Lauren Branning

Infobox EastEnders character 2


character_name=Lauren Branning
actor_name=Madeline Duggan
years=2006—
creator= Kate Harwood
first=3 July 2006
classification=Present; regular
dob=29 March 1994
status= In a relationship with Peter Beale
occupation=Student
home=5 Albert Square
father= Max Branning
mother= Tanya Branning
sisters= Abi Branning
brothers=Oscar Branning
halfbrothers=Bradley Branning
grandfathers=Jim Branning
grandmothers=Reenie Branning
uncles= Jack Branning
Derek Branning
aunts=Suzy Branning
Carol Jackson
April Branning
Rainie Cross
Debs Cross
cousins=Penny Branning
Bianca Jackson
Robbie Jackson
Sonia Fowler
Billy Jackson
Rebecca
Kevin
1st cousin once=Natasha Butcher
Liam Butcher
Tiffany Dean
Morgan Jackson-King
Rebecca Miller
Gordon Branning

Lauren Branning is a fictional character in the popular BBC soap opera "EastEnders". She is played by Madeline Duggan. She first appeared on the show on 3 July 2006.

Character creation and development

Lauren Branning, played by Madeline Duggan, was introduced in 2006 by executive producer Kate Harwood. She and her immediate family - father Max (Jake Wood), mother Tanya (Jo Joyner) and younger sister Abi (Lorna Fitzgerald) - are an extension of the popular and long-running Jackson/Branning clan, who had appeared in the serial since 1993.

Lauren's primary storylines concerned a school girl romance with Peter Beale (Thomas Law), a friendship with the delinquent Lucy Beale (Melissa Suffield), and being caught in the middle of her warring parents, who separted in the serial in 2007 when Tanya discovered Max was cheating on her with Stacey Branning (Lacey Turner), Lauren's half brother Bradley's wife. In the storyline, Lauren played an intergral part in the discovery of the affair; as a result of a practical joke, Lauren unwittingly recorded Max and Stacey kissing on video camera, and sent the recording to Bradley as a Christmas present in December 2007 as means of revenge on her father. [cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a82113/in-pictures-tanya-slaps-stacey-in-fit-of-rage.html?rss|title=In Pictures: Tanya slaps Stacey in fit of rage(|publisher=Digital Spy|date=2007-12-21|accessdate=2008-09-19] Despite a change of heart, the recording was seen by the entire Branning family on Christmas Day, drawing in 13.9 million viewers, 55.3 per cent of the total audience share. [cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1573673/BBC-wins-Christmas-Day-ratings-battle.html|title=BBC wins Christmas Day ratings battle(|publisher=The Telegraph|date=2007-12-28|accessdate=2008-09-19]

The character will become involved in one of "EastEnders"' most controversial storylines in 2008, when she is "groomed" by a paedophile, Tony King (Chris Coghill). [cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1056737/Scores-complaints-EastEnders-shows-scenes-paedophile-grooming-teenager.html|title=Scores of complaints as EastEnders shows scenes of a paedophile grooming a teenager (|publisher=Daily Mail|author=Paul Revoir|date=2008-09-17|accessdate=2008-09-18] Tony King had been introduced in September 2008 as the love interest of Lauren's relative Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer). However, in a plot twist, it was revealed that Tony was already in a sexual relationship with Bianca's 15 year old step daughter Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty). After losing interest in Whitney, Tony turns his attentions to 14 year old Lauren. An insider said: "He has got away with abusing Whitney for years but it seems one young girl isn't enough." [cite news|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/latest/2008/09/28/eastenders-paedophile-tony-king-is-set-to-strike-again-115875-20758414/|title=EastEnders paedophile Tony King is set to strike again(|publisher=The Mirror|date=2008-09-29|accessdate=2008-09-29] However, the character does not manage to attack Lauren in the soap. [cite news|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?Enders_Tony_sets_sights_on_new_victim?&in_article_id=317408&in_page_id=7&in_a_source=|title=Enders' Tony sets sights on new victim?(|publisher=Metro|date=2008-09-19|accessdate=2008-09-19]

torylines

Lauren is the product of an affair between Max Branning and 18-year-old Tanya Cross. Max left his wife Rachel and young son Bradley to marry Tanya and be a proper father to Lauren.

Lauren moved to Walford with her parents and sister Abi in July 2006 and met her half brother Bradley, whom she hadn't known existed until then. She made friends with Lucy Beale and Jay Brown, getting drunk at Jane Collins' hen party with Lucy, and smoking cigarettes with Jay.

She began dating Peter Beale in November 2007, to Max's annoyance. Her uncle Jack let her and Peter use the VIP room at his club, R&R, but they stole a bottle of champagne and got in trouble for it.

In November 2007, Lauren hid her video camera in her parents' room on the day of Bradley and Stacey Slater's wedding, catching Max and Stacey kissing on film. When she discovered this, she burned the footage onto a DVD and planned to give it to Bradley for Christmas. She later had a change of heart and tried to throw the DVD away, but Tanya found it in the bin and put it under the Christmas tree. On Christmas day, the family watched the DVD and Max and Stacey's affair was revealed. In the aftermath of the revelation, Max and Tanya split up and Tanya filed for divorce.

Lauren grew been jealous of Peter performing love scenes with Whitney Dean for a school play in September 2008. She went to talk to Whitney about the situation, but instead met Whitney's stepfather Tony King, a paedophile who was having a secret love affair with 15 year old Whitney. Tony was instantly attracted to Lauren.

To straighten things out with Peter, him and Lauren both planned to go on a school trip to France together, however Tanya first said yes, then said no; as she was planning to run-away with her children and Jack Branning. Lauren got annoyed, when Peter bought her a top, she replied with "Im sure it would look better on Whitney" after that she turned to Tony, who had just broke Whitney's heart. He recently started grooming her.

She has now separated from Peter Beale after max ordered peter to dump her. However the pair will get back together in late November when Peter confesses that Max was behind their break up.

References

External links

*EEcharlink|lauren_b