Beale family

Creation

The Beale and Fowler family were one of the shows original family. The family was created by Tony Holland, who based the characters on his own family. He was involved in the casting of the family, approaching Wendy Richard to play Pauline Fowler, who thought she would be "too glamorous". Gillian Taylforth originally auditioned for the part of Sue Osman, but was called back for the role of Kathy Beale, however producers didn't think she "looked old enough to have a son of 14. Eventually, they decided that if Pete had been Kathy’s first boyfriend, it could work". Bill Treacher was the first person to be cast in the show as Arthur Fowler and Julia Smith wrote the part of Arthur with Treacher in mind. Peter Dean was originally cast as Den Watts, whilst Leslie Grantham was cast as Pete Beale, but "then the producers switched the roles around because I [Dean] was used to working in the market". Adam Woodyatt auditioned for the role of Ian Beale aged 16 in July 1984, after missing the first audition in May 1984.

In 1993, with EastEnders increasing to 3 shows a week, new characters were introduced. Amongst these was David Wicks, played by Michael French, the eldest son of Pete and Ian's half-brother. Patsy Palmer was cast as Bianca Jackson, who was unknowingly the daughter of David. Lucy and Peter were introduced as the twin children of Ian and Cindy Beale.

In 2008, Palmer reprised the role of Bianca. Shona McGarty was cast as Whitney, Bianca's adopted daughter, who "never engages her brain before speaking". Maisie Smith was cast as Tiffany Dean, Bianca's youngest daughter, who "sees all, hears all, knows all". The role of Liam Butcher, who's "not very academic, but is always willing to try new things" was recast to James Forde whilst the part of "boisterous, adventurous" Morgan Jackson-King, the youngest child, who "gets spoilt the most out of all the kids" went to Devon Higgs.

In 2011, it was announced that Hetti Bywater would be playing the role of Lucy from January 2012. Peter returned in 2013, played by Ben Hardy. Bobby was recast to Rory Stroud and Mimi Keene joined the show as Cindy Beale's youngest daughter, Cindy. Bosses described Cindy as a "magnet for trouble" and "shares many similarities with her late mother" as well as "cheeky and hugely likeable, the mischievous teen has no fears or inhibitions and will shake up life for the Beales and the Square in general". Martin, Sonia and Rebecca returned to the show in 2014. Natalie Cassidy reprised the role of Sonia whilst Martin and Rebecca were recast to James Bye and Jasmine Armfield respectively. Rebecca is described as "a well-behaved teenager, but is also a little fighter. A bright child who is passionate about music" who "wants to do well in life and make her parents proud, but it’s this determination that will be the making or undoing of her".

Ross Kemp returned to EastEnders for a brief stint as Grant Mitchell in 2016. Mark Fowler, the son of Michelle and Grant was introduced, 20 years after his off-screen birth, played by Ned Porteous. Michelle returned to the show in December 2016, with Jenna Russell taking on the role.

Storylines

Before the show began, the Beale family consisted of head of the family Albert, his wife Lou Beale, and their six children, Harry, Ronnie, Dora, Kenny, and twins Pauline and Pete Beale. Before the show began, Albert had died and Kenny had been banished by Lou to New Zealand for having sex with Pete's wife, Pat. Albert and Lou also had a daughter named Maggie before marriage and put her up for adoption. Harry, Dora and Ronnie, who all moved away from Albert Square, lost touch with their mother, and were never again heard of or seen. Harry moved to York where he became a hotel manager, he was an alcoholic who had a strained relationship with his mother which is why they lost touch. Dora married and moved away from Albert Square with her husband, it was on her wedding day that Arthur had proposed to Pauline. Ronnie was married to a woman named Gail and moved away from Albert Square because of a heart condition and later died.

At first, the family consisted of head of the family Lou Beale, Pete and Pauline. Pete and his wife, Kathy, had a teenage son, Ian. Pauline was married to Arthur Fowler and had 2 teenage children, Mark and Michelle. Their youngest son, Martin, was born in July 1985. 16-year-old daughter Michelle also fell pregnant, but nobody knew who was the father and it turned out to be Den Watts, the father of Michelle's best friend Sharon. Simon and his mother Pat Wicks arrived in Walford, who revealed that Simon was not Pete's son. Michelle's daughter Vicki was born the following year.

Michelle jilted her fiancé, Lofty, at the altar. Arthur had dipped into the Christmas club money to pay for the wedding reception and was sent to prison for 28 days, resulting in a mental breakdown, when he spent many days at a time hidden away in his shed at the allotments. Michelle later married Lofty in a quiet register office ceremony. She got pregnant by him but had an abortion and he left her.

Pete and Kathy's marriage broke down following her rape by James Wilmott-Brown. Also, Kathy's illegitimate daughter Donna Ludlow turned up to find her mother, but Kathy rejected her and she later died of a heroin overdose. Lou Beale died of angina in July 1988, and Pete broke down at her funeral. Wilmott-Brown convinced Kathy to drop charges, and Pete drunkenly went after him in a stolen car, only to be stopped by the police. He was convicted of drink-driving and received a driving ban.

Ian bought Sue and Ali Osman's café on Bridge Street and became besotted with new market trader Cindy Williams. They eventually married, Ian thinking that Cindy was carrying his baby, but the baby was actually Simon's. Steven Beale was born on Boxing Day 1989, and Cindy confessed to Ian who, in a drunken frenzy, crashed his van and ended up in hospital, and Cindy and Wicksy ran away with Steven.

Mark revealed that he was HIV positive in 1991, Ian's businesses grew, and Michelle began college and started dating Clyde Tavernier. Clyde was framed by Nick Cotton for the murder of Eddie Royle, and had to go on the run, taking Michelle, Vicki, and his son Kofi with him.

Ian set up a new restaurant, The Meal Machine, with Hattie Tavernier. In June 1992, Mark married Gill Robinson, a day before she died from AIDS-related cancer. Arthur's friendship with his boss, Christine Hewitt, developed into a sexual relationship, and he had an affair. Pete struck up a romance with school friend Rose Chapman, the former wife of gangster Alfie Chapman.

Michelle's close friendship with Rachel Kominski leads to rumours about her sexuality, so Michelle starts a relationship with Clyde Tavernier. Their relationship ends when Clyde catches Michelle in bed with Jack Woodman and he uses various excuses and injures himself to see and gain sympathy from Michelle. Vicki is kidnapped from school, sparking a national police hunt and she is found with a woman, Audrey Whittingham. Cindy and Ian reunite and go on to have twins and Pete dies in a car accident with Rose, set up by Rose's former husband's family.

Kathy starts a relationship with Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), opposed by Pauline until she figured out what sort of person Pete was and realised that Kathy was happy with Phil. Grant obtains a tape of a drunk Michelle and Sharon's recorded conversation about Sharon's affair with Phil, which Grant plays at Kathy and Phil's engagement party (see Sharongate). Kathy and Michelle's relationship becomes strained, but they soon make up. Michelle graduates from University with a B.A. and Kathy secretly marries Phil in early 1995.

Mark meets Ruth Aitken, a Scottish nanny, and they marry. Michelle, pregnant with Grant Mitchell's baby, and Vicki moved to America. Cindy has another affair with Ian's half-brother David Wicks, who is revealed as Bianca Jackson father. Ian is forced to deal with Kathy expecting Phil's baby and she gives birth to Ben Mitchell. Arthur is imprisoned when he is falsely accused of stealing local money and is framed by Willy Roper. He suffers a mental breakdown, which leads to his eventual death. Ian is shot, but survives and is discovered Cindy hired a hitman.

Martin starts hanging around with a gang, who cause trouble and Martin is arrested and placed under the supervision of a social worker. Bianca marries Ricky Butcher, and Cindy leaves Walford, with Barry Evans' help, but is forced to leave Lucy behind. Ian tracks Cindy and the boys down to Italy, with her new boyfriend Nick Holland. Phil and Grant Mitchell help Ian take the kids back and Cindy hss to return to England and face trial for kidnap. Bianca has to abort hers and Ricky's daughter, Natasha, as she had spina bifida. They go on to have Liam and her marriage collapses after her fling with stepfather Dan Sullivan and she moves to Manchester. A pregnant Cindy is jailed for 10 years for attempted murder, but dies in childbirth.. The child, Cindy Williams, is raised by Cindy's sister.

Kathy moves to South Africa following her marriage breakdown, but returns for Ian's wedding to Mel Healy (Tamzin Outhwaite) the following year and had a fling with Grant. Kathy marries Gavin Sullivan (Paul Nicholas). Lucy becomes ill and it's feared she has cancer, but is given the all-clear before Ian and Mel's wedding. Ian keeps it from Mel, thinkig she would leave. Mel leaves Ian hours after marrying after finding out. 15-year-old Sonia gives birth to Chloe Jackson, Martin's daughter, but Sonia didn't know she was pregnant. Sonia struggles to bond with Chloe and decides to put up for adoption, but Pauline and Martin decides to go for custody. Chloe is adopted by Neil and Sue Miller, who change her name to Rebecca after Martin admits to Pauline that he isn't ready to be a father. Sonia kidnaps Rebecca after she is overwhelmed with guilt over giving Rebecca up, but she hands her back after persuasion from Dot. When Neil and Sue die in a car accident, Rebecca's adoptive grandmother, Margaret Wilson, becomes her legal guardian and she later gives custody to Martin and Sonia.

Steven finds out Ian isn't his biological father and goes to live with Simon in New Zealand. Ian's marriage to Laura Dunn (Hannah Waterman almost breaks down following Ian's fling with 18-year-old prostitute Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks). Their marriage ends when Laura reveals she is pregnant and Ian denies being the father of after a vasectomy. Laura is convinced Garry Hobbs (Ricky Grover is the father. Bobby Beale (Kevin Curran) is born and following Laura's death, Ian finds Bobby's birth certificate abd discovers he is Bobby's father. Ian takes Bobby from Garry. Kathy and Gavin are apparently killed in a car accident and Ben is placed in Ian's care, but Phil gains custody.

Paulinee friend and lodger Bert Atkinson. When Joe couldn't decide between his marriage to Pauline and friendship with Bert, she threw him out. Joe responded by hitting Pauline with a frying pan and she subsequently died on Christmas Day 2006, of a brain injury caused by the blow. Joe died soon after in January 2007 but not before confessing to Pauline's murder.

Mark married Lisa Fowler in April 2002, but she left him for Phil Mitchell (the father of her daughter Louise) within months. Soon after, Mark discovered that his HIV medication was no longer working, and he left Walford in February 2003. Fourteen months later Pauline received that news that Mark had died of an AIDS-related illness.

Martin ran over Jamie Mitchell in December 2002. After Jamie died in hospital from his injuries, Martin was sentenced to four months in youth custody. A year later, 19-year-old Martin married Jamie's ex-girlfriend Sonia Jackson.

In February 2007, after Pauline and Joe had died and Martin, Rebecca, and Sonia had left, Ian and his family moved in and kept the house in the family.

In 2007, Steven returned to Walford and proceeded to stalk Ian, pretending to be his deceased first wife, Cindy. Ian was held hostage for several weeks whilst Steven rejoined the family, poisoning Lucy's mind against her father in the process. When Steven's deception was revealed, Ian's wife Jane was accidentally shot and needed an emergency hysterectomy. Whilst Jane was devastated that she was now unable to conceive, Ian eventually forgave Steven, but when Steven helped Lucy run away, Ian banished him for good. In 2010 Ian planned for Jane to adopt Bobby, which would give her full legal rights to him. Meanwhile, in 2008, Bianca returned to Walford with her children Liam, Tiffany, and Morgan, as well as her adoptive daughter Whitney. The children spend a week in care when Bianca assaults a police officer and the family move in with Pat. Bianca's partner was introduced and it was eventually discovered that he had been grooming Whitney. Bianca and Ricky eventually got back together and remarried in February 2010. In 2013, Liam was the target of a gang that terrorised Walford and he eventually left to protect his family, returning once the dust had settled. Bianca also served two separate stints in prison for assault, vowing upon her return to do her best for her family. David also briefly returned in 2012 to visit his dying mother Pat and was reunited with Bianca and Carol. Whitney faced difficulties in 2011 when she became involved with Rob Grayson, a pimp who offered her to other men to pay off his debts. Whitney had felt increasingly alone over the past few months, having ostracised most ofher family and friends. Lauren and Janine Malloy were able to track down a terrified Whitney and she ultimately returned home, to her family's relief.

Ian and Jane's marriage was marred with various affairs on both sides and in May 2011 Jane left Walford to avoid upsetting Bobby with her and Ian's constant fighting. By this time Lucy had already left as Ian could not control her rebellious behaviour and Peter joined her in Devon four months later. Alone with Bobby, Ian became depressed until he was reunited with Mandy Salter. The two began a relationship but a one-night stand with Ricky destroyed his marriage to Bianca as she drove him away from Walford and Ian was left unable to trust her. Despite this, Ian and Mandy decided to get married when she confided in him about her deceased daughter, who was fathered by Ricky in 1994 and she apologised for the betrayal. To impress Mandy, Ian bought the cafe back, once again adding it to his empire. This disgusted Lucy, who had returned to Walford and quickly disliked Mandy. Unfortunately, numerous pressures added strain to the relationship- trust issues, Lucy's interfering, money woes and the revelation that Ian's brother Ben had murdered Heather Trott- and Mandy, seeing that Ian was ready to give up his daughter for her, left him on their wedding day in May 2012.

Upon Mandy's departure, Ian suffered a breakdown and went missing from Albert Square for several weeks, leaving Lucy to look after Bobby and the businesses. Upon his return, Lucy forced her father to sign all of his businesses and the family home to her in case he ever disappeared again. Eventually, Ian did return to his normal state and began a relationship with Denise Fox whilst opening a new restaurant in the process. In 2013, Peter returns to Walford for the restaurant's grand opening. Bobby started a relationship with Tiffany (despite their blood relation), to their parent's displeasure. In August 2013, Cindy Williams arrived in Walford to live with the Beale family, however Peter was not pleased by her presence. It is later revealed that this is because Cindy knew that Peter's friend from Devon had died whilst swimming, and Peter suffered from survivor's guilt as a result. David returned to Walford in September that year, hoping to reunite with Carol despite her relationship with Masood Ahmed. Eventually, the former couple reconciled but Carol ended her relationship with David on their wedding day when she realised that he still had trouble with commitment, with David subsequently moving to Florida.

In 2014, Jane Beale returns to Walford and becomes a partner in Ian's new restaurant. Lucy also opens her own lettings agency, called LB Lettings, with her best friend Lauren Branning. However, Lucy is having a fling with Lauren's father, Max Branning. Cindy Williams also has sex with TJ Spraggan, in spite of having a relationship with Ian's great nephew Liam Butcher, and gets pregnant by him. Peter begins a relationship with Lola Pearce and moves in with her. Lucy calls off her relationship with Max and it is revealed that she is using cocaine on a regular basis because of problems with her father. After beginning a relationship with Lee Carter, tensions arise between her and Whitney as she is also interested in Lee. Although Whitney and Lee begin a relationship, Lucy's dead body is found on Walford Common (see Who Killed Lucy Beale?); when Ian hears the news, he is devastated.

Jane leaves Walford with Bobby to overcome their grief away from Ian. Peter moves back in with Ian when his relationship with Lola hits a rough patch. DC Emma Summerhayes becomes the Beales' family liaison officer following Lucy's death, and, at Lucy's funeral, her relationship with Max is revealed, causing Ian to lash out at him publicly. Denise nearly leaves Ian, but decides to stay and they grow closer. Phil begins to question Ian's alibi when he overhears Cindy questioning Ian as she knows his alibi is fake, and later it is revealed Ian saw prostitute Rainie Cross on the night Lucy died. Rainie begins blackmailing Ian, threatening to reveal his infidelity to Denise in order to fund her drug habit. When Ian stops paying her, she reveals what happened to Patrick Trueman, Denise's father figure. Patrick tries to tell Denise but suffers a stroke before he can.

Various suspects, including Max, Jake Stone, and Billy Mitchell, are questioned by the police, but they are all proved innocent. DI Keeble takes over the case, and encourages a press appeal, at which they ask for a man in a beanie hat to come forward as he was on the bus with Lucy on the night she died. Ian makes an impact statement, but afterwards is interrogated by press as to Lucy's drug habit. Phil realises that Keeble did not stop the interrogation as she knows Ian is hiding something, and Ian confesses the truth about Rainie to Phil. Mick Carter helps Ian through his issues, but sees Ian and Rainie together. While speaking with Rainie, he is arrested for kerb crawling, but Ian convinces him to keep quiet and plead guilty to protect his fake alibi. Rainie tells Denise the truth, and she leaves him, while Cindy returns to Walford and gives birth to a daughter, Beth. Peter proposes to Lauren Branning, who has become his girlfriend after supporting him through his grief for Lucy, after holidaying in New Zealand with Steven, but she rejects him when she discovers he was Lucy's cocaine dealer. Ian disowns Peter but later makes amends with him with the help of Jane, who returns with Bobby.

Martin's wife Sonia, who has been visiting her mother Carol Jackson to help her with her breast cancer, reestablishes herself in Walford and begins running a 'Fat Blasters' club to helping women lose weight. She feels insecure in her marriage and Martin pays little attention to her. She collapses after a dodgy gastric band implant in Bulgaria, and Martin returns to find her being rushed to hospital. Meanwhile, Bianca finally decides to leave Walford for a fresh start in Milton Keynes with Tiffany, Morgan and her boyfriend Terry Spraggan. Since then, Liam has assisted Cindy in raising Beth.

In 2015, Lucy's murder storyline reaches a climax, leaving several characters as potential culprits. During the final scene of the flashback episode which aired on 19 February 2015 to mark EastEnders thirtieth anniversary, it was revealed that Bobby had accidentally killed his sister when he threw her jewellery at her head, upset at the constant rows she caused. Bobby's crime was discovered by Jane who immediately concealed the murder in order to protect her son. Ian discovers the truth on the day of his wedding to Jane; though grief-stricken, he does forgive his wife and son. However, Peter is unable to do so and moves to New Zealand with a pregnant Lauren. Before he leaves, he and Bobby make amends.

Also during the anniversary episode, Kathy Beale made a shock return when she met up with Phil Mitchell, despite the fact that she was believed to have died in 2006. It was shown that Phil had been providing Kathy with money, although he refused to help her any further.

Martin and Sonia's marital turmoil upsets Rebecca and she is unhappy to learn of her mother's lesbian relationship with Tina Carter, especially when Tina unveils details of their sex life in front of her. She briefly goes through a goth phase and insists on being called by her original name of Chloe, in order to help establish her identity. Martin is also unhappy at the news although he and Sonia have a one-night stand in May 2015 to Tina's disgust. This potentially ruins Ian and Jane's attempts to adopt Beth, a move which Cindy only reluctantly allowed. Cindy changes her mind about Ian and Jane adopting Beth and threatens to expose Bobby as their sister's killer if they don't let her give up Beth. Ian and Jane try to persuade Cindy not to, but in the end, they arrange for Beth to live with TJ in Milton Keynes. Ian throws Cindy out and she stays secretly with Liam until Carol finds out. Jane pays Carol to look after Cindy, not wanting to loose another daughter. When Cindy discovers this, she skips attending her school prom and gets into a car with 2 strange men and Liam alerts Ian and Jane. When Cindy is found safe, she initially refuses to live with Ian and Jane, but Liam persuades her and Ian and Cindy make up. Cindy and Liam leave for Germany.

Ian and Bobby leave Walford whilst Max's trial happens. Jane gives Max a false alibi, however Max is found guilty. Max jumps the dock and goes on the run. He visits Jane to know why she lied for him and when Jane helps Max flee England, Max works out that Bobby killed Lucy. When Ian returns with Bobby, Ian can't cope and he writes a suicide note before disappearing. Jane frantically searches for Ian and finds him on a bridge prepared to jump. Jane talks him down and he sees Kathy. Ian realises Kathy is alive and whilst he takes the news well, Ben struggles to accept what Kathy has done. Kathy's husband Gavin Sullivan (Paul Nicholas) is revealed to be Sharon's biological father.

Stacey gives birth to a son, Arthur Fowler, with Martin unaware that Kush Kazemi is the father. Two weeks later, Stacey's cousin Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) discovers and when Stacey goes missing with Arthur shortly after, Martin and Kush grow concerned and try to find her. Martin eventually finds Stacey on the roof of the Queen Victoria. She claims that Arthur is the son of God, and says that God will rescue them from what she thinks are demons. Martin, believing it is a symptom of her unmedicated bipolar, goes along with what she says and convinces her to come home with him. On the day of Charlie's funeral, Stacey is upset that she didn't get to the church so God could give her a message. She doesn't allow Martin near Arthur and smashes glass cups to protect them. When Stacey goes to Kush and Shabnam's for safety, Martin talks to her and persuades her that she is safe with him. He takes her to hospital and after Stacey speaks to a psychologist, Martin learns that there are no mother and baby units and Martin is also told that Stacey will have to be sectioned. Martin breaks the news to Stacey and he is later informed Stacey is suffering from postpartum psychosis. Concerned for Martin, Kathy speaks to Martin, reminiscing about his parents and with her support, Martin visits Stacey.

Bobby is enrolled at private school and Ian and Jane decide to sell Beale's in order to raise the money for his fees. The locals, especially the market traders, protest against Ian selling the restaurant when they realise he is selling to a supermarket chain. Ian later decides not to sell the restaurant and Bobby attacks Jane with his hockey stick when he overhears Jane telling Sharon that they can't afford to send Bobby to private school. Bex and Louise Mitchell both fall for Shakil Kazemi and Bex starts a relationship with Shakil. Martin and Stacey marry and at their reception, Bobby confesses that he attacked Jane and killed Lucy in front of everyone. Bobby is arrested and confesses to the police that he was responsible for killing Lucy. Jane ends her marriage to Ian and Lauren returns from New Zealand with Louie and Steven and Ian learns that Lauren and Steven are together. At Bobby's hearing, he is denied bail and Steven convinces Jane to end with Ian. Jane and Ian reconcile and Ian makes amends with Steven.

Martin struggles to accept Bex dating Shakil. Buster Briggs begins an affair with Kathy and her estranged husband Gavin tricks her into her house, hoping for a reconciliation. Whitney discovers she is pregnant with Lee Carter's (Danny-Boy Hatchard) baby. Mark Fowler, the son of Michelle and Grant arrives in Walford after Phil finds a letter from Michelle to Peggy about Mark and he contacts Mark. Phil denies speaking to Mark after agreeing to drop his paternity, but decides to stay in Walford, developing a crush on Courtney Mitchell (Alice Nokes), unaware they are related. Shakil upsets Bex when he calls her frigid when she isn't ready for sex, but they make up. Whitney miscarries her baby, but still decides to get married and she and Lee get married, with Tiffany and Morgan attending.

The Beale Empire

Since 1939, the Beales own the market stall in Walford. Pauline Fowler runs the launderette from 1965–2006. Local miser Ian Beale, is the owner of Meal Machine before the business dissolves and the Arches garage for a while before Phil Mitchell buys it again. Ian owns several other businesses: the market stall (since 1939), Bridge Street Café ("Kathy's", 1990–2011; "Mandy's", 2012, "Cindy's" 2012–present), Fit For a Queen (part of Masala Queen, 2008–2011), Beale's Plaice (since 1995, briefly named Peter's Place in 1997) and Beale's Restaurant (2014–; previously Ian Beale@Le Square, 2013, and Scarlett's, 2013–2014). In 2012, Ian signs all his businesses and properties, including 45 Albert Square, to his daughter Lucy Beale, who is also a landlord of many flats in George Street. They are eventually returned to Ian.

Ian also owns The Queen Victoria in 2009 as part of a loan contract, which he sells to Archie Mitchell. Chrissie Watts also sells it illegally to him in 2005. As she has forged her husband's signature, it is returned to the Watts. David Wicks, Ian's half-brother, owns the car lot when he lives in Albert Square whilst Lucy Beale co-owns property letting agency LB Lettings alongside her best friend Lauren Branning.

Family members

Before the mention of Harry, Ronnie, Dora and Kenny, there were three other children: Keith, Paul and Norma — who had moved away to Romford and Eastbourne before the series began. As the series progressed Keith, Paul and Norma were apparently forgotten in favour of other children and were not mentioned again. In 2000 an EastEnders book was published entitled EastEnders Who's Who. The book pertained to the existence of Ronnie and yet another child, Maureen, who had both died. Harry and Dora were not mentioned in the book and neither Maureen or Dora have been mentioned or seen on-screen, either in the serial itself or EastEnders: Civvy Street. Albert Beale's aunt Dolly Beale was also mentioned in the EastEnders novels.