List of EastEnders characters introduced in 1993

Danny Taurus (real name Danny Travis), played by Billy Boyle, first appears on 5 January 1993 and leaves on 1 June 1993. Danny, an East End rock and roll singer, uses the stage name Danny Taurus, and was nearly famous locally when Pete (Peter Dean) and Pauline Beale (Wendy Richard) were teenagers. In 1993, Danny visits Pete and invites him to a gig. He is more than a pub singer, who dreams of making a comeback. Danny is pleased to meet Pauline again, as he always fancied her when they were at school. Pauline is flattered by the attention and she and Danny go on a few platonic dates—Pauline's motive being to see if Arthur might respond to a bit of competition—but Danny takes it seriously and asks Pauline to go away with him. Pauline is tempted, but she eventually turns Danny down and he goes off in search of his big break. ==Rose Chapman==

Rose Chapman, played by Petra Markham, is an old friend of Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard) from school. Pete Beale (Peter Dean) and Rose get on well, particularly when Rose reveals that she once had a crush on him while they were at school together. Over the weeks a romance develops. Despite professing to be very happy with Pete, Rose frequently lets him down, standing him up on dates and disappearing for days without word. Eventually Pete confronts her and she reveals that not only is she married, but she was married to a local gangster named Alfie Chapman, who had a reputation for extreme violence. Although Alfie is in prison, his family are not and they make it clear that they do not approve of Rose seeing Pete. Pete mulls over what to do but eventually decides to brave the Chapmans and remain with Rose. Alfie's sister Annie warns Rose to finish with Pete, or face severe repercussions from his two brothers. Rose remains defiant and goes to visit Alfie in prison, demanding a divorce. This is curtailed when she discovers that Alfie is suffering from terminal cancer and after a period of contemplation she decides to stop seeing Pete so that she can nurse Alfie through his remaining months. ==Aidan Brosnan==

Aidan Brosnan, played by Sean Maguire, appears between January and December 1993. A popular character, Aidan is involved in storylines about homelessness, drug-abuse and suicide. His relationship with the character Mandy Salter (Nicola Stapleton) is a dominant storyline in the serial throughout 1993. The character of Aidan was introduced on-screen in January 1993 by executive producer, Leonard Lewis. The role was cast to actor Sean Maguire. Having been a familiar face on children's television for many years, Maguire was previously most famous for playing Tegs in BBC's school drama, Grange Hill. At his audition, Maguire had to show off his football skills and talk in a convincing Irish accent. Although the character's duration was relatively short – he appeared in only 63 episodes of the soap – Aidan became "a very popular" character, particularly with the young audience. EastEnders scriptwriter Colin Brake has suggested that by the end of his stint in the soap, Sean Maguire's status as a teen pin-up "put him in the Take That league". Sean Maguire's departure upset his fans, though the actor attempted to develop his appeal towards the young audience by becoming a television presenter and a pop singer. ==Sanjay Kapoor==

Sanjay Kapoor, played by Deepak Verma, is a market trader who has an eye for the ladies and a weakness for gambling. He is always full of big ideas and get-rich-quick schemes, which never work. In 1998, EastEnders acquired a new executive producer, Matthew Robinson. Robinson was dubbed "the axeman" in the British press, after a large proportion of the EastEnders cast either quit, or were culled, shortly after Robinson's introduction. It was reported that Robinson hoped the changes would attract more viewers and "spice up [the soap's fictional setting of] Walford". Among the departing characters were long-running Asian family the Kapoors, including Sanjay, Gita (Shobu Kapoor) and Neelam Kapoor (Jamila Massey). As they were the only Asian characters in the show, EastEnders received criticism for axing them from MPs including Oona King, MP for East End constituency Bethnal Green and Dr Ashok Kumar. ==Gita Kapoor==

Gita Kapoor, played by Shobu Kapoor, has a fierce temper, which is needed to keep her troublesome husband in check. Any success they achieve is down to her. She is the brains behind the Kapoor's clothes business. Gita played by Shobu Kapoor and her husband Sanjay (Deepak Verma) were introduced early in 1993 by producer Leonard Lewis. Both had been working together on a play prior to auditioning, and neither knew that the other would be attending the audition until they bumped into each other at the casting call. It was Kapoor who was offered the part; Wadia would later go on to play another character years later, Zainab Masood. ==Snip Gibbons==

Clive "Snip" Gibbons, played by Steve Sweeney, is a friend of Phil (Steve McFadden) and Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp). He begins frequenting The Queen Victoria pub at the invitation of the Mitchells in February 1993, along with several of their other friends. Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) shows obvious dislike for Snip, mainly because he is frequently teased and tormented by him. Bar manager, Clyde Tavernier (Steven Woodcock), also has several run-ins with him. Snip orders him around, acts in a rowdy manner and antagonises him. Clyde becomes too annoyed so he throws Snip and his friends out of The Vic one night, much to the anger of Phil and Grant, who are trying to secure a business deal with Snip. When Snip and his friends refuse to vacate the pub after closing time one evening, Clyde threatens to quit his job unless they leave. They don't, so Clyde quits but he contacts his boss, Sharon Mitchell (Letitia Dean), who is holidaying in America. Sharon returns to find that many of her regulars are refusing to drink at The Vic, mainly because of Snip. She takes control and bars Grant's friends (including Snip) from the pub. ==Audrey Whittingham==

Audrey Whittingham, played by Shirley Dixon, kidnaps Vicki Fowler (Samantha Leigh Martin) while she is waiting to be collected outside Walford Primary School. A police investigation is launched. Prime suspect is Jack Woodman (James Gilbey), who is infatuated with Vicki's mother Michelle Fowler (Susan Tully); however, Audrey and Vicki are identified by the shopkeeper of a toy store several days later. Audrey had used a cheque to pay for Vicki's toys and the police were able to trace her to her home. Vicki is returned to her mother unharmed and Audrey is arrested. Michelle becomes very emotional and protective over Vicki for a while after, refusing to let her outside or attend school. She think she can see glimpses of Audrey everywhere she goes, which everyone tells her is impossible, as Audrey has been imprisoned. However, Michelle isn't being paranoid as Audrey turns up on her doorstep shortly after hoping to explain her actions. She has endured a series of tragedies, starting with the death of her baby daughter many years earlier, and later in life the death of one of her sons and her husband. Her other son lives abroad and she has become lonely and desperate. She began to wonder what her daughter would have turned out like and when she saw Vicki alone she decided to take her, although she claims that she intended to bring her back eventually. Michelle is furious and can not forgive Audrey for the trauma she put her and Vicki through. ==Sharmilla Kapoor==

Sharmilla Kapoor, played by Priya Bilkhu, is the daughter of Sanjay and Gita Kapoor (Deepak Verma and Shobu Kapoor), born a month after they arrive in Walford in 1993. In October 1997, she leaves with her mother to stay with relatives. They are due to return in January 1998, but Sanjay is late to collect them from the station. When he arrives Gita is nowhere to be seen. When there was no sign of Gita or Sharmilla days later, Sanjay contacts the police. Months later, they are still missing and coincidental evidence has led the police to think that Sanjay may have been responsible for their disappearance. He is even arrested and accused of murder, although he is later released without charge. Everyone assumes that Gita and Sharmilla are dead. But in July 1998 Sanjay finds Gita in Birmingham with a new baby boy, Arjun, conceived during a one-night stand. He takes his family home, vowing to raise Arjun as his own. Sanjay and Gita are happy until local reporter Polly Becker (Victoria Gould) discovers their recent scandal and gets it published in the Walford Gazette. Suddenly all of Walford know what had transpired in Gita's absence. Reporters make their lives miserable and Sharmilla is even bullied at school, so they finally decide to leave Walford with Sharmilla in September 1998. == Sylvia Weng-Chung ==

Sylvia Weng-Chung, played by Rachel Hiew, is introduced on 1 April 1993. Hiew believed her real-life waitressing experience helped her secure the role. She explained that she served the food well during her audition, but while filming her first scene, she accidentally dropped the food all over the place. An Inside Soap writer described Sylvia as "a bit of a wild child who speaks her mind", and thought Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) does not know what she was letting herself in for when she hires Sylvia to work in her café. Of her character's personality, Hiew stated: "She's a manic partygoer and she wears the sort of clothes I'd never have the nerve to put on!" When Ian Beale's (Adam Woodyatt) catering business is closed down, his wife Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) turns to Kathy for help. Kathy employs Ian to work in her café, but as a result, she becomes overstaffed and is forced to fire Sylvia in November 1993. Sylvia is extremely angry and says several unpleasant things about Kathy and her café before departing. Sylvia's surname is never mentioned on screen, and only stated on her official cast card. ==Gidea Thompson==

Gidea Thompson, played by Sian Martin, made her first appearance on 18 May 1993. Martin recalled that her mother's cleaning lady prayed for her when she auditioned for the role, so when she got it, she immediately went to see her and gave her a hug. Martin admitted that nerves led her to appear awkward and clumsy during her first days on set, so someone had to tell her to correct the way she walked, as she looked ungainly. Martin's character Gidea was introduced as a "mysterious long-lost relative of the Taverniers". An Inside Soap writer observed that her short stint would impact the family for years to come. Martin said Gidea's presence "blows up some of the other problems within the family. Things are going to change. People will be coming back and people will be leaving." She also said that things between Gidea and her cousin Clyde Tavernier (Steven Woodcock) would "get pretty steamy", but Gidea initially sees their relationship as just a holiday romance, so Cylde could be hurt if he takes things too seriously. Gidea comes to Walford from Trinidad to visit her grandfather, Jules Tavernier (Tommy Eytle). Gidea's mother was the result of an affair Jules had in his early 20s and Jules had previously been unaware of her existence. Jules is apprehensive about pursuing a relationship with Gidea at first, and Gidea's arrival upsets the 'status quo' in the Tavernier family. Hattie Tavernier (Michelle Gayle) takes an instant dislike to her. Gidea decides to leave Walford in the same month; however, her cousin Clyde Tavernier has grown close to her, so he sets about searching London to track her down. The following month, Clyde manages to find her, and after much persuading, Gidea decides to return to Walford so she can get to know her family. She meets her uncle Celestine Tavernier (Leroy Golding) when he returns for Hattie's cancelled wedding, and tells him Jules is her grandfather. She also supports a pregnant Hattie, who considers having an abortion and later changes her mind. Gidea and Clyde grow a lot closer, and even though they are half-cousins, they embark on a relationship. Clyde tries to convince Gidea to extend her visa, but she tells him that she is only in England for a holiday and her life is back in Trinidad. Jules is opposed to their relationship and tries to put a stop to it, but Gidea and Clyde ignore his protests and they eventually decide to leave Walford for a new life together in Trinidad with Clyde's son Kofi Tavernier (Marcel Smith). ==Debbie Bates==

Debbie Bates, played by Nicola Duffett, appears from 1993 to 1995. She was introduced as a love-interest for Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley), but was killed off in 1995 on Duffett's request. Duffett grew weary of playing Debbie saying she became too boring and drippy, and asked the producers of EastEnders to kill her character off in 1995, which they did; Debbie was killed in a hit-and-run motor accident. Duffett has commented, "I left EastEnders of my own accord, without a shadow of a doubt. I begged to be killed. I ran to the script editor's office. Every time I see him at a party he says, 'I'll never forget you.' Because I ran in crying, 'Kill me NOW! I can't stand it.' Because the part was so boring. I played this simpering wimp, Debbie. All I did was walk into the Vic and say, 'Where's Nigel?'" Duffett has stated that she has no regrets about leaving the role, ==Nadia Mitchell==

Nadia Mitchell (also Borovac), played by Anna Barkan, is Phil Mitchell's (Steve McFadden) first wife. They have a marriage of convenience so Nadia can stay in the country, but Phil soon regrets his decision as a result of personal problems between them. Storylines Nadia Borovac first came to Albert Square in June 1993 and she soon catches the attention of local hardman Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden). They soon bond up to the point where Nadia admits to Phil her reasons for coming in to the square. Phil responds by giving fellow neighbour Hattie Tavernier (Michelle Gayle) a lift to Southampton so she can stop her boyfriend, Steve Elliot (Mark Monero), from leaving the country. Phil waits for her in a nearby bar and meets Nadia. Nadia is a Romanian refugee who came over to England to be with her boyfriend, Marku (Ravil Isyanov) – another immigrant, who has been able to stay in the UK due to a marriage of convenience with an English woman. Phil and Kathy decide to get married later that year and consequently he goes looking for Nadia as he needs to find her but is unsuccessful. However, Phil visits Marku and finds Nadia with him. She is still angry about the way Phil and Grant had treated her and when Phil asks for a divorce, she refuses. Phil threatens to report her to the authorities, but she promises that if he does, she will disappear and he will then have to wait another two years for a divorce without her consent. However, the following week, Nadia returns to Walford and tells Phil she will divorce him and move to Germany if he gives her £1,000. Phil is angry about her blackmail but has no choice so he gives her the money, after which Nadia leaves and is not seen again. ==Clare Bates==

Clare Bates, played by Gemma Bissix, appears from 1993 to 1998, and again in 2008. She first left the serial with her screen stepfather Nigel Bates, when his actor Paul Bradley opted to leave. After a ten-year hiatus, Bissix returned to the role on 1 February 2008. The character was transformed from "cute and sweet" into a gold digging "maneater", chasing wealthy men for their money. The British media focused on the character's penchant for revealing clothing, and while she was praised by some critics, it was suggested that she was underused upon her return. Bissix again left EastEnders at the end of her contract in the summer of 2008. Her departing episode first aired on 7 August 2008. ==Meena McKenzie==

Meena McKenzie, played by Sudha Bhuchar, is the sister of Gita Kapoor (Shobu Kapoor). Meena and Gita's husband, Sanjay Kapoor (Deepak Verma) do not get along with each other, so when Gita suspects Sanjay of having an affair in 1993, Meena is the last person she expects; she discovers their infidelity by catching them in bed together. The Kapoors separate for a while and the McKenzies marriage ends, while Gita refuses to see her sister ever again. However, Gita eventually forgives Sanjay, and in 1995, Meena constructs a ploy to make contact with her sister again. She instructs her new fiancé, Guppy Sharma (Lyndam Gregory), to liaise with Gita about a business proposition for their clothing stall while keeping his connection to Meena a secret. However, Guppy and Gita develop feelings for each other, although nothing sexual occurs. When Meena eventually unveils that she had masterminded Guppy and Gita's meeting in January 1996, she is furious to discover that Guppy is actually smitten with Gita and has kissed her. Refusing to believe that Guppy feels anything for Gita other than pity, Meena goes ahead with her plan to marry Guppy, although Guppy later reveals that the wedding was cancelled. Meena is not seen again after this. ==Zoe Newton==

Zoe Newton (also Cotton), played by Elizabeth Chadwick in 1993 and then by Tara Ellis in a spin-off episode in 2000 and a few episodes in 2001, arrives in Walford as the girlfriend of Nick Cotton (John Altman), along with their son Ashley (Rossi Higgins). She was in an on and off relationship with Nick since 1982 but had not appeared previously in Walford and had never met Nick's mother Dot (June Brown) until she arrives in 1993. She is keen that Dot gets a chance to meet her grandson, and Dot and Ashley eventually grow close after a few meetings. She and Nick are planning to move away to Gravesend and Zoe wants Dot to come and live with them. Dot is reluctant at first but later agrees to move away and leaves Walford with them in August 1993. When Dot returns to Walford in 1997 she reveals that off-screen Zoe and Ashley had moved away after Zoe grew tired of Nick's criminal activities and he had been arrested for drugs possession. Zoe is seen onscreen in a special spin-off episode entitled Return of Nick Cotton which first aired on 1 October 2000. In the episode, Nick is released from prison and reunites with Ashley and Zoe after Zoe's brother Eddie tells Nick about her whereabouts. Zoe isn't happy to see him back and offers him money and a divorce to leave for good. Some thugs then come after him. After trying to escape from the thugs, he and Ashley steal a car to escape them. Zoe doesn't want Ashley to go with Nick knowing how much of a bad influence he is but she cannot stop him and he drives off with Nick back to Walford. When Nick and Ashley return to Walford in November 2000, Nick gets into a feud with his old enemy Mark Fowler (Todd Carty). It leads to Nick cutting the brakes on Mark's motorbike in June 2001. Ashley steals the bike and dies after crashing into a shop window. Zoe is devastated when she returns for his funeral and attacks Nick, blaming him for Ashley's death. She knew that Nick would never be a good father to Ashley and Ashley should have never come with Nick to Walford. After the funeral, she leaves Walford and has not been seen or heard from since. ==Ashley Cotton==

Ashley Cotton, played by Rossi Higgins in 1993 and then by Frankie Fitzgerald in 2000 to 2001, is the son of Nick Cotton (John Altman). The character first appears in July 1993, after coming to Walford for the first time with his mother and meeting his grandmother, Dot (June Brown). However, in August he leaves Walford with his family to move to Gravesend. Writing for The People in July 2000, Sharon Marshall revealed Ashley would be returning to EastEnders now played by Frankie Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was appearing in a variety show when he was spotted by a talent scout who suggested he send some photos to the BBC's casting department. A few months later, Fitzgerald was asked to audition for the role of Ashley. While on his way home from the audition, Fitzgerald was told he had won the part. Marshall revealed Fitzgerald was hired after producers noted his resemblance to John Altman, who plays his on screen father, Nick. An EastEnders spokesperson said "They could easily be father and son. They've got the same brooding dark-haired looks." Marshall said Fitzgerald was set to "steal the show – as well as a few young Walford hearts" as Ashley. She also stated the character would be a chip off the old block, spelling trouble for the residents of Albert Square. Of his casting, Fitzgerald said "I am thrilled and honoured to be playing Nick Cotton's son and can't wait to work with John. People keep asking me what the storylines are but I am as eager as everyone to know." Fitzgerald made his debut as Ashley on 27 July 2000, and appeared until June 2001. ==Liam Tyler==

Liam Tyler, played by Francis Magee, is the biological father of Clare Bates (Gemma Bissix) and the former husband of Debbie Bates (Nicola Duffett). Liam first appears not long after Debbie and Clare arrive in Albert Square, having tracked them down after he had been abusing Debbie. Liam does everything in his power to split up Debbie and her new love interest, Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley), but his efforts fail. Liam returns to the Square again after Debbie's sudden death in 1995, attempting to gain custody of Clare. Clare wants to stay with Nigel and a court case ensues. Nigel ultimately wins when Liam's girlfriend Caroline Webber (Francesca Hall) admits that he had been abusive toward her. ==Bianca Jackson==

Bianca Butcher (also Jackson) is played by Patsy Palmer. The character was introduced by executive producer Leonard Lewis and appeared initially from 1993 to 1999, when Palmer opted to leave. In 2002 executive producer John Yorke brought the character back for a special spin-off show. She returned to EastEnders as a full-time character in April 2008, reintroduced by executive producer Diederick Santer. Palmer took maternity leave in 2010, and Bianca was temporarily written out on 21 January 2011. She announced her return on 19 July and made her return on 15 December 2011. During her first run on the show during the 1990s, she is known for her bizarre sense of style, her sharp tongue and fiery temper and for screaming "Rickaaaaaaay!" at her husband. Bianca has been featured in storylines including affairs, feuds, bereavements, family problems, spina bifida and abortion, a problematic marriage to Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen) and the revelation of her 15-year-old adoptive daughter Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) being sexually abused by her fiancé Tony King (Chris Coghill) and his subsequent arrest for paedophilia. ==Alan Jackson==

Alan Jackson is played by Howard Antony. He originally appears between 1993 and 1997, and returns on 12 October 2010 for three episodes. Kind-hearted Alan gives the Jackson family some much needed stability. He loves and cares for Carol's (Lindsey Coulson) children as if they are his own. Their relationship does not go so smoothly, however. Carol's stubborn and nagging nature eventually drives him into the arms of another woman. Alan has been described as a good, reliable, hard-working father and well integrated into his community. Alan's main storyline during his initial four years in EastEnders surrounds his interracial marriage to Carol Jackson and being a paternal figure to Carol's children, three of whom were fathered by other men. Antony has revealed that his portrayal was partly based on his own life experiences, as he had grown up with siblings with different fathers to his own. Antony told author Larry Jaffee, "Alan was so family oriented, but I liked that a young black guy who was very responsible, mature – that was something that I was very comfortable with because it was something I grew up with to a point. To me, if you love someone you love everything about them. It's not 'I love you, but I don't love your kids'. It was something I was very glad to do. The whole black-and-white thing, I think we're at a stage now that people are more informed." ==Carol Jackson==

Carol Jackson, played by Lindsey Coulson, 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 daughter Bianca's (Patsy Palmer exit. On 25 October 2009 it was confirmed that she would return along with other members of the Jackson family, Sonia (Natalie Cassidy), Robbie (Dean Gaffney) and Billie (Devon Anderson), on 15 February 2010, although her first appearance in 2010 is in EastEnders: Last Tango in Walford, an episode released exclusively to DVD on 8 February 2010. 1994 was a historic year for EastEnders, as in April, a third weekly episode was introduced. Due to the programme's increased frequency, a number of new characters were introduced to the regular cast in the latter part of 1993 and early 1994. Among them were the Jackson family: mother Carol, her four children, Bianca, Robbie, Sonia and Billie, as well as Carol's partner Alan Jackson (Howard Antony). Though Carol and Alan are not initially married in the serial, and though Alan is only the biological father of Billie, the whole family took on Alan's surname. The family was created by writer Tony McHale. None of the actors cast as the Jackson family were matched for appearance or screen compatibility. Cassidy has commented, "it was all decided without doing that. I don't think it particularly mattered that none of us Jackson kids looked like each other because all our characters had different dads!" Carol was Coulson's first major television role. ==Sonia Fowler==