Suzy Branning
Encyclopedia
Suzy Branning is a fictional character
from the BBC One
soap opera
EastEnders
, played by Maggie O'Neill
, but was played by Julie Christian-Young for a brief appearance in 1996. O'Neill began filming in May 2008, and she made her first on-screen appearance on 8 July 2008.. She made her last appearance on Boxing Day 2008.
and Reenie Branning, in 1966. She is their fourth child, with April
, Derek
and Carol
being her older siblings. Until brothers Max
and Jack
came along, she was the centre of attention. She is first seen in 1996 for April's wedding to her fiancé Nikos, along with her children, Rebecca and Kevin. Nikos jilts April at the altar, so Carol and her boyfriend Alan Jackson
marry instead. After the wedding, Suzy is not heard of until October 2007, when it is revealed she is unable to attend her nephew Bradley
's wedding to Stacey Slater
. In July 2008, Max receives a series of calls from Suzy, asking for financial help. Max arranges for his friend Phil Mitchell
to take some money to Suzy at her salon, Tantasy. Suzy presumes that Phil has been sent by her ex-partner, and knocks him out by hitting him around the head with a figurine. After some heavies turn up at the salon, Phil takes her to his home, The Queen Victoria
public house, and she thanks him for saving her by sleeping with him.
She later returns to see Phil, during Roxy Mitchell
's wedding reception. Phil is delighted to see her, and they share a kiss. Phil says she can stay the night. Suzy meets Max, asking him if she can stay with him. She buries something in the allotments and the following day, Patrick Trueman
accuses her of stealing the potatoes he was growing. She assures him she did not, despite looking suspicious. She takes the spare room at Dot Branning
's house and looks after Tanya Branning
's salon while she is away. She later asks Phil to dig something up for her, revealed to be a bar of gold. Phil then moves in with Suzy, but his son Ben takes a disliking to her. Phil cheats on Suzy with Shirley Carter, which Suzy discovers. She tells Phil she is pregnant but it is a lie and she plans to con him out of his money to pay her ex-boyfriend Ahmet. Phil proposes to Suzy who accepts. Shirley and her friend Heather Trott discover that Suzy is still buying tampons and realise she is not pregnant. She lies to Phil that he had a miscarriage. When she reveals that she lied to Phil, they break up. However, Archie Mitchell
uses Suzy to plant DNA results in a Christmas cracker, showing that Sean Slater
is not the father of Roxy's baby. Suzy leaves before Sean finds the results. Phil discovers that £10,000 is missing and blames Suzy so he and Shirley go to find her. In the Queen Victoria, Shirley trips Suzy and she is knocked out. Shirley takes the money back and when Suzy comes around, she burns it. Suzy then leaves Walford. She is not heard from until some time later when she sends a postcard from Dubai
, which reads "..Dear Peggy
, tell hubby did not need his dirty dollars after all minted now in Dubai, Suzy X.."
(Debbie Arnold
) in 1996, appearing in two episodes, played by Julie Christian-Young.
In 2008 it was announced that Maggie O'Neil would be playing the part of Suzy in the July of that year. However, she was removed from the show only months into her contract due to reported extensive conflict with co-stars, namely Samantha Janus
who plays Ronnie Mitchell
and Rob Kazinsky who played Sean Slater
. Some of the storylines involving Suzy were subsequently re-written, such as The Secret Mitchell
storyline. In the original scripts, Danielle was run over and killed by Suzy, but in the re-writes, Janine Butcher was driving the car.
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 One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
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 Maggie O'Neill
Maggie O'Neill
-Biography:The youngest of six Catholic brothers and sisters, born to head teacher parents, O'Neill grew up in the Midlands, where she was educated at a convent school, and after being inspired by a sixth-form drama teacher, "fell" into acting....
, but was played by Julie Christian-Young for a brief appearance in 1996. O'Neill began filming in May 2008, and she made her first on-screen appearance on 8 July 2008.. She made her last appearance on Boxing Day 2008.
Storylines
Suzy, who is referred to as Sue in her younger days, was born to JimJim Branning
James Archibald "Jim" Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by John Bardon, first appearing on 29 April 1996 and becoming a regular character in 1999 and has remained in the series right up to 2011....
and Reenie Branning, in 1966. She is their fourth child, with April
April Branning
April Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Debbie Arnold. April is the second eldest child of Jim and Reenie Branning, and sister of Carol Jackson, Derek, Suzy, Max and Jack Branning.- Storylines:...
, Derek
Derek Branning
Derek Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Terence Beesley in 1996 and then Jamie Foreman from 2011 onwards. Derek is the eldest child of Jim and Reenie Branning . He made his first appearance on 29 April 1996 and departed not long after...
and Carol
Carol Jackson
Carol Ann Jackson is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Lindsey Coulson. The character was introduced in 1993 as part of a new problem family. Coulson decided to quit the role in 1997, but she returned temporarily in 1999 as part of a storyline that marked Carol's...
being her older siblings. Until brothers Max
Max Branning
Max Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Jake Wood. He made his first appearance on 27 June 2006.-Backstory:Max is the fifth child and second son of Jim and Reenie Branning...
and Jack
Jack Branning
Jack Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Scott Maslen. He made his first appearance on 29 October 2007. He is the youngest child of Jim and Reenie Branning and the brother of April Branning, Carol Jackson, Derek Branning, Suzy Branning and Max Branning...
came along, she was the centre of attention. She is first seen in 1996 for April's wedding to her fiancé Nikos, along with her children, Rebecca and Kevin. Nikos jilts April at the altar, so Carol and her boyfriend Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson
Alan Eugene Jackson is an American country music singer, known for blending traditional honky tonk and mainstream country sounds and penning many of his own hits. He has recorded 13 studio albums, 3 Greatest Hits albums, 2 Holiday albums, 1 Gospel album and several compilations, all on the Arista...
marry instead. After the wedding, Suzy is not heard of until October 2007, when it is revealed she is unable to attend her nephew Bradley
Bradley Branning
Bradley Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Charlie Clements. He made his first appearance on screen on 24 January 2006 and last appeared on 22 February 2010. Clements has won multiple awards for his portrayal....
's wedding to Stacey Slater
Stacey Slater
Stacey Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Lacey Turner. She made her first appearance on 1 November 2004. The character was introduced as a feisty and troublesome teenager, an extension of the already established Slater clan...
. In July 2008, Max receives a series of calls from Suzy, asking for financial help. Max arranges for his friend 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...
to take some money to Suzy at her salon, Tantasy. Suzy presumes that Phil has been sent by her ex-partner, and knocks him out by hitting him around the head with a figurine. After some heavies turn up at the salon, Phil takes her to his home, The Queen Victoria
The Queen Victoria
The Queen Victoria is a fictional Victorian public house in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders. It has the fictional address of 46 Albert Square, Walford, London E20.-Appearance and development:...
public house, and she thanks him for saving her by sleeping with him.
She later returns to see Phil, during Roxy Mitchell
Roxy Mitchell
Roxanne Lizette "Roxy" Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, portrayed by Rita Simons. Roxy arrived in Walford with her sister Ronnie on 24 July 2007 and decided to move permanently to Walford from Ibiza where they ran a bar together. Roxy is the younger of the two...
's wedding reception. Phil is delighted to see her, and they share a kiss. Phil says she can stay the night. Suzy meets Max, asking him if she can stay with him. She buries something in the allotments and the following day, Patrick Trueman
Patrick Trueman
Patrick Neville Loftus Alfonso Trueman is a fictional character from the popular British BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Rudolph Walker. He made his first appearance on 13 September 2001.-Backstory:...
accuses her of stealing the potatoes he was growing. She assures him she did not, despite looking suspicious. She takes the spare room at 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...
's house and looks after Tanya Branning
Tanya Branning
Tanya Lauren Jessop is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Jo Joyner. She made her first appearance on 27 June 2006. She left the show temporarily on 25 December 2009 for maternity leave and returned for one episode on 23 June 2010. She made her full-time return on...
's salon while she is away. She later asks Phil to dig something up for her, revealed to be a bar of gold. Phil then moves in with Suzy, but his son Ben takes a disliking to her. Phil cheats on Suzy with Shirley Carter, which Suzy discovers. She tells Phil she is pregnant but it is a lie and she plans to con him out of his money to pay her ex-boyfriend Ahmet. Phil proposes to Suzy who accepts. Shirley and her friend Heather Trott discover that Suzy is still buying tampons and realise she is not pregnant. She lies to Phil that he had a miscarriage. When she reveals that she lied to Phil, they break up. However, Archie Mitchell
Archie Mitchell
Archibald Lionel "Archie" Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Larry Lamb.The character of Archie is the father of already established characters Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell , and a member of the Mitchell family, who have appeared in the soap since 1990...
uses Suzy to plant DNA results in a Christmas cracker, showing that Sean Slater
Sean Slater
Sean Slater is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Robert Kazinsky. Sean left the Square temporarily on 27 March 2007, as Kazinsky was suspended from work for two months. He returned on 28 May 2007...
is not the father of Roxy's baby. Suzy leaves before Sean finds the results. Phil discovers that £10,000 is missing and blames Suzy so he and Shirley go to find her. In the Queen Victoria, Shirley trips Suzy and she is knocked out. Shirley takes the money back and when Suzy comes around, she burns it. Suzy then leaves Walford. She is not heard from until some time later when she sends a postcard from Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, which reads "..Dear Peggy
Peggy Mitchell
Margaret Ann "Peggy" Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Peggy was initially played by Jo Warne when she first appeared on 30 April 1991, featuring in the series on a recurring basis over several weeks. Peggy was reintroduced in 1994, recast and was then played by...
, tell hubby did not need his dirty dollars after all minted now in Dubai, Suzy X.."
Character creation
The character, then referred to as Sue, was seen at the wedding of her sister, AprilApril Branning
April Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Debbie Arnold. April is the second eldest child of Jim and Reenie Branning, and sister of Carol Jackson, Derek, Suzy, Max and Jack Branning.- Storylines:...
(Debbie Arnold
Debbie Arnold
Jeanette Debbie Arnold is an English actress and voice artiste. She is best known for her work on British television, although she is also a veteran stage actress. She is one of the top voiceover artistes in England.-Career:Arnold was born into showbusiness...
) in 1996, appearing in two episodes, played by Julie Christian-Young.
In 2008 it was announced that Maggie O'Neil would be playing the part of Suzy in the July of that year. However, she was removed from the show only months into her contract due to reported extensive conflict with co-stars, namely Samantha Janus
Samantha Janus
Samantha Zoe Womack is an English actress, singer and director, both on television and stage. In recent years she has been best known for playing the role of Ronnie Branning in EastEnders, but made her name in the early 1990s as Mandy Wilkins in Game On, and also represented the United Kingdom in...
who plays Ronnie Mitchell
Ronnie Mitchell
Veronica Elizabeth "Ronnie" Branning is a fictional character from the British BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Samantha Womack. Ronnie and her sister Roxy were introduced by executive producer Diederick Santer in July 2007; Ronnie is the "ice" to Roxy's "fire"...
and Rob Kazinsky who played Sean Slater
Sean Slater
Sean Slater is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Robert Kazinsky. Sean left the Square temporarily on 27 March 2007, as Kazinsky was suspended from work for two months. He returned on 28 May 2007...
. Some of the storylines involving Suzy were subsequently re-written, such as The Secret Mitchell
The Secret Mitchell
"The Secret Mitchell" was a storyline of the BBC soap opera EastEnders, involving the characters of Ronnie Mitchell and Danielle Jones , starting in May 2008 and climaxing on 2 April 2009.-Background:...
storyline. In the original scripts, Danielle was run over and killed by Suzy, but in the re-writes, Janine Butcher was driving the car.