James Willmott-Brown
Encyclopedia
James Sebastian Willmott-Brown is a fictional character
from the BBC
soap opera
EastEnders
, played by William Boyde
.
in March 1986 as area manager for 'Luxford and Copley', the brewery
that owned The Queen Vic. By December, he had decided to move to the square and bought Debbie Wilkins
's house at 43 Albert Square when she sold it following her fiancé, Andy's, death. He and Debbie later had a fling, but it didn't progress into anything serious. Pat Wicks
took a shine to him and tried seducing him on several occasions, but was rebuffed each time. During the early years, he was friendly with Colin Russell.
was furious about the competition and was even angrier to discover that his wife, Angie
(from whom he had recently separated), was manageress of The Dagmar.
The Dagmar opened for business in June that year and the competition between the two pubs began. They competed for best decorated pub in 'The London In Bloom' competition and in a five-a-side football match and constantly tried poaching each other's staff. However, the following year, the Dagmar began to lose business. The residents of Walford never really took to the upper-class establishment and Willmott-Brown had competition from not just the Vic and Strokes winebar, which was managed by Den after he gave up tenancy of the Vic. It was at this time that Gregory Mantel (a member of the criminal organisation known as The Firm
) came on the scene and tried forcing James to allow his company, 'Walford Investments', to buy into the business. James refused, and as a result, none of his creditors would trade with him. The business severely suffered. His ire with Den escalated when he discovered that he was in league with the Firm, and reported Den to the police for shady dealings at Strokes winebar. However, Simon Wicks
, barman at The Dagmar, overheard the conversation with the police and informed Den. When the residents learnt that James had 'grassed' to the police, no one would enter his bar. His business was now in financial ruin, making James frantic and slightly erratic under the pressure.
. The rift worsened when it became clear that Wilmott-Brown was romantically interested in Kathy. With everyone now ignoring him, Kathy soon became his only friend. He bought her presents and confided in her about the sorry state of his business, the breakup of his own marriage and how it affected his children, Sophie and Luke. Pete was furious about the amount of time Kathy spent with Willmott-Brown, but their constant arguing only drove her away from him.
After Kathy argued with Pete one night, Wilmott-Brown invited her to his place for a glass of wine
after work. When it became clear that he was trying to seduce her, she attempted to leave. However, he wouldn't take no for an answer and the seduction ended in rape
. Den found Kathy an emotional wreck. When he realised what had happened, he called his contacts within the Firm, Joanne Francis
and Brad Williams, and demanded revenge. He watched with glee as a fire-bomb was thrown into the Dagmar and it caught fire. Unfortunately for Den, this act would lead to his imprisonment and attempted murder
, after The Firm expected him to take the rap for the arson
and later decided they wanted him dead.
When Willmott-Brown returned days later, he was mortified to see his business burnt down. He had also received extreme hostility from everyone on the square. Den threatened him, as did Kathy's niece, Michelle
, so he went to his lawyer
s for legal advice.
Upon his arrest, Willmott-Brown countered Kathy's claims by telling the police that Kathy consented and claimed that it was common knowledge that they were having an affair. He suggested Pete was a violent man and Kathy had made the rape up to avoid his wrath. He also claimed that Kathy's bruises were merely a result of their rampant sexual encounter. Willmott-Brown felt he had said enough to fool the police and was stunned when he was charged with rape.
He stood trial in April 1989, but not before attempting to bribe Kathy to drop the charges against him. Kathy allowed him to think that she was ready to take his hush money, only to betray him straight into the hands of D.I Bob Ashley, who was listening next door. Kathy was forced to relive the rape at James's trial and was relieved when he was found guilty and imprisoned for three years. However, Pete and Kathy's marriage couldn't survive the effects of the rape on Kathy and they separated soon after.
and Phil Mitchell
were selling. He planned to move back to Walford and set up another business and sent Kathy a tape asking her to meet him at his hotel in Hampstead
. He promised that if she objected, he would disappear and never return.
His return sent shockwaves around the square and Pete organised a mob to track him down as Kathy planned to meet him. Kathy got there first and after listening to Willmott-Brown's tale of his hard time in prison
and how much he had changed, she asked him to leave the Square for good and never return. Despite his promise, however, he refused to leave Walford. Kathy then left feeling repulsed and cheated, but unknown to her, Pete had also come to enact his revenge. Pete and his mob forced him into their car and drove him to Pete's high-rise flat building, where Pete threatened to push him off unless he signed a paper stating that he would leave Walford and never return. Immediately after, Willmott-Brown phoned his solicitor and took out an injunction
on Pete, but proceeded to move to the Square. He continued sending Kathy tapes, confessing his undying love for her.
Eventually Kathy and Pete confronted James at his house and he and Pete nearly came to blows. An emotional Kathy finally relayed her hurt and anger over the rape and her fury that James had never apologised for the act. James protested that they had something truly special, but after a heated conversation, Kathy made him realise how deluded he was by showing him the destruction he'd caused her and her family. In a bid for attention, James threatened to commit suicide but Kathy stopped him, refusing to allow him off the hook so easily. James finally apologised for raping her and begged for her forgiveness. Kathy was pleased he was sorry, but refused to forgive him, feeling her forgiveness would give him permission to stop being sorry and she told him she was never going to do anything he asked, ever again, not even that. The confrontation and the apology finally gave Kathy the closure she needed. Defeated, James left Walford and has not been seen since.
In 1994, Kathy began having recurring nightmares about Wilmott-Brown so her boyfriend, Phil Mitchell, went in search of him. He tracked down James's wife, and discovered that he was back in prison after raping another woman. Nothing more has been heard about him since.
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 BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
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 William Boyde
William Boyde
William Boyde is a British actor, best known for his work on British television. He has appeared in Just William ; the BBC drama Secret Army ; Bergerac and the detective series Dempsey & Makepeace...
.
Background
Willmott-Brown was an ex-army officer, arriving in Albert SquareAlbert 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...
in March 1986 as area manager for 'Luxford and Copley', the brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
that owned The Queen Vic. By December, he had decided to move to the square and bought Debbie Wilkins
Debbie Wilkins
Deborah "Debbie" Wilkins is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Shirley Cheriton.Debbie was Walford's first upwardly mobile character...
's house at 43 Albert Square when she sold it following her fiancé, Andy's, death. He and Debbie later had a fling, but it didn't progress into anything serious. Pat Wicks
Pat Evans
Patricia Louise "Pat" Evans is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders. She has been played by Pam St. Clement since 12 June 1986, just over a year after the show first aired...
took a shine to him and tried seducing him on several occasions, but was rebuffed each time. During the early years, he was friendly with Colin Russell.
The Dagmar
By February 1987, Willmott-Brown had given up his job as brewery manager and purchased an old disused pub in Turpin Road named The Dagmar, which he refurbished as a new suave wine-bar. Local publican Den WattsDen Watts
Dennis Alan "Den" Watts is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by actor Leslie Grantham. He became well known for his tabloid nickname, "Dirty Den"....
was furious about the competition and was even angrier to discover that his wife, Angie
Angie Watts
Angela "Angie" Watts is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Anita Dobson from the first episode of the show until 1988 when the actress decided to quit and the character was written out....
(from whom he had recently separated), was manageress of The Dagmar.
The Dagmar opened for business in June that year and the competition between the two pubs began. They competed for best decorated pub in 'The London In Bloom' competition and in a five-a-side football match and constantly tried poaching each other's staff. However, the following year, the Dagmar began to lose business. The residents of Walford never really took to the upper-class establishment and Willmott-Brown had competition from not just the Vic and Strokes winebar, which was managed by Den after he gave up tenancy of the Vic. It was at this time that Gregory Mantel (a member of the criminal organisation known as The Firm
The Firm (EastEnders)
The Firm is a fictional gangland organisation in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.-1980s era:The Firm, aka "Walford Investments", was first introduced to the show in 1988, and was represented by the sharp-suited Gregory Mantel , the lackeys Brad Williams and Joanne Francis , and the elusive boss Mr...
) came on the scene and tried forcing James to allow his company, 'Walford Investments', to buy into the business. James refused, and as a result, none of his creditors would trade with him. The business severely suffered. His ire with Den escalated when he discovered that he was in league with the Firm, and reported Den to the police for shady dealings at Strokes winebar. However, Simon Wicks
Simon Wicks
Simon "Wicksy" Wicks is a fictional character from the British BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Nick Berry between 1985 and 1990. Wicksy was introduced to take on some of the more adult storylines that had been scripted for another character, Mark Fowler; Mark's actor David Scarboro had left...
, barman at The Dagmar, overheard the conversation with the police and informed Den. When the residents learnt that James had 'grassed' to the police, no one would enter his bar. His business was now in financial ruin, making James frantic and slightly erratic under the pressure.
Rape
Meanwhile, Willmott-Brown gave Kathy Beale a job as a barmaid, causing friction between her and her husband, PetePete Beale
Peter "Pete" Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Peter Dean. He made his first appearance in the programme's first episode, on 19 February 1985. The character was created by Tony Holland, one of the creators of EasEnders; he was based on a member of...
. The rift worsened when it became clear that Wilmott-Brown was romantically interested in Kathy. With everyone now ignoring him, Kathy soon became his only friend. He bought her presents and confided in her about the sorry state of his business, the breakup of his own marriage and how it affected his children, Sophie and Luke. Pete was furious about the amount of time Kathy spent with Willmott-Brown, but their constant arguing only drove her away from him.
After Kathy argued with Pete one night, Wilmott-Brown invited her to his place for a glass of wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
after work. When it became clear that he was trying to seduce her, she attempted to leave. However, he wouldn't take no for an answer and the seduction ended in rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
. Den found Kathy an emotional wreck. When he realised what had happened, he called his contacts within the Firm, Joanne Francis
Joanne Francis
Joanne Francis is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Pamela Salem. She appeared on screen between 16 June 1988 and 3 January 1989.-Storylines :Joanne was first seen in Albert Square in June 1988...
and Brad Williams, and demanded revenge. He watched with glee as a fire-bomb was thrown into the Dagmar and it caught fire. Unfortunately for Den, this act would lead to his imprisonment and attempted murder
Attempted murder
Attempted murder is a crime in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.-Today:In English criminal law, attempted murder is the crime of more than merely preparing to commit unlawful killing and at the same time having a specific intention to cause the death of human being under the Queen's Peace...
, after The Firm expected him to take the rap for the arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
and later decided they wanted him dead.
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...
, so he went to his lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
s for legal advice.
Upon his arrest, Willmott-Brown countered Kathy's claims by telling the police that Kathy consented and claimed that it was common knowledge that they were having an affair. He suggested Pete was a violent man and Kathy had made the rape up to avoid his wrath. He also claimed that Kathy's bruises were merely a result of their rampant sexual encounter. Willmott-Brown felt he had said enough to fool the police and was stunned when he was charged with rape.
He stood trial in April 1989, but not before attempting to bribe Kathy to drop the charges against him. Kathy allowed him to think that she was ready to take his hush money, only to betray him straight into the hands of D.I Bob Ashley, who was listening next door. Kathy was forced to relive the rape at James's trial and was relieved when he was found guilty and imprisoned for three years. However, Pete and Kathy's marriage couldn't survive the effects of the rape on Kathy and they separated soon after.
Return
When James was released in January 1992, he returned to the square and tried to buy the flats that GrantGrant Mitchell (EastEnders)
Grant Anthony Mitchell is a fictional character from the British soap opera EastEnders, played by Ross Kemp. Grant first appeared in 1990, introduced by producer Michael Ferguson to revamp the show. Kemp remained until 1999 when he opted to leave...
and Phil Mitchell
Phil Mitchell
Philip James "Phil" Mitchell is a long-running fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Steve McFadden.Phil first arrived in Albert Square on 20 February 1990, and was soon joined by his brother, Grant, sister Sam and mother Peggy...
were selling. He planned to move back to Walford and set up another business and sent Kathy a tape asking her to meet him at his hotel in Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
. He promised that if she objected, he would disappear and never return.
His return sent shockwaves around the square and Pete organised a mob to track him down as Kathy planned to meet him. Kathy got there first and after listening to Willmott-Brown's tale of his hard time in prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
and how much he had changed, she asked him to leave the Square for good and never return. Despite his promise, however, he refused to leave Walford. Kathy then left feeling repulsed and cheated, but unknown to her, Pete had also come to enact his revenge. Pete and his mob forced him into their car and drove him to Pete's high-rise flat building, where Pete threatened to push him off unless he signed a paper stating that he would leave Walford and never return. Immediately after, Willmott-Brown phoned his solicitor and took out an injunction
Injunction
An injunction is an equitable remedy in the form of a court order that requires a party to do or refrain from doing certain acts. A party that fails to comply with an injunction faces criminal or civil penalties and may have to pay damages or accept sanctions...
on Pete, but proceeded to move to the Square. He continued sending Kathy tapes, confessing his undying love for her.
In 1994, Kathy began having recurring nightmares about Wilmott-Brown so her boyfriend, Phil Mitchell, went in search of him. He tracked down James's wife, and discovered that he was back in prison after raping another woman. Nothing more has been heard about him since.