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Willy (EastEnders)
Encyclopedia
Willy is a fictional
dog
from the BBC
soap opera
EastEnders
. Willy was a Pug
, who appeared in the first episode of the programme and remained in the show until 1992.
's (Gretchen Franklin
) constant companion. She rarely appeared on-screen without him tucked under her arm. He was named after her late husband, William Skinner. A lot of rather puerile humour was derived from Willy's name. Ethel's famous lines being either, "Where's my Willy?" or, in a double entendre
, "Has anyone seen my Willy"
Willy could often be quite mischievous. When Ethel was preparing the food in The Queen Victoria
public house
one day, Willy ate all the expensive steak
for the steak and kidney pie
s when her back was turned. Ethel replaced the meat with a less costly cut and everyone commented that the pies were not up to standard. At Christmas 1990, he sneaked into the Fowlers' and began eating the turkey.
Willy was kidnapped in 1986. He was eventually found by Detective Roy Quick (Douglas Fielding) in a pet shop, but when Quick returned with Ethel, Willy had been sold. They tracked Willy down to his new owner, Mr. Pavasars, who had renamed him Rasputin. Lou Beale
(Anna Wing
) bought him back and returned Willy to his concerned owner. When Ethel fell and broke her hip, Willy went to stay with Dot Cotton (June Brown
), and they found each other a strain. Dot wasn't the only one who wouldn't tolerate Willy. Ernie Mears (Ken Wynne) and Benny Bloom (Arnold Yarrow) wanted to marry Ethel, but only if she got rid of Willy. Ethel couldn't part with her beloved dog so she turned them both down.
When Ethel and her friends went on a holiday to Clacton, Willy had to go too, in a holdall. He was discovered by the owner of the bed and breakfast
, but fortunately for Ethel he was a dog-lover too and allowed Willy to stay.
Willy was a touch sensitive, and when Dr. Harold Legg
(Leonard Fenton
) made several remarks about "dog mess" in the Square, Ethel feared it upset him to the extent that he couldn't perform at all. Luckily, Willy's constipation
was eventually resolved.
Sadly, after succumbing to old-age, Willy fell ill in 1992 and Ethel had to make the heart-breaking decision to put him down
. Ethel was devastated to lose her dog, so the residents of Albert Square all clubbed together to buy her a new dog. However, Ethel wouldn't accept it, saying Willy was irreplaceable.
Two weeks and two days after being written out of EastEnders, the dog who played Willy died.
was to have a Yorkshire Terrier
named Willy (after her dead husband). The company Janimals, who specialized in providing and training animals for television and films, was contacted by EastEnders co-creator/producer Julia Smith
, and informed her that they could provide an experienced Pug for the part (he had previously starred in Swallows and Amazons
). The dog was brought to the studio to meet Gretchen Franklin
, the actress who played Ethel. She took a shine to him straight away and so the pug was cast as Willy. Willy and Roly
the poodle shared a dressing room at Elstree Studios
.
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...
dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
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...
. Willy was a Pug
Pug
The pug is a "toy" breed of dog with a wrinkly, short-muzzled face, and curled tail. The breed has a fine, glossy coat that comes in a variety of colors, and a compact square body with well-developed muscle. They have been described as multum in parvo , referring to the pug's personality and...
, who appeared in the first episode of the programme and remained in the show until 1992.
Storylines
Willy was Ethel SkinnerEthel 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...
's (Gretchen Franklin
Gretchen Franklin
Gretchen Franklin was an English actress with a career in showbusiness that spanned over eighty years.She was born in Covent Garden, west London, a cousin of the actor Clive Dunn. She was best known for playing the character of Ethel Skinner in the long running BBC One, soap opera, EastEnders...
) constant companion. She rarely appeared on-screen without him tucked under her arm. He was named after her late husband, William Skinner. A lot of rather puerile humour was derived from Willy's name. Ethel's famous lines being either, "Where's my Willy?" or, in a double entendre
Double entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
, "Has anyone seen my Willy"
Willy could often be quite mischievous. When Ethel was preparing the food in 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
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
one day, Willy ate all the expensive steak
Steak
A steak is a cut of meat . Most are cut perpendicular to the muscle fibers, improving the perceived tenderness of the meat. In North America, steaks are typically served grilled, pan-fried, or broiled. The more tender cuts from the loin and rib are cooked quickly, using dry heat, and served whole...
for the steak and kidney pie
Steak and kidney pie
Steak and kidney pie is a savoury pie that is filled principally with a mixture of diced beef, diced kidney , fried onion, and brown gravy...
s when her back was turned. Ethel replaced the meat with a less costly cut and everyone commented that the pies were not up to standard. At Christmas 1990, he sneaked into the Fowlers' and began eating the turkey.
Willy was kidnapped in 1986. He was eventually found by Detective Roy Quick (Douglas Fielding) in a pet shop, but when Quick returned with Ethel, Willy had been sold. They tracked Willy down to his new owner, Mr. Pavasars, who had renamed him Rasputin. 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....
(Anna Wing
Anna Wing
Anna Eva Lydia Catherine Wing, MBE is an English actress. She has had a long career in television and theatre.-Personal life:...
) bought him back and returned Willy to his concerned owner. When Ethel fell and broke her hip, Willy went to stay with Dot Cotton (June Brown
June Brown
June Muriel Brown, MBE is a British actress, best known for her role as the busy-body, chain-smoking gossip Dot Cotton in the long-running British soap opera EastEnders and for making other high profile television appearances on shows such as Doctor Who, Coronation Street, Minder, The Bill and...
), and they found each other a strain. Dot wasn't the only one who wouldn't tolerate Willy. Ernie Mears (Ken Wynne) and Benny Bloom (Arnold Yarrow) wanted to marry Ethel, but only if she got rid of Willy. Ethel couldn't part with her beloved dog so she turned them both down.
When Ethel and her friends went on a holiday to Clacton, Willy had to go too, in a holdall. He was discovered by the owner of the bed and breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
, but fortunately for Ethel he was a dog-lover too and allowed Willy to stay.
Dr. Harold Legg
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...
(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:...
) made several remarks about "dog mess" in the Square, Ethel feared it upset him to the extent that he couldn't perform at all. Luckily, Willy's constipation
Constipation
Constipation refers to bowel movements that are infrequent or hard to pass. Constipation is a common cause of painful defecation...
was eventually resolved.
Sadly, after succumbing to old-age, Willy fell ill in 1992 and Ethel had to make the heart-breaking decision to put him down
Animal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...
. Ethel was devastated to lose her dog, so the residents of Albert Square all clubbed together to buy her a new dog. However, Ethel wouldn't accept it, saying Willy was irreplaceable.
Two weeks and two days after being written out of EastEnders, the dog who played Willy died.
Casting
Willy was cast less than a week before the filming of EastEnders began. From the beginning it was decided that the pensioner Ethel SkinnerEthel 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...
was to have a Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire Terrier is a small dog breed of terrier type, developed in the 19th century in the county of Yorkshire, England to catch rats in clothing mills. The defining features of the breed are its size, to , and its silky blue and tan coat...
named Willy (after her dead husband). The company Janimals, who specialized in providing and training animals for television and films, was contacted by EastEnders co-creator/producer 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...
, and informed her that they could provide an experienced Pug for the part (he had previously starred in Swallows and Amazons
Swallows and Amazons
Swallows and Amazons is the first book in the Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur Ransome; it was first published in 1930, with the action taking place in the summer of 1929 in the Lake District...
). The dog was brought to the studio to meet Gretchen Franklin
Gretchen Franklin
Gretchen Franklin was an English actress with a career in showbusiness that spanned over eighty years.She was born in Covent Garden, west London, a cousin of the actor Clive Dunn. She was best known for playing the character of Ethel Skinner in the long running BBC One, soap opera, EastEnders...
, the actress who played Ethel. She took a shine to him straight away and so the pug was cast as Willy. Willy and Roly
Roly
Roly is a fictional dog from the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Roly was an apricot coloured Standard Poodle, who appeared in the first episode of the programme and remained in the show until 1993.-Storylines:...
the poodle shared a dressing room at Elstree Studios
Elstree Studios
"Elstree Studios" refers to any of several film studios that were based in the towns of Borehamwood and Elstree in Hertfordshire, England, since film production begun in 1927.-Name:...
.