Beale family

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Beale family
Fowlers and Beales Eastenders.jpg
The Beales and the Fowlers in 1985 (top) Michelle, Mark and Ian; (bottom) Arthur, Pauline, Lou, Kathy and Pete
EastEnders family
Created by Tony Holland and Julia Smith
Introduced by Julia Smith
Duration 1985–
First appearance 19 February 1985

The Beales, together with the Fowlers, are a fictional family in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. They were the main family for storylines in early EastEnders and remained as such for many years. Having appeared continuously from episode one, they are the show's longest serving family. In 2007, there were few members of the Beale family left and no Fowlers, so the family were revamped. Peter Beale and Lucy Beale were recast to give them a more mature look, Ian Beale started a relationship with Jane Beale and Steven Beale also returned. By 2010, the number of Beales had fallen again. Lucy was recast and in 2013, Peter and Bobby were recast and Cindy Williams Jnr, the half-sister of Peter and Lucy, was reintroduced. In addition to this at the start of 2014 Rebecca Fowler returned to the serial with her mother Sonia Fowler, with Martin Fowler following 11 months later in December. In 2014 Lucy is found dead, causing her family and friends to struggle to come to terms with her death and the secrets she left behind, putting many people in the frame for her murder. It was revealed on 19 February 2015 that she was killed by her own little brother, Bobby. It was also revealed that Kathy Beale, who was presumed dead in 2006, was alive after having faked her death with her new husband in South Africa. Members of the Beale family currently in EastEnders include Kathy Beale, Ian Beale, Jane Beale, Bobby Beale, Martin Fowler, Sonia Fowler, Rebecca Fowler and Whitney Dean.

Storylines

Beale family in 2010 from left to right: Peter, Bobby, Lucy, Jane, Ian, and Christian

:

For many years 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. Before the show began, Albert had died and Kenny had been banished by Lou to New Zealand for sleeping with Pete's wife, Pat and fathering her son Simon. Albert and Lou also had a daughter named Maggie before marriage and put her up for adoption.

As well as Maggie, Kenny, Pete, and Pauline there were also three other children who are rarely spoken about; 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. It is not known if Harry, Dora, or Ronnie had any children.

When the show first began the family consisted of head of the family Lou Beale and her son Pete and daughter Pauline. They were joined by Pete's wife Kathy and son Ian as well as Pauline's husband Arthur Fowler, and their son Mark and daughter Michelle.

Pauline had a baby boy, Martin, in July 1985. A few months later her 16-year-old daughter Michelle also fell pregnant, but nobody knew who was the father. She arranged to meet the man by the canal, and it turned out to be Den Watts, the father of Michelle's best friend Sharon. Also, Pete's long-lost son Simon Wicks arrived in Walford, followed by his mother Pat Wicks, who revealed that Simon was not Pete's son. Michelle's daughter Vicki was born the following year, and 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.

Kathy Beale was raped by James Wilmott-Brown, and Pete couldn't take it, resulting in the eventual breakdown of their marriage. Also, Kathy's illegitimate daughter Donna Ludlow turned up to find her mother, but 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.

The Fowlers—Pauline, Arthur, Michelle, Mark (recast), and Vicki—at Michelle's graduation in 1994

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.

Cindy and Ian got back together in 1993 and Cindy gave birth to twins. Tragically, Pete Beale was killed along with Rose in an arranged car accident set up by Rose's former husband's family. One of the twins was named Peter after him, and the other was named Lucy. They were born on the same day that their grandfather died.

Mark met Ruth Aitken, a Scottish nanny, and they married. Michelle, pregnant with Grant Mitchell's baby, and Vicki moved to America so Michelle could go to university there. Ian's wife Cindy had another affair, this time with his half-brother David Wicks. Bianca Jackson attempted to seduce David, until he revealed he was her father. Ian had to deal with the news that his mother was having another baby with Phil Mitchell, one of his worst enemies. Local money went missing, and Arthur was soon the prime suspect. Arthur had in fact been framed by his friend Willy Roper, but was sent to prison where he suffered a mental breakdown, which lead to his eventual death. Later that year, Ian was shot whilst walking in the Square. He survived the attack, and discovered that he had been shot by a hitman hired by his wife Cindy.

Martin started hanging around with a gang, who vandalised Walford with their graffiti tags. At age 12 he was caught breaking into Carol Jackson's house and was arrested for stealing computers from a school. Bianca married Ricky Butcher, and Cindy left Walford, with the help of Barry Evans, taking two of her children, Steven and Peter. (She hadn't been able to snatch an ill Lucy from Ian.) Later that year Ian tracked Cindy and the boys down to Italy, where they were living with Cindy's new boyfriend Nick Holland. With the help of Phil (his stepfather) and Grant Mitchell, Ian snatched the boys back, forcing Cindy to return to England and face trial for kidnap. Also, Bianca was forced to have an abortion as the child, Natasha, had spina bifida. Bianca later had a son, Liam, but her marriage to Ricky collapsed after her fling with stepfather Dan Sullivan and she moved to Manchester.

Cindy was jailed for 10 years in 1998 after being found guilty of attempted murder, but she died in childbirth just weeks into her sentence. The child, Cindy Williams, was raised by Cindy's sister.

Following the breakdown of her marriage to Phil, Kathy moved to South Africa in April 1998 for a fresh start with their son Ben. She made a brief return to the square the following year in which she was involved in a dalliance with brother-in-law Grant. Since moving back to South Africa, Kathy married a man named Gavin Sullivan (Paul Nicholas).

During 1999, Lucy became ill and it was feared that she was suffering from cancer. At the same time, Ian was engaged to Melanie Healy and just days before the wedding Ian received a letter from the hospital which confirmed that Lucy did not have cancer. He decided to keep this from Mel, fearing that she would leave him, and they were married on 31 December 1999. But she walked out on him hours later after hearing from Natalie Evans that Lucy had been given the all-clear.

Ian married Laura Dunn in May 2001, but their marriage was on the rocks within months after Ian's fling with 18-year-old prostitute Janine Butcher. It finally collapsed on Christmas Day 2002, when Laura revealed that she was pregnant. Ian said that he could not have been the father, as he had just undergone a vasectomy, and Laura was convinced that Garry Hobbs was the baby's father. Her son Bobby was born in 2003, and after Laura died in a fall down the stairs the following year, Ian found Bobby's birth certificate and discovered that he was the baby's father after all. Since then he has raised Bobby with his two other children. Steven found out that he was not Ian's son in 2002, and went to live with his real father Simon.

News reached Walford in 2006 that Kathy Beale and Gavin were apparently killed in a car accident, prompting Ben to be placed in Ian's care. However, Ian lost custody of Ben to Phil. Pauline married Joe Macer in 2006, but she soon discovered his criminal past with close 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 stepdaughter Whitney Dean. 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 returned to Walford and became a partner in Ian's new restaurant. Lucy Beale also opened her own lettings agency, called LB Lettings, with her best friend Lauren Branning. However, Lucy was having a fling with Lauren's dad, Max Branning. Cindy Williams also had sex with TJ Spraggan, in spite of having a relationship with Ian's great nephew Liam Butcher, and got pregnant by him. Peter began a relationship with Lola Pearce and moved in with her. Lucy called off her relationship with Max Branning and it was revealed that she was using cocaine on a regular basis because of problems with her father. After beginning a relationship with Lee Carter, tensions arose between her and Whitney as she was also interested in Lee. although Whitney and Lee began a relationship, Lucy was murdered and her body moved to Walford Common. Her lifeless body is discovered by a young girl; 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, the Who Killed Lucy Beale? 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.

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 funded him on a bridge prepared to jump. Jane talks Ian down and Kathy emerges from Sharon's car. Ian is hit by a car when he heads to Kathy and is taken to hospital. When Ian wakes up, he tells Jane about thinking he saw his mum and Ian is shocked when he sees her.

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, 2008–11), Beale's Plaice (since 1995, briefly named Peter's Place in 1997) and Beale's Restaurant (2014-present; previously Ian Beale@Le Square, 2013, and Scarlett's, 2013-14). 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.

Year Title Owners
1939– Fruit & Vegetable Stall Albert Beale (1939–1965)
Ronnie Beale (1965–1972)
Pete Beale (1972–93)
Ian Beale (1993, 2007–2013)
David Wicks (1993)
Mark Fowler (1993–2002)
Martin Fowler (2002–2007, 2015–)
Peter Beale (2013−2015)
2005 The Queen Victoria Ian Beale (2005)
1989–2011, 2012− Cindy's Café Ian Beale (1989–1991, 1995–2000, 2004–2011, 2012, 2013–)
Kathy Beale (1989–1995)
Laura Beale (2004)
Jane Beale (2004–2011)
Lucy Beale (2012–2013)
1995–2000, 2002− Beale's Plaice (Fish & Chip Shop) Ian Beale (1995–2000, 2002–2012, 2013–)
Lucy Beale (2012–2013)
2008–2011 Masala Queen (Indian Food Service) Ian Beale (2008–2011)
Jane Beale (2008–2011) (with Masood Ahmed & Zainab Masood)
2013− Beale's (Restaurant) Ian Beale (2013–; with Janine Butcher; 2013–2014)
Jane Beale (2014–)
2014 Deals On Wheels (Car Lot) David Wicks (1993–1996, 2014)
2014 LB Lettings (Flat-lettings Agency) Lucy Beale (with Lauren Branning; 2014)

Family members

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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.[30] 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.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m86d/profiles/lisa-fowler
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m86d/profiles/den-watts
  9. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m86d/profiles/grant-mitchell
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m86d/profiles/sonia-jackson
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m86d/profiles/ricky-butcher
  18. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m86d/profiles/liam-butcher
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m86d/profiles/whitney-dean
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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