearly ruined after her cousin Billy and ex-boyfriend Minty Peterson try to warn Sam's mother Peggy about Andy's scheme to extract control of the Mitchell family assets. However, they fail and Andy later sends Eddie to warn off Billy and Minty. It is at this point where Eddie has crossed path with Andy's best-friend Dennis Rickman and sworn nemesis Alfie Moon.Towards Christmas 2004, Eddie observes Andy employing Billy's friend Paul Trueman into the business so he could expand his criminal empire on drug dealing. When Eddie approaches the rendezvous point to carry out Andy's preparations, however, Andy deduces that Paul has set them up in a police sting operation - which prompts him to have Eddie leave the area and get rid of all evidence that traces their would-be involvement in the apparent drug operation. Eddie does so and Andy later has Paul killed in retribution, which inevitably sparks a conflict between Paul's adopted father Patrick and Andy himself when Paul's body is recovered the following month.
Soon afterwards, Andy orders Eddie to investigate Alfie's two cousins Jake and Danny upon becoming enemies with them. In doing so, Eddie finds out that Jake and Danny are henchmen working for their mob boss Johnny Allen. He subsequently informs Andy, who thereupon alerts Johnny to the square so he can take care of Jake and Danny. It is then Johnny begins to usurp Andy from his gangland reign, up to the point where Andy rants against Johnny in front of Eddie and their fellow neighbours in The Queen Victoria public house. Andy's outburst towards Sam prompts Johnny and his friend Den Watts, the pub's landlord, to ban Andy from the pub and throw him out along with Eddie. Thereafter Andy tells Eddie that he plans to con Johnny out of his £750,000 in a criminal transaction between them. While Eddie attempts to warn Andy about crossing Johnny with his plan, Andy insists that it is doing ahead regardless. This causes Eddie to observe Andy's go-ahead with his plot by having Danny help out, after Jake was originally authorized to help until Johnny cut him out of getting involved at the last minute.
On the night Andy puts his scheme into motion, Eddie appears to contribute after helping Andy flee Walford with the £750,000. However, as they drive out of the city, Eddie pulls over near a motorway bridge and claims that he needs to go to the toilet. Andy gives him permission to go, but it later turns out Eddie has actually betrayed Andy by alerting Johnny of his plan and location. Off-screen, Eddie witnesses Johnny and Jake arrive at where Andy is to intercept him - with Jake retaking Johnny's £750,000 from Andy whilst Johnny himself orders Andy to take a walk with him on the motorway bridge. This causes Andy to discover Eddie's betrayal too late, and he reluctantly does so. Moments later, with Jake and Eddie watching from their cars, Johnny kills Andy by forcing him off the motorway bridge - which causes Andy to fall to his death. Johnny then returns to his car with Jake and they flee from the scene, though not before Johnny tells Eddie "I don't wanna see you again"; which implies that Johnny has ordered Eddie to leave Walford for good in order to destroy all traces of his involvement to Andy's death. Eddie complies with Johnny's orders regardless, and leaves Walford for good.
The character Eddie makes his final appearance on 18 February 2005, the show's 20th anniversary episode where Andy is ironically killed off towards the broadcast's climax.
Rowan Kennedy
Rowan Kennedy, played by Natasha Williams, is a nurse that appears on a recurring basis over 12 years intermittently. She originally appears on 11 August 2004 when she treats Dot Branning after she is diagnosed with kidney cancer. She next appears four years later on 31 October 2008 when she treats Max Branning after he is run over by a car. She later treats Stacey Slater after a fall, and Max again when he gets his finger stuck in a bowling ball, as well as Stacey Slater after a fall in episodes airing 21–24 July 2009. On 20 December 2010, she treats Ryan Malloy when he is hospitalised after being poisoned by his wife Janine. A month later, on 20 January 2011, she appears when Connor Stanley is in hospital after being assaulted by Bianca Butcher.Kennedy's most recent appearance was on 27 June 2016, when she tends to Amy Mitchell, when her father, Jack Branning suspects she has eaten cocaine. Amy says her pet rabbit had eaten her mother, Roxy Mitchell's "sherbert", and nurse Kennedy asks if she consumed any herself, to which Amy says she hasn't. She then tells Jack that social services will want to speak to them. Williams, who played Kennedy, returned to EastEnders in 2024 as a different character named Dolores, who was seen in flashback scenes as a victim of serial sex-offender Pastor Clayton, whom he raped in 2001.
Sarah Cairns
Sarah Cairns, played by Alison Pargeter, is a barmaid in Angie's Den nightclub. She first appears when Martin Fowler and his friends Mickey Miller, Spencer Moon, Ronny Ferreira and Tariq Larousi all go out for the evening to have a pretend to have a stag party to get free drinks. Meanwhile, a drunk Tariq is seen flirting with a barmaid named Sarah who works at Angie's Den nightclub, Tariq already knows Sarah by her name suggesting that there was a past connection but Sarah appears to be disinterested. Later on, A drunk Martin starts flirting with Sarah, She mentions to Martin that her job agency often send her to work in the Walford area, and always takes cabs there due to safety, implying previous barmaid work in the vicinity. The following morning, Martin wakes up in Sarah's bed. Martin admits to Sarah that he has made a mistake as he is married, and Sarah seems to back off. However, it soon emerges that Sarah is mentally unstable and begins stalking Martin as well as sending him text messages declaring her love for him. Sarah and Martin both meet up at Angie's Den again, where Sarah believes it's fate. She thinks Martin is just like her and can't resist her. Martin explains to Sarah that it's not possible that he could be with her. Sarah asks Martin if he still wants her, but Martin confesses that he loves Sonia. Sarah believes that love is about sharing, but Martin insists he loves Sonia. Sarah questions Martin on why he hasn't told Sonia about her, and Martin lies, saying that he has and Sonia has forgiven him. However, Martin tells Sarah not to see him again.On the day of the wedding of Andy Hunter and Sam Mitchell, Sarah continues sending Martin text messages, saying that she likes his smart suit as a warning that she is in Walford spying on him. As Sarah drives off, Martin runs outside his house, chases after Sarah's car, and throws his mobile phone on the floor, and smashes it up in anger. Martin tries to hide from Sarah in the cafe, but she sees him and enters the cafe, Sarah asks Martin why he hasn't responded to her texts, thinking that he might be in a coma. Martin tells Sarah that his mobile phone is broken. Martin tells Sarah that he was hiding from her to see if she was watching him. Martin confronts Sarah about watching through the window of his house on the day of the wedding and texting him about what he was wearing. Sarah admits to Martin that she was only trying to tease him and apologizes. They mention that they both need to get back to work. Sarah suggests that they hang out after to meet Sonia. Martin explains that Sonia will be busy working. Sarah suggests meeting up the next day, but Martin says Sonia is busy. Sarah then suggests that she and Martin meet up after work, and Martin initially declines. However, Sarah says she'll go straight to his house, which makes Martin agree to meet her at Angie's Den nightclub. Unbeknownst to Martin, Sarah was actually planning a date with Martin at Angie's Den nightclub.
Martin is ready to confront Sarah at Angie's Den nightclub, but he seeks advice from Alfie Moon, who advises him to keep his distance. Martin decides to meet Sarah anyway, feeling trapped. Later at the club, whilst Martin and Sarah are at the club, Sarah and Kareena Ferreira are both seen waving to each other indicating a friendship. Sarah reveals to Martin that her ex-husband Tony cheated on her which lead to them being divorced. Martin explains to Sarah again that his married and that they should not see each other anymore. Sarah manipulates Martin, accusing him of lying about sleeping with her. Martin walks away. Then Sarah follows him outside the club. Martin calls his relationship with Sarah a mistake and asks Sarah to leave him alone. Then Martin walks away, leaving Sarah in tears. She becomes angry. Sarah continues to watch Martin and his wife, Sonia Fowler, in Walford. Whilst Martin and Sonia are out, Sarah spies through the Fowler's window again, Sarah's fixation on Sonia intensifies. She starts to follow Sonia around Walford, even to the salon. After Sonia leaves the salon, Sarah positions herself by the road waiting for Sonia to see. In a desperate act, Sarah deliberately runs out in front of a van hoping Sonia will see. Sonia is a nurse, so she looks after Sarah, and they become friends. Meanwhile, Sarah convinces herself that Martin loves her and that he will leave Sonia to be with her. Martin keeps the truth about Sarah from Sonia, but Sarah tells Martin's family she is dating a "certain" married man.
Martin goes a quiz night event at the Queen Vic, and Sarah goes to the Fowler's house, and spends the evening with Sonia. As they both have a drink together, Sarah finds out from Sonia about her ex-boyfriend Jamie Mitchell, and Sarah also finds out that Martin accidentally killed him two years prior. Later on that evening, Sarah goes to find Martin and tells him that Sonia has told her everything, and Sarah also tells Martin that she understands, it's guilt over killing Jamie. Then Sarah also tells Martin that she can't watch him chuck his life away after Jamie's, tells Martin it's sick, and also tells Martin to think about it. Sarah also tells Martin, not to do this for her but to do it for himself.
In October 2004, Sarah decides to play a treasure hunt on Martin by leaving him unwanted gifts from her. Martin confronts Sarah in the park, where she had planned a surprise picnic. He questions Sarah about the gifts, Sarah explains that she got the idea from a book, and gives Martin an unwanted ring, Sarah suggests that Martin should put the ring in a special box, but Martin rejects the idea, saying that their relationship is not special. They argue, Martin gets angry, then smashes up the picnic. He tells Sarah that it's over and warns her to stay away. Martin walks away. Sarah calls Sonia, then leaves Walford.
A couple of weeks later, Sarah returns to Walford and lies to the Fowlers saying that her flat is flooded. The next day, Martin confesses to Sarah that he can't sleep and begs her to go. Later, Sarah lies to Martin, pretending to apologize, saying she will leave. They both share a final kiss. Sarah pretends to say goodbye, but she never left, and brought the Fowlers some dinner instead. A couple of days later, Martin is under pressure and goes to the police, but they don't take any notice. Later confesses to Martin's mother Pauline Fowler that it is Martin. Martin finds the pressure intolerable and reports Sarah to the police, but they do not believe him. While he is out, Pauline "falls" off a stepladder, and Sarah disappears. Martin tracks her down and threatens her until she confesses that she pushed Pauline. He tells Sarah he will kill her if she shows her face again. Sarah calls the police and Martin spends most of the day at the police station. During this time, Sarah goes to the Fowlers' house to see Sonia. Martin phones Sonia whilst he is still at the police station, but Sarah answers and cuts the phone wire, preventing Martin from talking to Sonia. At home, Sonia asks Sarah who's on the phone. Sarah lies, claiming it's a wrong number. Sarah also lies to Sonia about getting mugged the previous night and falsely claims that they got the culprit who did it. Sonia gets worried when Martin doesn't call, but Sarah lies to Sonia again, saying he is out drinking with his friend Mickey somewhere exciting. They both have tea. Sarah locks the front and back door of the Fowlers' house as part of her plan to hold Sonia hostage.
Sarah reveals to Sonia that she knows about Martin's family history, including his father, Arthur Fowler, going to prison, getting released, then dying after, his brother Mark Fowler having AIDS, and his sister, Michelle Fowler, emigrating. Sarah also brings up the relationship between Martin and Sonia that started after Jamie's death. During the conversion, Sarah reveals to Sonia that she found out from Martin's mother Pauline about Martin's feelings towards his daughter, Bex Fowler, with them both fighting about what was going to happen to her. Later, Sarah manipulates and warns Sonia that her marriage to Martin will end badly, as Sarah warns that the little things will begin to annoy them and they will start to row about pointless things, and their rows will get bigger, as Sarah knows deep down that both Martin and Sonia are really disappointed with each other as a married couple, due to Sarah also knowing deep down that Martin only married Sonia because of his guilt of accidentally killing Sonia's ex-boyfriend Jamie two years prior. Then Sarah warns Sonia that their disappointment will tear them both apart, and Sarah tells Sonia of Martin's deceit. When Martin arrives, he finds that the front and back doors of his house or locked, so Martin kicks the back door down to save Sonia from Sarah. Martin apologises to Sonia and promises it meant nothing and that it will never happen again.
When Sonia forgives him, Sarah refuses to leave the house with a knife in hand, she accuses Martin of just being like the others," implying a repeated sexual harassment and also sexual assault by verious men whilst working as a barmaid, she believes that Martin was different because he was the one who never touched her up, and she felt safe with him, leading her to believe that their relationship is worth fighting for," This profounded her mental instability stemming from past traumatic experiences. Then finally, Sarah admits that Martin fell asleep in her bed, but that they did not have sex. Sarah realises she can never be with Martin so she stabs him in his stomach with a pen knife. During the fight, Sonia picks up a fruit bowl, Sarah falls unconscious, and Jim Branning walks in and finds Sarah unconscious, Sonia tells him to call for an ambulance for Martin. Then Sarah is committed to a mental institution, and both Martin and Sonia start to move on and continue with their marriage, putting this behind them.
Radio Times included Sarah in their feature profiling 'bunny boilers' and of her duration they stated: "If she is not a regular on her way to being written out, she is a guest who appears, causes havoc, and then vanishes again. Sarah was one such, a barmaid in Angie's Den who stalked, harassed and finally stabbed Martin Fowler when he refused to dump Sonia. Last heard of in an institution."