List of minor EastEnders characters (1997)

The following is a list of minor characters that first appeared in the BBC soap opera "EastEnders" in 1997, by order of first appearance.

Jessie Moore

Infobox EastEnders character 3


character_name=Jessie Moore
actor_name=Chelsey Paden
dob=3 February 1991
years=1997-1998
first=7 October 1997
last=16 March 1998
mother=Nicole Moore|

Jessie Moore had been put into foster care when her drug addict mother was imprisoned on remand for various offences. In October 1997 Jessie was housed with Mark and Ruth Fowler in Walford. Six year old Jessie was a deeply troubled child, who was extremely shy and refused to speak initially. She was also a bedwetter and Mark and Ruth seemed unable to get her to open up to them, but they eventually managed to make progress and they became extremely attached to her.

In 1998, Jessie's mother, Nicole, telephoned the Fowlers and asked Jessie to visit her in prison. Mark refused to allow this, but the social worker assured him that Nicole had completed her de-tox programme and that contact between her and Jessie was particularly important. Jessie visited and became excited to learn that Nicole would soon be released from prison.

Nicole paid Jessie an impromptu visit on the day of her 7th birthday in February 1998. Nicole had found herself a bedsit and wanted to take Jessie back. Mark and Ruth tried to contest Nicole's decision, but they were told that reuniting children with their parents was what fostering was all about.

Nicole spent several weeks visiting Jessie to rebuild their relationship and eventually Ruth and Mark realised how close they were. They retracted their opposition and Nicole was given custody of Jessie in March 1998. Ruth was particularly saddened by Jessie's departure and she bought her a necklace to remind her of the time they had spent together.

Ros Thorne

Infobox EastEnders character


character_name=Ros Thorne
actor_name=Clare Grogan
years=1997-1998
first=3 November 1997
last=10 April 1998
occupation=Private Investigator|

Ros Thorne was a Scottish private detective who Ian Beale hired to trace his two sons, Steven and Peter. Steven and Peter had been taken by their mother, Cindy, following her failed attempt to have Ian killed by a professional hitman in 1996.

Ian and Ros discovered that Cindy was residing in Italy and followed her there in November 1997. While hunting for Cindy, Ian and Ros became attracted to each other. They had a brief sexual encounter, though their relationship never progressed into anything serious as Ian was preoccupied with his children. After days of searching, Ros eventually found Cindy working in an Italian bar and she and Ian concocted a plan to abscond with Ian's children. They lured Cindy into a trap, while Phil and Grant Mitchell kidnapped Steven and Peter and brought them to the airport to reunite with their father. Despite a few hitches, Ian managed to bring the children safely back to Walford, with Cindy in pursuit.

Cindy threatened to take Ian to court for custody of the children. Ian continued to use Ros to investigate Cindy and her new partner, Nick Holland—a rich businessman who was funding the custody case. Ros also began investigating Ian's hitman, John Valecue, who was now being held in prison for an unrelated murder. Valecue was unwilling to admit that Cindy hired him to kill Ian, as his sentence would likely increase if he admitted to his involvement. However, after Annie Palmer threatened him with severe repercussions from her associates within the prison, Valecue eventually confessed. Cindy was arrested and imprisoned, and Ian was given custody of his children. Ros was not seen again following the completion of the case.

Melanie Thomas

Infobox EastEnders character


character_name=Melanie Thomas
actor_name=Ava Healy
years=1997
first=13 November 1997
last=14 November 1997
occupation=Counciller

Melanie Thomas was Ian Beale's opponent in the election for a seat on Walford Council. She won the seat and later annoyed Ian by approving Alex Healy's application for a shelter for homeless people in Bridge Street, called Bridge House, which Ian was strongly opposed to.

Nick Holland

Infobox EastEnders character 3


character_name=Nick Holland
actor_name=Dominic Taylor
years=1997–1998
first=12 November 1997
last=10 April 1998
status= Single
home= Italy
occupation= Businessman
daughters=Cindy Williams|

Nick Holland first appeared in 1997 when Cindy Beale met him in Italy while on the run after escaping from Walford with her children. They became lovers, and Cindy became pregnant with his child.

When Cindy's ex-husband Ian Beale tracked her down and stole the children back from Cindy and returned to Walford, Nick at first tried to help Cindy and came with her back to Walford to get custody of the children. But during the trial Cindy was arrested for attempted murder of Ian and Nick realised what Cindy was really like.

Nick returned to Italy after the trial ended. After Cindy died while giving birth in prison, Nick never came back for his daughter also named Cindy Williams, who was sent to live with her grandparents in Cornwall.

ee also

*EastEnders episodes in Ireland#Characters introduced

References