List of EastEnders characters introduced in 2006

Dean "Deano" Wicks, played by Matt Di Angelo, arrives in Walford and is taken in by Kevin's in-law Pat Evans (Pam St. Clement) after he lies that his father, Kevin Wicks (Phil Daniels), has died. Deano is soon joined by Kevin and his sister, Carly Wicks (Kellie Shirley). He is also unwittingly reunited with his estranged mother, Shirley Carter (Linda Henry), during a family holiday in Dorset. Deano is imprisoned for framing Sean Slater (Robert Kazinsky) for an assault. He finds prison hard, and when he is released, Deano has changed vastly. ==Bradley Branning==

Bradley Branning, played by Charlie Clements, moves to Walford from Tring to live with his grandfather Jim (John Bardon) and his step-grandmother Dot (June Brown). Later that year, Bradley's father Max (Jake Wood) moves to Albert Square with his family. Bradley befriends Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) upon his arrival, and eventually a romance develops between them. They marry in November 2007, but Bradley discovers on Christmas Day that Stacey has been having an affair with his father. They split and Bradley eventually has a relationship with Syd Chambers (Nina Toussaint-White), though it is Stacey who proves to be Bradley's ultimate love. ==Oliver Cousins==

Oliver Cousins, played by Tom Ellis, is a Walford doctor. He first appears in episode 3092, first broadcast on 30 January 2006. His last appearance is in episode 3159, first broadcast on 26 May 2006. In 2011, Ellis said he would not consider returning to the show. appeared across four months as GP Oliver Cousins. When Oliver first appears, he is knocked over by Dot Branning (June Brown) and is locked out of his house naked. Mo Harris (Laila Morse) picks the lock for him, but as his towel is caught in the door, he then has just his hands to cover himself. Cousins gives Honey Edwards (Emma Barton) advice about her unborn baby, finds Ben Mitchell (Charlie Jones) when he runs away, and talks to Little Mo Mitchell (Kacey Ainsworth) about her baby Freddie (Alex Kilby and Tom Kilby), thinking that she is suffering from stress. He then develops romantic feelings for Little Mo. Oliver goes on a date with Little Mo, where she confides in him that she sometimes struggles with Freddie. He walks her home that night and they share a kiss on the doorstep. Little Mo later confides in Oliver that she has nearly hit Freddie in the past when he has been crying. When Freddie is injured, Oliver tells his colleague, Briony Campbell (Rae Hendrie), what Little Mo has told him. Briony tells Social Services, who suspect Little Mo has caused Freddie's injuries. However, Little Mo suspects 10-year-old Ben has caused them. Little Mo discovers that Oliver has betrayed her and ends their relationship. Oliver is offered a job in Leeds and decides to leave Walford. At the same time, Ben tells Oliver that he has hit Freddie on purpose, confirming Little Mo's suspicion, but Ben's father Phil (Steve McFadden) tells Oliver to keep quiet. Oliver takes Little Mo for dinner and tries to convince her to go to the police and clear her name but she refuses. They go to The Queen Victoria public house together and Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor) calls Little Mo a child beater. Oliver stands up for her and is about to tell everyone the truth about Freddie's injury. Little Mo is angry with Oliver for not respecting her decision and she storms out of the pub. Oliver gets drunk the following day and barmaid Dawn Swann (Kara Tointon) has to help him get into his flat at the end of the night. Little Mo's cousin Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) sees this but doesn't tell her. Oliver finally admits to Little Mo that he loves her and proposes to her on 25 May 2006. Happy with the outcome, the two prepare to leave Walford for Leeds, but Oliver first apologises to Dawn for throwing her out of his flat the day he got drunk. She gives him a friendly kiss but Stacey also sees this and tells Little Mo who then confronts Oliver and pushes him to the ground; in response, he ends their relationship. As Little Mo prepares to leave for Barnstaple, Oliver realises that he still loves her and decides to ask her to go with him to Leeds. He runs to the tube station and tries to convince her to join him. Little Mo chooses not to go with him, and she leaves with Freddie. Oliver leaves Walford for Leeds on the same day. ==Carly Wicks==

Carly Wicks, played by Kellie Shirley, moves to Albert Square with her father Kevin (Phil Daniels) and her brother Deano (Matt Di Angelo) after the breakdown of her marriage to Nico Pappas (Gerard Monaco). She is also unwittingly reunited with her estranged mother, Shirley Carter (Linda Henry), during a family holiday in Dorset. Carly has brief relationships with Martin Fowler (James Alexandrou), Jake Moon (Joel Beckett) and Sean Slater (Robert Kazinsky), despite there being a feud between Sean and Deano. ==Kevin Wicks==

Kevin Wicks, played by Phil Daniels, moves to Albert Square with his children Deano and Carly (Matt Di Angelo and Kellie Shirley). He starts a relationship with Denise Fox (Diane Parish), and the two marry in April 2007, despite Kevin's ex-wife Shirley's (Linda Henry) attempts to stop them. Kevin runs a car lot, but when he agrees to sell "cut-and-shut" stolen cars for Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) the enterprise leads to tragic consequences. ==Bert Atkinson==

Bert Atkinson, played by Dave Hill, makes his first appearance in Albert Square on 24 February 2006. He is last seen leaving Walford on 23 July 2007. Bert is from Slaithwaite in Huddersfield, Yorkshire and is proud Yorkshireman, who frequently mentions his origins. He can often be found boasting around Albert Square about how Southerners do not match up to him and his fellow Northerners. He returned unannounced on 28 August 2017 for two episodes. He is a friend of Joe Macer (Ray Brooks), and comes to Walford to visit him, having heard from Joe's daughter Megan (Niky Wardley) of his marriage to Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard). On the day he arrives, he is mistaken for a tramp by Bradley Branning (Charlie Clements) and interrupts Martin (James Alexandrou) and Sonia Fowler's (Natalie Cassidy) evening by letting himself into their house while Joe and Pauline are on their honeymoon. He flirts with Mo Harris (Laila Morse) and takes her back to Pauline and Joe's house, where the newlyweds walk in on them kissing on the sofa. Mo identifies a tattoo on his upper left arm as one obtained in prison, and realises that Bert knows Joe from prison. When Mo finds Bert in an alley in a tight embrace with Ina, a local market stall holder, she splits up with him and reveals his secret to Dot Branning (June Brown). After Pauline discovers Joe and Dot's betrayal, Bert moves in with Dot, Jim (John Bardon), Sonia and Bradley at No. 25 Albert Square. He later makes up with Mo and their passion starts again. In November 2006, Bert receives a visit from a man telling him that his ex-wife Evie (Marji Campi) wants to see him. She is dying of breast cancer, and tells Bert that she still loves him, even after 38 years of not seeing each other. She also reveals that their daughter, Karen, died of breast cancer in 2004. Bert brings Evie back to Walford to stay with Pat Evans (Pam St Clement) while the rest of her family are away, and Bert moves in with her, breaking up with Mo. Evie dies days after arriving in the Square but she shocks Bert by telling him that he has a grandson called Jay (Jamie Borthwick). At Evie's funeral Bert meets Jay for the first time but does not introduce himself because he is too afraid of what may happen. Bert moves out of Pat's house and in with Patrick (Rudolph Walker) and Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter). On 5 February 2007, Beryl, the carer of Bert's grandson, Jay, brings Jay to live with Bert, saying she cannot look after him any more. Bert tries to teach Jay not to steal, as he steals from Deano Wicks' (Matt Di Angelo) stall and Patrick and Yolande's shop. Pat later persuades Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) to let Bert and Jay live at 15a Turpin Road. He is referred to an eye specialist with a suspected glaucoma after a check up at his optician's. Initially Bert refuses to have anything to do with surgery but after Jay discovers how serious his condition is and threatens to move out, Bert has the surgery and appears to make a full recovery. In July 2007, Jay's father, Jase Dyer (Stephen Lord), appears in Albert Square, looking for his son. After an initially hostile meeting, Bert allows him to meet Jay. The father and son get on together, and Jase moves into the flat. On seeing his grandson is being well looked after, Bert takes his cue to pack his bags and move on from the Square on 23 July 2007. Bert returns to Walford ten years later when Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) tells Jay that Jase is not his biological father. Bert backs up Phil's story but it is later revealed that Max Branning (Jake Wood) blackmailed Phil into lying about Jay's paternity. ==Jack Edwards==

Jack Edwards, played by Nicky Henson, is the father of Honey Mitchell (Emma Barton). The character was to have been played by former musician David Essex, originally for only 3 weeks, but Essex pulled out when the role expanded and he was unable to commit to the increased time. The role was re-cast and Nicky Henson played the part. Jack has a dog called Dalgliesh and a narrowboat called Patonia. He initially shows a strong dislike of his daughter's fiancée, Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick), and poses as a plumber to get to know what Billy is really like. He also has a crush on Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor). Jack leaves Walford to complete a job, but returns in July for Billy and Honey's wedding and continues flirting with Peggy. They get together, but split up when Peggy refuses to accept Jack's newborn granddaughter, Janet, who has Down's syndrome. He reappears again in November when Honey runs away from Billy and Janet. Since his departure, Jack is mentioned in February 2008 when Billy and Honey announce to Peggy that they are going to visit him for a week on his narrowboat with Janet and a newborn baby Will Mitchell. He is then mentioned again in September 2008 by Billy, who tells Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb) that Honey has taken the children and left him, moving in with Jack. In May 2010, Billy is told that Honey and Jack have been involved in a car accident and Jack has died. == Jez Franks ==

Jez Franks, played by Tex Jacks, is a bully in Ben Mitchell's (Charlie Jones) year at Walford Primary School. He is first seen at Ben's tenth birthday party, when he and another boy, Ali, fix a game of pass the parcel, so Jez wins the prize, a camera. He is later seen at the opening of Walford Video, when Ben's father, Phil's (Steve McFadden) lawyer, Stella Crawford (Sophie Thompson) embarrasses Ben by revealing that the shop isn't actually his yet – and Jez teases him. Jez is then seen in March 2007, bullying Ben in the playground at school, threatening to make him deaf in his only hearing ear. This leads Ben to wetting himself, and Stella, Phil's girlfriend, tells Ben to stand up for himself, then watches as Jez and some other boys attacks Ben. Phil later attacks Jez's father, Vince (Jamie Kenna), and tells him to keep Jez away from Ben and the bullying stops. ==Chelsea Fox==

Chelsea Fox, played by Tiana Benjamin, arrives in Walford and is seduced by Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp). She is soon joined by her half-sister Libby (Belinda Owusu) and mother Denise (Diane Parish), who disapproves of her daughter's fling with Grant. Chelsea goes on to have a relationship with Sean Slater (Robert Kazinsky), but he ends it and her shame for being rejected by him leads to Chelsea going to prison. When she is released, Chelsea traces her estranged father, Lucas Johnson (Don Gilet), and goes on to have relationships with Theo Kelly (Rolan Bell) and Ellis Prince (Michael Obiora). ==Denise Fox==

Denise Celeste Fox, played by Diane Parish, moves to Walford with her daughters Chelsea and Libby (Tiana Benjamin and Belinda Owusu). She has a relationship with Kevin Wicks (Phil Daniels), and despite her ex-husband Owen Turner (Lee Ross) and his ex-wife Shirley Carter (Linda Henry) trying to come between them, they marry in April 2007. Kevin dies on New Year's Eve 2007, and after grieving for him Denise reunites with Chelsea's father, Lucas Johnson (Don Gilet). However it eventually emerges that Lucas is unhinged, and after murdering Owen, and keeping Denise prisoner he is put in prison. Soon after Denise is joined by her sister, Kim (Tameka Empson). After a long time being single, Denise begins a relationship with Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt). This is Parish's second role in EastEnders, as she previously played singer Lola Christie in 1998. ==Libby Fox==

Elizabeth "Libby" Fox, played by Belinda Owusu, moves to Walford with her mother Denise (Diane Parish) and her half-sister Chelsea (Tiana Benjamin). Libby secretly contacts her abusive alcoholic father, Owen Turner (Lee Ross), which eventually leads to him kidnapping her and trying to murder her. Libby Befriends Darren Miller (Charlie G. Hawkins) and they begin a relationship. However, after Libby begins studying at the University of Oxford, the distance puts a strain on the relationship. == Carla Mitchell ==

Carla Mitchell, played by Christianne Oliveira, is the Brazilian wife of Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp). She lived in Rio de Janeiro and ran a bar with Grant, before moving to Walford. She doesn't get on well with Grant's daughter Courtney (Megan Jossa). She also has her own son named Mathias. Grant left her in February 2006 when she had an affair with a man called Ray (David Kennedy). She arrives in Walford in May 2006 to try to reconcile with Grant, who does not want anything to do with her at first, but he gives in to her pleas and they reunite. On 5 June, Carla is terrified to find Ray in Albert Square, demanding £12,000 that Carla had stolen from him. When Carla promises to pay him, they have sex, and begin an affair. Carla tells Grant that Ray wants £25,000, in a bid to run back to Rio with Ray. Grant and Carla plan to start a new life in Portugal together with Courtney and Carla's son Mathias, but Grant learns of Carla's scam with Ray. Grant gives Carla bag of money, supposedly to pay off Ray, but the previous day, Grant had ordered Ray to leave the Square with nothing. Carla takes the bag of money and leaves, but when she opens the bag, she is surprised to discover it is full of Grant's underwear and no money. Upon returning, Grant throws Carla out. When she tries to return again, Grant's mother Peggy (Barbara Windsor) slaps her across the face before her saying her famous line, 'get outta my pub'. Carla does so, and has not been seen since. == Ray ==

Ray (also known as Marco), played by David Kennedy, arrives in Walford to track down his ex-lover Carla Mitchell (Christianne Oliveira), who had left him in Brazil to return to her husband Grant (Ross Kemp). Carla had been having an affair with Ray while she was married to Grant. He followed Carla to Walford to reclaim £12,000 that Carla had stolen from him, but Carla has sex with him, telling him that they can get back together. However, Ray tells Carla that he still needs the £12,000 back. She goes to Grant and tells him she needs £25,000 to pay off Ray. The next day, Grant and his brother Phil (Steve McFadden) visit Ray, who tells them that he needs the £12,000. When Grant discovers that Carla has lied to him he is distraught, giving Ray the opportunity to run from his hotel room. Phil goes after him, and while they are gone Grant smashes the room with a baseball bat. After smashing a chest of drawers, Grant finds Ray's passport, giving a false name, Marco. Ray is next seen being pulled from the boot of Phil's Jaguar by Grant outside The Queen Victoria pub. Grant realises that he is a criminal, and gives him a small amount of money and his passport, directing him to the tube station, telling him never to return. This is Ray's last appearance. Ray was Kennedy's second role in EastEnders, as he also portrayed Dave Roberts in 2002. ==Owen Turner==

Owen Turner, played by Lee Ross, is the ex-husband of Denise Fox (Diane Parish) and father of her daughter, Libby (Belinda Owusu). Owen is an abusive alcoholic, and when he reunites with Libby, it leads to him kidnapping her and trying to kill her. After spending 3 years in prison for these crimes, Owen contacts Libby again, telling her he has changed and is sober. Libby and Denise seem to believe Owen, however Denise's fiancé, Lucas Johnson (Don Gilet), is less sure, and takes matters into his own hands to protect Denise and Libby. == Victor Brown ==

Victor Brown, played by Jimmy Yuill, is a patron of the Walford Community Charitable Trust (the WCCT). He is an old friend of Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), and used to ask him for donations for charity events. He is first seen asking Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) to host a Football World Cup gala in The Queen Victoria pub. Phil refuses, but Ian overhears and phones Victor offering to host and organise the gala instead. Victor invites him to sit on a sub-committee, helping to organise the event. While talking to Ian in the pub, Victor asks Ian if "Mrs. Beale" would be interested in being involved in the gala. Ian replies that Jane (Laurie Brett) would love to help, leading Victor to believe that Ian and Jane are married. Ian and Victor decide to host the gala in Albert Square, during the England versus Sweden match, which is very successful. The next day Victor invites Ian to a party, and introduces him to Rob Minter (Stuart Laing). Victor appears again to ask Ian if Jane could help out in an auction the WCCT is organising. Jane agrees initially, but then refuses as it coincides with a parents evening. Ian then pays Dawn Swann (Kara Tointon) to pose as his wife at the event. Jane eventually finds out that Dawn has been posing as her, and forces Ian to confess to Victor, and quit the WCCT. Victor's wife Maeve (Siobhan Redmond) also tries to seduce Ian. Victor later appears at Ian and Jane's engagement party, where he tells Pat Evans (Pam St. Clement) that Maeve has left him after 33 years of marriage. == Steve Clarke ==

Steve Clarke, played by Tom Bennett, is a colleague of Bradley Branning (Charlie Clements) at Eichel Investment Banking, who first appears in Walford when he meets Bradley to have drinks at Scarlet nightclub. Steve starts jeering at the exotic dancer, SJ Fletcher (Natasha Beaumont), and Bradley joins in, upsetting his girlfriend Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner). Steve appears again in August, and bullies Bradley in The Queen Victoria pub, forcing him to buy all the drinks. Bradley's father, Max (Jake Wood) tells Steve to leave Bradley alone, which only leads to more bullying at work, including Steve creating a flash animation of Bradley's head on a baby's body. Bradley and Steve later learn that they are both possibilities for a promotion at the bank where they work. Steve is confident in his interview, but Bradley forwards an abusive e-mail from Steve to their boss, Mr. Andrews (Alan McKenna), which gets Steve fired. He is last seen being escorted out of the bank by security after losing his job. ==SJ Fletcher==

Sarah-Jane "SJ" Fletcher, played by Natasha Beaumont, first appears when her car's tyre deflates in Albert Square. The character and casting was announced in April 2006 and she made her first appearance on 16 June 2006. Her main storyline was using Minty Peterson (Cliff Parisi) for money after he develops romantic feelings for her. EastEnders later introduced Sid Clarke (Simon Gleeson), SJ's ex-boyfriend. SJ made her last appearance on 12 October 2006. ==Rob Minter==

Robert "Rob" Minter, played by Stuart Laing, begins dating Dawn Swann (Kara Tointon). Dawn knows Rob is married, but also that he is separated. However it is revealed that Rob is married to May Wright (Amanda Drew), who wants to give their marriage another chance. Rob and Dawn split, but Dawn has become pregnant with Rob's child. She plans to have an abortion, however May, who is unable to conceive, has other ideas, and Rob and May then offer to buy Dawn's baby when it is born. Keeping Dawn to the agreement proves difficult however, and at the instigation of May, Rob is forced to extreme measures to obtain his child. ==Max Branning==

Maxwell "Max" Branning, played by Jake Wood, is the son of Jim (John Bardon), and father of Bradley Branning (Charlie Clements). He moves to Albert Square with his wife Tanya (Jo Joyner) and their daughters, Lauren and Abi (Madeline Duggan and Lorna Fitzgerald) for a fresh start after Max had been caught having an affair. They have a baby, Oscar, however Max soon goes back to his old ways, and has an affair with Bradley's girlfriend, Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner). The affair has devastating consequences, and leads to Tanya burying Max alive, and Lauren running him over. Max has a relationship with Vanessa Gold (Zöe Lucker), but eventually goes back to Tanya. However they split again and while spending time away from Walford, Max marries Kirsty (Kierston Wareing). Max has been regarded as one of the soap's "iconic" characters. ==Tanya Branning==

Tanya Lauren Branning, played Jo Joyner, is married to Max Branning (Jake Wood). She moves to Walford with him and their daughters, Lauren and Abi (Madeline Duggan and Lorna Fitzgerald), for a fresh start after Max had been caught having an affair. They have a baby, Oscar, but after Tanya learns that Max has had another affair, she leaves him and starts a relationship with Sean (Robert Kazinsky), and then Max's brother, Jack (Scott Maslen). Tanya eventually returns to Max, but after another split, she marries Greg Jessop (Stefan Booth). Tanya then has an affair with Max, but when she is diagnosed with cancer it ends her marriage with Greg, and her affair with Max. However, after recovering, Tanya soon returns to Max yet again. ==Abi Branning==