Little Mo Mitchell

Little Mo Mitchell
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Kacey Ainsworth
Created by	Tony Jordan
Introduced by	John Yorke
Duration	2000–06
First appearance	18 September 2000
Last appearance	26 May 2006
Classification	Former; regular
Spin-off appearances	EastEnders: Slaters In Detention (2003)
Profile
Date of birth	12 December 1977
Occupation	Barmaid
Family Husband Trevor Morgan (1995–2002) Billy Mitchell (2002–06) Father Charlie Slater Mother Viv Slater Sisters Lynne Hobbs Kat Moon Belinda Peacock Sons Freddie Mitchell Grandmothers Mo Harris Uncles Harry Slater Nephews Tommy Moon Nieces Zoe Slater

Maureen "Little Mo" Mitchell (née Slater; previously Morgan) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Kacey Ainsworth.

Storylines

The first love of Little Mo's life was Trevor Morgan (Alex Ferns), but his severe mood swings and physical and emotional violence ruined their marriage; when she would try to leave, he'd turn on the charm to manipulate her into staying. He also isolated her from her family, who despised him. She always forgave him and even agreed to start a family. But when raped her for buying a hat to wear to her sister Lynne Hobbs' (Elaine Lordan) wedding after he'd forbidden her to attend, she realized she couldn't bring a child into that environment and went back on the pill. She finally left Trevor when she discovered he had deleted a message from Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan), who had run away from home. On New Year's Eve 2001, timid 'doormat' Little Mo attacked Trevor, hitting him repeatedly with an iron when he attacked her. She went home thinking he was dead, but when she and her sisters returned to the Fowler home, he was gone. Little Mo was prosecuted and found guilty of attempted murder but was released after Trevor did a deal with the Slaters: he wouldn't give evidence against Mo if Kat didn't press charges for him assaulting her.

After Little Mo moved out and threatened to divorce Trevor, he terrorized her and took her and Sean, the baby son he'd had with Donna Andrews (Paula Jennings), hostage in the Slater home, which caught fire. Fireman Tom Banks (Colm Ó Maonlaí) saved Little Mo and Sean. He went back for Trevor but the fire exploded a can of petrol Trevor had brought into the house. Tom and Trevor died in the explosion.

Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) and Little Mo bonded over their respective pasts. They became friends while Mo was married to Trevor and started dating after she was released from prison. Billy revealed his feelings during Trevor's trial when Mo admitted that part of her reason for staying with Trevor was that he was the only man who ever noticed her that way. Trevor did his best to wreck things but Billy proposed by spelling out 'MARRY ME' in alphabet macaroni and she accepted. After Trevor's demise, the pair married on Christmas Day 2002.

Mo fights back.

Late one night shortly before their first wedding anniversary, Little Mo she was raped by Charlie's darts-playing buddy, Graham Foster (Alex McSweeney), in The Queen Vic. When she told her family, Charlie attacked Graham. As he hadn't taken precautions, Little Mo got tested for STIs after reporting him to the police. All the tests came back negative except one: she was pregnant. The Slaters and Billy were shocked and disgusted when she insisted on keeping the baby, claiming it shouldn't be punished for its father's crimes, and she and Billy separated. She left the Square, returning for Graham's trial. She told Billy she had named her son Frederick William (Freddie for short), wanting to name him after good men. She and Billy reconciled after Graham's conviction, but Billy struggled to bond with Freddie as he couldn't look at him without seeing Graham. The couple divorced amicably and remain good friends.

After the divorce, Little Mo and Freddie moved in with her family. She and Alfie Moon (Shane Richie), her sister Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace)'s estranged husband, became much closer, but they separated when Mo discovered Alfie was dating Kat behind her back. Alfie and Kat reconciled and left the Square. Around February 2006, Little Mo was observed having difficulty with Freddie. She refused to medicate him when he had trouble teething, so she had trouble getting him to sleep. Freddie's head was injured in a fight with Bobby Beale (Kevin Curran) so a health visitor visited the Slaters. Little Mo was extremely hostile, seeing this as a questioning of her parenting ability. She constantly took Freddie to see Dr. Dr. Oliver Cousins (Tom Ellis), who moved her to another GP's patient list because he was interested in her romantically. They started dating in April 2006.

Mo and Billy divorced at the end of April 2006. Two days later, Mo and Oliver planned a night away in Brighton, but after a car crash caused by Deano Wicks (Matt Di Angelo) and Carly Wicks (Kellie Shirley), she got cold feet, telling Oliver that she couldn't leave Freddie. On her return, she found him unconscious. Freddie was rushed to hospital, where doctors found a head injury; Social Services suspected Little Mo. Thinking back, Mo realised Ben Mitchell (Charlie Jones) was responsible. She confronted him and shook him violently when he denied hurting him. The Mitchells warned Mo to stay away from Ben, almost costing her her job at the Vic, but Charlie persuaded Peggy to give Mo another chance. On 8 May 2006, Mo returned but was constantly warned by Phil and Grant. Ben saw her when helping himself to some crisps and ran away so Peggy fired her. She tried convincing people that Ben had caused Freddie's injury but no one believed her, not even her own father. He soon realised his mistake and begged her forgiveness for doubting her. After extensive tests, the doctors discovered Freddie had a low platelet count due to an infection, meaning that any minor injury could have serious complications as his blood didn't clot properly. Mo was cleared by the authorities but local residents thought she was responsible as confirmed by Ian Beale's (Adam Woodyatt) reluctance to let her hold Bobby. Knowing she would always be suspected, she decided to leave. Feeling guilty, Ben Mitchell finally told his dad that he had hit Freddie as Freddie pulled at his hearing aid. Mo wasn't sure what to do but decided not to tell the authorities. Phil threatened Mo but she told him she was quite capable of deciding for herself. Oliver tried convincing her to report Ben but she refused, leading to a nasty scene in the Vic when Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor) called Mo a child beater. Oliver defended Mo and told everyone that Ben had confessed to Phil and Mo but Mo was angry that he hadn't respected her decision.

Oliver got drunk and Dawn Swann (Kara Tointon) had to help him home. Stacey saw this but did not tell Mo. Oliver realised just how much he loved Mo and proposed. Just as it seemed everything would be fine, Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) told Mo that she saw Oliver with Dawn in the Vic on May 26, 2006. Heartbroken, Mo pushed Oliver so hard that he collapsed; shocked, he ended their relationship. She prepared to leave for Barnstaple; at the station, Oliver asked her to move to Leeds with him. Mo declined, saying that all her life she'd done just what she was told, and now she finally wanted to break away from being "Little Mo." She gave him one last kiss and left, saying she'd keep in touch and visit him in leeds. As she left Walford she smiled at Freddie and said, "It's just you and me now."

Creation and development

Casting

In 2004 Ainsworth took extended leave from the serial.^[1] In 2006 Ainsworth announced her decision to leave the serial after six years in order to pursue other projects, she spoke about how much she loved playing Mo, but knew there was life outside of the serial.^[2] In 2010 Ainsworth revealed she would return to EastEnders if asked.^[3]

Characterisation

BBC publicity describe Little Mo as being "timid" and the complete opposite of the loud wheeler-dealer grandmother for whom she was named. They also state: "With a big heart, she was also one of Walford's most legendary victims."^[4] Virgin Media describe her as a "shy and retiring" type.^[5]

Ainsworth later stated she was grateful for the support the character had received. She revealed that people still associate her with the character, adding that she was not embarrassed; it meant that she had made Little Mo memorable. She branded Little Mo "a lovely character" who was "a labour of love created over a long period of time.".^[6]

Reception

Ainsworth was nominated in the "Best Actress" category at the 2002 British Soap Awards.^[7] She was nominated again in 2005.^[8] Further, Little Mo is featured on Virgin Media's compilation of the all-time 'catfights' and praised for daring to take on her volatile sister Kat.^[5]When the website compiled a list of the best-ever EastEnders moments, they chose Little Mo attacking Trevor with the iron, stating: "After years of abuse from her evil husband, viewers cheered when Little Mo finally put an end to their marriage."^[9] Entertainment website Digital Spy also chose the moment Mo hit Trevor with the iron as one of their best ever Eastenders moments.^[10] Little Mo was profiled in Karen Boyle's book "Media and violence: gendering the debates", which discussed her rape ordeal and her abuse by Trevor.^[11]

References

1. ^ Green, Kris (23 May 2004). "Another 'Eastenders' star gets the axe". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a14563/another-eastenders-star-gets-the-axe.html. Retrieved 2010-10-09. 
2. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (15 April 2006). "Ainsworth speaks about leaving 'Enders". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a31643/ainsworth-speaks-about-leaving-enders.html. Retrieved 2010-10-09. 
3. ^ Silverstein, Adam (09 April 2010). "Kacey Ainsworth: 'Little Mo could return'". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a213534/kacey-ainsworth-little-mo-could-return.html. Retrieved 21010-10-09. 
4. ^ "Little Mo Mitchell played by Kacey Ainsworth". bbc.co.uk. (BBC). http://www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders/characters/little-mo-mitchell.shtml. Retrieved 2010-10-09. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Soap's best catfights". Virgin Media. http://www.virginmedia.com/tvradio/soaps/soaptrivia/soaps-best-catfights.php?ssid=10. Retrieved 2010-10-09. 
6. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (18 November 2009). "Ainsworth grateful for Little Mo support". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a187515/ainsworth-grateful-for-little-mo-support.html. Retrieved 2010-10-09. 
7. ^ Welsh, James (16 May 2002). "British Soap Awards 2002: Nominations". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/feature/a7412/british-soap-awards-2002-nominations.html. Retrieved 2010-10-09. 
8. ^ Berrett, Caroline (8 May 2005). "Soap baubles; Corrie beauty Nikki sparkles in pounds 100k gems". The People. (Trinity Mirror). http://www.thefreelibrary.com/SOAP+BAUBLES%3b+Corrie+beauty+Nikki+sparkles+in+pounds+100k+gems.-a0132213962. Retrieved 18 August 2011. 
9. ^ "Best ever EastEnders moments: the shortlist". Virgin Media. http://www.virginmedia.com/tvradio/soaps/soaptrivia/eastenders-best-ever-moments.php?ssid=19. Retrieved 2010-10-09. 
10. ^ Green, Kris (15 February 2010). "'EastEnders' Moments: Little Mo, Trevor and The Iron". Digital Spy. (Hachette Filipacchi UK). http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a201012/eastenders-moments-little-mo-trevor-and-the-iron.html. Retrieved 2010-10-09. 
11. ^ Boyle, Karen (25 April 2008). Media and violence: gendering the debates. Sage Publications. pp. 167, 168, 169. ISBN 1412903785. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=yA5iAAAAMAAJ&q=little+mo+eastenders&dq=little+mo+eastenders&hl=en&ei=Q_ywTMv7FNmT4gbZuOnzBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAQ. Retrieved 2010-10-10. 

External links

• Little Mo Mitchell at BBC Online