Dr. Harold Legg
Encyclopedia
Doctor Harold Legg is a fictional character
from the British
soap opera
EastEnders
, played by Leonard Fenton
. Dr. Legg was Walford
's original GP. He was widely trusted within the community, and was always on hand to dish out advice. Dr Legg appeared as a regular character between 1985 and 1989, but continued to appear in a recurring role until 1997. He was officially retired in 1999 by executive producer Matthew Robinson, though he has made cameos since this time in 2000, 2004 and 2007.
, where he had lived most of his life, opening his practice there in 1947.
His Jewish family had moved out of the East End when Oswald Mosley
began his fascist marches in the 1930s. They moved to Finchley
in North London
, but young Harold travelled from there daily to his East End grammar school
, to avoid the disruption to his education that a school transfer would have caused. He went to St. Bartholomew's hospital to start his medical training in 1940, treated air raid
casualties, and met and married a non-Jewish nurse, named Judith Martin. They bought a small house in Albert Square
. They lived there happily, but during the war
a German
bomb
exploded near number 5 Albert Square
and killed Harold's bride. He never remarried, despite the hard work of matchmaking aunts, and Dr. Legg since devoted his life to keeping the residents of Albert Square healthy. He later moved to Islington
, living there for several years, but continued to maintain his surgery in Albert Square, renting the premises upstairs to the elderly widow Ethel Skinner
and the barman Lofty Holloway
, although there were an array of other tenants.
As Walford's GP, Harold was forever getting called upon to sort out the troubled residents, even when he was not on duty, including helping Sue Osman
come to terms with the cot death
of her son, and humouring the insufferable hypochondriac Dot Cotton
.
In 1988 Harold's sister, Hester, came to Walford to visit him, and told him that her son, David Samuels, was interested in joining him in England. As David was also a doctor in Israel, Harold thought it was a great idea and in April that year he arrived in Walford and was made a partner in the practice. Harold even moved back to Walford and he and David lived together in the upstairs flats above the surgery. Despite being extremely fond of each other, the new partners argued about almost everything. David wanted to modernise the surgery and bring in computers, but Harold was set in his ways and was opposed to any obvious changes. Harold also disagreed with David's friendship with their secretary, Michelle Fowler
. Particularly when the two got drunk one night at a Christmas party, left together and ended up in the same bed. David awoke the next day not remembering a thing, but was reassured when Michelle informed him that they he had been too drunk to do anything untoward anyway. Harold was not convinced however, and berated David for the degradation he'd brought upon himself and the surgery.
Later David and Harold fell out over Harold's treatment of patients. Harold had discovered that the graphic designer, Colin Russell, was suffering with early symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis
. He decided that telling Colin would be to his detriment, as the worry could bring on another attack prematurely. Dr. Legg knew that Colin may not have another attack for 20 years or so, so he decided to tell Colin that he was just overworked and anemic
. This highly unethical move appalled David when he discovered his uncle's lie, but despite this Harold stuck to his guns and it wasn't until January 1989 when he finally revealed the truth to a stunned Colin. Colin was furious that he had kept this information from him and shunned all his attempts to explain his reasons for doing so. He threatened to report Dr. Legg to the authorities and was mortified at how unethical he had been. Although Dr. Legg was sorry, he stood by his decision to lie, feeling that Colin benefitted from not knowing - when in fact, the opposite was true.
David later became incensed by his uncle's lack of persistence concerning Donna Ludlow
's heroin addiction
, and blamed him for her death later in the year. Things reached a head in May 1989 when Dr. Legg failed to correctly diagnose Vicki Fowler
's meningitis
. This led to Vicki nearly dying, lost him the trust of his practitioners, made him question his own abilities as a doctor and even sent him into early retirement, leaving his practice in the hands of his nephew. However David's contemporary methods proved unpopular with the older residents of Walford, and after much protesting from them he decided to cancel his retirement. David tried to fight his decision, but his visiting girlfriend from Israel made him see how futile the arguing had become. David and Harold managed to sort out their differences before David returned to Israel in September that year.
Dr. Legg's role was largely semi-regular in the latter years of his stint, appearing only when another character needed medical assistance or advice.
He remained Walford's GP for twelve years on-screen. He was eventually written out of the show in February 1997 when the producers decided to introduce a trendier, younger doctor named Fred Fonseca.
He has made several cameo appearances since this time however. He attended the funeral of Ethel Skinner
in September 2000 and that of Mark Fowler
in April 2004. In June 2007, he was seen with Dot Branning
(formerly Cotton) when she had an hour of need. He also (When he cannot make it to them) sends wreaths to his friends funerals including Pauline Fowler
's in 2006 and Frank Butcher
's in 2008
Dr Legg was mentioned on Monday 15 December 2008 when he telephoned Dot with news of Janine Evans
upcoming wedding to a Jewish man.
and Julia Smith
. Dr. Legg was an attempt to represent the successive wave of Jewish
immigrants that had settled in the East End of London
between 1881 and 1914 in order avoid the persecution that they were being subjected to in Europe
. The second generation of East End born Jews (as Dr. Legg was meant to represent) prospered in the area until the 1930s when Oswald Mosley
's British Union of Fascists was formed, and used violence to instil fear in the Jewish population. As the Jewish community grew wealthier, many moved out of the East End to more affluent areas of London, just as the character of Dr. Legg had done on-screen when the show began; living in Islington
, but commuting to his practice in Walford.
Dr. Legg's original character outline as written by Smith and Holland appeared in an abridged form in their book, EastEnders: The Inside Story
.
Holland and Smith had difficulties in casting the role of Dr. Legg, as they had problems finding an actor of the right age, intelligence, and class, who could also play a Jewish professional man. Leonard Fenton was suggested by the writer Bill Lyons and took a great interest in the role. Holland and Smith thought that he would be perfect and he was subsequently cast as Dr. Legg. Fenton has since revealed that the character was based on him. He has commented, "It wasn't easy raising a family on theatre wages, so EastEnders couldn't have come at a better time. It was the first time I had played myself on television. I'm normally a character actor, but Dr Legg was based on me."
Dr. Legg was conveyed as a man that was trusted within the community. A traditional GP with roots in the East End, who had a genuine concern for his loyal patients and the area. The majority of his storylines concerned other characters' problems (where he was seen as the first port of call should anyone need advice or fall ill), or they related to his own professional conduct. His personal life was largely kept hidden from viewers, although he would occasionally reminisce about his and Albert Square
's history, mainly with other characters supposedly born in the area, such as Ethel Skinner
, Lou Beale
and later Benny Bloom. The character was also featured within a series of spin-off EastEnders novels by Hugh Miller, set prior to 1985. Within the novelisation entitled Home Fires Burning
, readers were made privy to the character's history as a trainee doctor during World War II
, and his blossoming relationship with his would be wife, Judith.
The character served as Walford's GP for 14 years. Though a regular character with his own storylines throughout the 1980s, for much of the 1990s he was a recurring character, making increasingly sporadic appearances, and only when other characters needed medical assistance. In 1998, the executive producer of EastEnders, Matthew Robinson, announced that he was officially retiring Dr Legg. The character was one of many axed by the producer, who was dubbed the "axeman" by the British press. Speaking of his decision, Robinson commented "Dr Legg is getting on a bit, so we're retiring him. He'll be going to a nice cottage in the country." His place was filled by a younger alternative medicine fan, Dr Fred Fonseca, played by Jimi Mistry
. Leonard Fenton has since spoken about his frustration that Dr Legg did not get to practice enough, claiming that he "was frustrated for years by Dr Legg's sporadic appearances". In an interview in 2000, Fenton commented "I told them I wasn't happy about going on once every two months. That's why it ended...". Dr. Legg was never given an official exit on-screen, his retirement was mentioned by Dr. Fonseca in January 1999, when the character Ruth Fowler
requested to see him.
Since his retirement, Dr Legg has made several brief cameos in the soap, his returns relating to storylines concerning other longrunning characters. In 2000, executive producer John Yorke brought him back for the death of Ethel Skinner
, in 2004 Louise Berridge
brought him back for the funeral of Mark Fowler
, and most recently he was brought back for one episode in 2007 by Diederick Santer
, to provide counsel for the character Dot Branning
. At the time Santer commented, "Dr Legg was well-loved. I hope to get him back for at least one episode."
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
, played by Leonard Fenton
Leonard Fenton
Leonard Fenton is a British actor, best known for his role as Dr. Harold Legg in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders.-Early life:...
. Dr. Legg was Walford
Walford
Walford is a fictional borough of east London in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. The name Walford is both a street in Dalston where one of the series' creators, Tony Holland, lived and a blend of Walthamstow, where Holland was born, and Stratford. The suffix 'ford' is also found throughout East...
's original GP. He was widely trusted within the community, and was always on hand to dish out advice. Dr Legg appeared as a regular character between 1985 and 1989, but continued to appear in a recurring role until 1997. He was officially retired in 1999 by executive producer Matthew Robinson, though he has made cameos since this time in 2000, 2004 and 2007.
Storylines
Dr. Legg first appeared in EastEnders when it began on 19 February 1985. He was the local doctor for WalfordWalford
Walford is a fictional borough of east London in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. The name Walford is both a street in Dalston where one of the series' creators, Tony Holland, lived and a blend of Walthamstow, where Holland was born, and Stratford. The suffix 'ford' is also found throughout East...
, where he had lived most of his life, opening his practice there in 1947.
His Jewish family had moved out of the East End when Oswald Mosley
Oswald Mosley
Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet, of Ancoats, was an English politician, known principally as the founder of the British Union of Fascists...
began his fascist marches in the 1930s. They moved to Finchley
Finchley
Finchley is a district in Barnet in north London, England. Finchley is on high ground, about north of Charing Cross. It formed an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, becoming a municipal borough in 1933, and has formed part of Greater London since 1965...
in North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
, but young Harold travelled from there daily to his East End grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
, to avoid the disruption to his education that a school transfer would have caused. He went to St. Bartholomew's hospital to start his medical training in 1940, treated air raid
Airstrike
An air strike is an attack on a specific objective by military aircraft during an offensive mission. Air strikes are commonly delivered from aircraft such as fighters, bombers, ground attack aircraft, attack helicopters, and others...
casualties, and met and married a non-Jewish nurse, named Judith Martin. They bought a small house in Albert Square
Albert Square
Albert Square is the fictional location of the BBC soap opera EastEnders. It is ostensibly located in the equally fictional London borough of Walford in London's East End. The square's design was based on the real life Fassett Square in Hackney, and was given the name Albert Square after the real...
. They lived there happily, but during the war
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
bomb
Bomb
A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
exploded near number 5 Albert Square
Albert Square
Albert Square is the fictional location of the BBC soap opera EastEnders. It is ostensibly located in the equally fictional London borough of Walford in London's East End. The square's design was based on the real life Fassett Square in Hackney, and was given the name Albert Square after the real...
and killed Harold's bride. He never remarried, despite the hard work of matchmaking aunts, and Dr. Legg since devoted his life to keeping the residents of Albert Square healthy. He later moved to Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, living there for several years, but continued to maintain his surgery in Albert Square, renting the premises upstairs to the elderly widow Ethel Skinner
Ethel Skinner
Ethel May Skinner is a fictional character from the British soap opera EastEnders, played by the late Gretchen Franklin. Ethel Skinner also features in a 1988 EastEnders special, entitled Civvy Street, set on Albert Square during the Second World War, where the character is played by Alison...
and the barman Lofty Holloway
Lofty Holloway
George "Lofty" Holloway is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Tom Watt. Lofty is one of the serial's original characters, making his first appearance in the third episode, 26 February 1985....
, although there were an array of other tenants.
Sue Osman
Susan "Sue" Osman is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Sandy Ratcliff. She was one of the serial's original characters, appearing in its first episode on 19 February 1985 and departing on-screen in May 1989. Created by Tony Holland and Julia Smith, Sue was...
come to terms with the cot death
Sudden infant death syndrome
Sudden infant death syndrome is marked by the sudden death of an infant that is unexpected by medical history, and remains unexplained after a thorough forensic autopsy and a detailed death scene investigation. An infant is at the highest risk for SIDS during sleep, which is why it is sometimes...
of her son, and humouring the insufferable hypochondriac Dot Cotton
Dot Branning
Dorothy "Dot" Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera, EastEnders, played by June Brown since 1985. In a special episode entitled EastEnders: Dot's Story a young Dot was played by Tallulah Pitt-Brown in flashbacks. Dot first appeared in EastEnders in July 1985 as the mother of...
.
In 1988 Harold's sister, Hester, came to Walford to visit him, and told him that her son, David Samuels, was interested in joining him in England. As David was also a doctor in Israel, Harold thought it was a great idea and in April that year he arrived in Walford and was made a partner in the practice. Harold even moved back to Walford and he and David lived together in the upstairs flats above the surgery. Despite being extremely fond of each other, the new partners argued about almost everything. David wanted to modernise the surgery and bring in computers, but Harold was set in his ways and was opposed to any obvious changes. Harold also disagreed with David's friendship with their secretary, Michelle Fowler
Michelle Fowler
Michelle Fowler is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by actress Susan Tully.Although she was one of the brighter people in Walford, that didn't stop Michelle making some huge mistakes during her time in Albert Square...
. Particularly when the two got drunk one night at a Christmas party, left together and ended up in the same bed. David awoke the next day not remembering a thing, but was reassured when Michelle informed him that they he had been too drunk to do anything untoward anyway. Harold was not convinced however, and berated David for the degradation he'd brought upon himself and the surgery.
Later David and Harold fell out over Harold's treatment of patients. Harold had discovered that the graphic designer, Colin Russell, was suffering with early symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
. He decided that telling Colin would be to his detriment, as the worry could bring on another attack prematurely. Dr. Legg knew that Colin may not have another attack for 20 years or so, so he decided to tell Colin that he was just overworked and anemic
Anemia
Anemia is a decrease in number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. However, it can include decreased oxygen-binding ability of each hemoglobin molecule due to deformity or lack in numerical development as in some other types of hemoglobin...
. This highly unethical move appalled David when he discovered his uncle's lie, but despite this Harold stuck to his guns and it wasn't until January 1989 when he finally revealed the truth to a stunned Colin. Colin was furious that he had kept this information from him and shunned all his attempts to explain his reasons for doing so. He threatened to report Dr. Legg to the authorities and was mortified at how unethical he had been. Although Dr. Legg was sorry, he stood by his decision to lie, feeling that Colin benefitted from not knowing - when in fact, the opposite was true.
David later became incensed by his uncle's lack of persistence concerning Donna Ludlow
Donna Ludlow
Donna Ludlow is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Matilda Ziegler between 1987-1989. Donna was scripted as a troubled individual, desperate for attention, but shunned by almost all who encountered her...
's heroin addiction
Substance dependence
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...
, and blamed him for her death later in the year. Things reached a head in May 1989 when Dr. Legg failed to correctly diagnose Vicki Fowler
Vicki Fowler
Victoria Louise "Vicki" Fowler is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Emma Herry from the character's birth in 1986 to 1988, Samantha Leigh Martin from 1988 to 1995, and Scarlett Johnson from 2003 to 2004. The character was born in the serial, conceived in a...
's meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
. This led to Vicki nearly dying, lost him the trust of his practitioners, made him question his own abilities as a doctor and even sent him into early retirement, leaving his practice in the hands of his nephew. However David's contemporary methods proved unpopular with the older residents of Walford, and after much protesting from them he decided to cancel his retirement. David tried to fight his decision, but his visiting girlfriend from Israel made him see how futile the arguing had become. David and Harold managed to sort out their differences before David returned to Israel in September that year.
Dr. Legg's role was largely semi-regular in the latter years of his stint, appearing only when another character needed medical assistance or advice.
He remained Walford's GP for twelve years on-screen. He was eventually written out of the show in February 1997 when the producers decided to introduce a trendier, younger doctor named Fred Fonseca.
He has made several cameo appearances since this time however. He attended the funeral of Ethel Skinner
Ethel Skinner
Ethel May Skinner is a fictional character from the British soap opera EastEnders, played by the late Gretchen Franklin. Ethel Skinner also features in a 1988 EastEnders special, entitled Civvy Street, set on Albert Square during the Second World War, where the character is played by Alison...
in September 2000 and that of Mark Fowler
Mark Fowler
Mark Albert Fowler is a fictional character from the popular British BBC soap opera EastEnders. Mark was an original regular character in the series starting February 1985 but became a semi-regular after his original portrayer David Scarboro was written out of the role in April 1985. Scarboro made...
in April 2004. In June 2007, he was seen with Dot Branning
Dot Branning
Dorothy "Dot" Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera, EastEnders, played by June Brown since 1985. In a special episode entitled EastEnders: Dot's Story a young Dot was played by Tallulah Pitt-Brown in flashbacks. Dot first appeared in EastEnders in July 1985 as the mother of...
(formerly Cotton) when she had an hour of need. He also (When he cannot make it to them) sends wreaths to his friends funerals including Pauline Fowler
Pauline Fowler
Pauline Fowler is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, a long-running serial drama about working class life in the fictional London borough of Walford. She was played by actress Wendy Richard between 1985 and 2006. Pauline was created by scriptwriter Tony Holland and producer...
's in 2006 and Frank Butcher
Frank Butcher
Francis Aloysius "Frank" Butcher is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by the late Mike Reid. Frank made his first appearance on-screen as a guest character in 1987 but, due to a positive viewer reception, he was reintroduced in 1988 as a regular. Reid took a long...
's in 2008
Dr Legg was mentioned on Monday 15 December 2008 when he telephoned Dot with news of Janine Evans
Janine Evans
Janine Butcher is a fictional character from the British soap opera EastEnders, currently portrayed by Charlie Brooks. Rebecca Michael originally portrayed the character from 1989 until 1993, when the role was given to Alexia Demetriou for three years. Brooks took on the role in 1999...
upcoming wedding to a Jewish man.
Character creation and development
Dr. Harold Legg was one of the original twenty-three characters invented by the creators of EastEnders, Tony HollandTony Holland
Anthony John "Tony" Holland was an English television screenwriter best known as a writer and co-creator of the BBC soap opera EastEnders.-Early career:...
and Julia Smith
Julia Smith
Julia Smith was an English television director and producer.- Early career :London-born Smith became involved in television production when she directed the series Suspense in 1962...
. Dr. Legg was an attempt to represent the successive wave of Jewish
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
immigrants that had settled in the East End of London
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
between 1881 and 1914 in order avoid the persecution that they were being subjected to in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The second generation of East End born Jews (as Dr. Legg was meant to represent) prospered in the area until the 1930s when Oswald Mosley
Oswald Mosley
Sir Oswald Ernald Mosley, 6th Baronet, of Ancoats, was an English politician, known principally as the founder of the British Union of Fascists...
's British Union of Fascists was formed, and used violence to instil fear in the Jewish population. As the Jewish community grew wealthier, many moved out of the East End to more affluent areas of London, just as the character of Dr. Legg had done on-screen when the show began; living in Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
, but commuting to his practice in Walford.
Dr. Legg's original character outline as written by Smith and Holland appeared in an abridged form in their book, EastEnders: The Inside Story
EastEnders books
This is a list of books about or relating to the British soap opera EastEnders.-Non-fiction books:* EastEnders: The Inside Story* Public Secrets: EastEnders and its Audience* EastEnders Special...
.
- "His parents took the name Legg from the street they used to live in... the tough time came in the mid-thirties when the extreme right and Mosley on one hand, and the persecution of the Jews in Europe on the other, forced him as a bright teenager to become positively aware of racism, freedom and persecution. He didn't become a communist, he didn't start hating all Germans — but he did stop going to the SynagogueSynagogueA synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
... he decided as he approached seventeen to become a doctor... perhaps he should have been a musician? Like his uncle Leon... He saw the air raid casualties... it reinforced his passion for the underdog... he met and fell in love with a young (non-Jewish) nurse - they were married when he was twenty-one... She was in the garden when a dog-fight took place overhead, and the German pilot dropped his bomb in order to get away. The corner of the Square went — so did she." (page 53)
Dr. Legg was conveyed as a man that was trusted within the community. A traditional GP with roots in the East End, who had a genuine concern for his loyal patients and the area. The majority of his storylines concerned other characters' problems (where he was seen as the first port of call should anyone need advice or fall ill), or they related to his own professional conduct. His personal life was largely kept hidden from viewers, although he would occasionally reminisce about his and Albert Square
Albert Square
Albert Square is the fictional location of the BBC soap opera EastEnders. It is ostensibly located in the equally fictional London borough of Walford in London's East End. The square's design was based on the real life Fassett Square in Hackney, and was given the name Albert Square after the real...
's history, mainly with other characters supposedly born in the area, such as Ethel Skinner
Ethel Skinner
Ethel May Skinner is a fictional character from the British soap opera EastEnders, played by the late Gretchen Franklin. Ethel Skinner also features in a 1988 EastEnders special, entitled Civvy Street, set on Albert Square during the Second World War, where the character is played by Alison...
, Lou Beale
Lou Beale
Louise Ada "Lou" Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Anna Wing. The character is played by Karen Meagher in the 1988 EastEnders special, Civvy Street, set during the Second World War....
and later Benny Bloom. The character was also featured within a series of spin-off EastEnders novels by Hugh Miller, set prior to 1985. Within the novelisation entitled Home Fires Burning
EastEnders - Book One: Home Fires Burning
EastEnders – Book One: Home Fires Burning is the first novel in the series of books by Hugh Miller, which tell the background story of many original characters from the BBC soap opera EastEnders....
, readers were made privy to the character's history as a trainee doctor during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and his blossoming relationship with his would be wife, Judith.
The character served as Walford's GP for 14 years. Though a regular character with his own storylines throughout the 1980s, for much of the 1990s he was a recurring character, making increasingly sporadic appearances, and only when other characters needed medical assistance. In 1998, the executive producer of EastEnders, Matthew Robinson, announced that he was officially retiring Dr Legg. The character was one of many axed by the producer, who was dubbed the "axeman" by the British press. Speaking of his decision, Robinson commented "Dr Legg is getting on a bit, so we're retiring him. He'll be going to a nice cottage in the country." His place was filled by a younger alternative medicine fan, Dr Fred Fonseca, played by Jimi Mistry
Jimi Mistry
-Early life:Mistry, was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England to an Indian Hindu father and an Irish Roman Catholic mother. He was brought up a Roman Catholic and attended St. James' Catholic High in Cheadle Hulme before his family moved to Cardiff where he attended Radyr Comprehensive School...
. Leonard Fenton has since spoken about his frustration that Dr Legg did not get to practice enough, claiming that he "was frustrated for years by Dr Legg's sporadic appearances". In an interview in 2000, Fenton commented "I told them I wasn't happy about going on once every two months. That's why it ended...". Dr. Legg was never given an official exit on-screen, his retirement was mentioned by Dr. Fonseca in January 1999, when the character Ruth Fowler
Ruth Fowler
Ruth Fowler is a fictional character from the popular British BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Caroline Paterson from 1994 to 1999. Ruth was Mark Fowler's second wife and she was far more comfortable with his HIV status than many of his other girlfriends. However their marriage eventually...
requested to see him.
Since his retirement, Dr Legg has made several brief cameos in the soap, his returns relating to storylines concerning other longrunning characters. In 2000, executive producer John Yorke brought him back for the death of Ethel Skinner
Ethel Skinner
Ethel May Skinner is a fictional character from the British soap opera EastEnders, played by the late Gretchen Franklin. Ethel Skinner also features in a 1988 EastEnders special, entitled Civvy Street, set on Albert Square during the Second World War, where the character is played by Alison...
, in 2004 Louise Berridge
Louise Berridge
Louise Berridge is a British writer of historical fiction. Before she became a novelist, she was best known as a television producer and script editor. The most famous post being the executive producer of BBC's EastEnders between 2002 and 2004...
brought him back for the funeral of Mark Fowler
Mark Fowler
Mark Albert Fowler is a fictional character from the popular British BBC soap opera EastEnders. Mark was an original regular character in the series starting February 1985 but became a semi-regular after his original portrayer David Scarboro was written out of the role in April 1985. Scarboro made...
, and most recently he was brought back for one episode in 2007 by Diederick Santer
Diederick Santer
Diederick Santer is a British television producer and is best known for his work on the popular BBC television soap opera EastEnders, a post which he assumed on 23 October 2006 and left on 1 March 2010...
, to provide counsel for the character Dot Branning
Dot Branning
Dorothy "Dot" Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera, EastEnders, played by June Brown since 1985. In a special episode entitled EastEnders: Dot's Story a young Dot was played by Tallulah Pitt-Brown in flashbacks. Dot first appeared in EastEnders in July 1985 as the mother of...
. At the time Santer commented, "Dr Legg was well-loved. I hope to get him back for at least one episode."