List of minor EastEnders characters (1987)

The following is a list of minor characters that first appeared in the BBC soap opera EastEnders in 1987, by order of first appearance.

Tina Hopkins
Tina Hopkins was introduced as Ian Beale’s girlfriend in February 1987. Ian’s friend Kelvin Carpenter took a shine to Tina and made several passes at her, which she shunned.

Tina got a job working at Naima Jeffery’s grocery store, the First til Last, and by May 1987 she and Ian had decided that they wanted to move in together. They managed to persuade Kelvin to rent them one of his father’s flats, and although their parents’ were against it, they moved in with each other in July 1987.

Things did not go well for the couple. They found it difficult to pay the rent and when money went missing from the cash register at Tina’s workplace, Naima accused her of stealing it (it was actually one of Mary Smith’s wayward friends named Sandra). Tina eventually managed to clear her name with the help of Rod Norman, who set a trap for the real thief.

Shortly after, Tina’s parents showed up in Walford on an impromptu visit from Ilford. They let themselves into Tina’s flat and were horrified to discover what a mess it was in. When they discovered that Simon Wicks and Magda Czajkowski lived next door in an adjoining room, they decided that Tina could not remain living there. Despite Tina’s protests, they packed her bags and dragged her back to Ilford to live with them in September 1987. Tina was not seen again.

Luke Willmott-Brown
Luke Willmott-Brown was the young son of rapist James Willmott-Brown. He also had a sister called Sophie. He was first seen visiting his father in March 1987, but went back to live with his mother in July. During his stay, he and his sister were friendly with Mehmet and Guizin Osman's children, Emine, Rayif and Murat.

He was later seen in January 1992, visiting his father after his release from prison. This was his last appearance. It is assumed that he now lives with his mother, as his father was later imprisoned for rape again.

Family

 * Father: James Willmott-Brown
 * Mother: Elizabeth Willmott-Brown
 * Sister: Sophie Willmott-Brown
 * Grandfathers: Henry Bassett, Denis Willmott-Brown
 * Grandmother: Dulcie Bassett

Sophie Willmott-Brown
Sophie Willmott-Brown was the young daughter of rapist James Willmott-Brown. She also had a brother called Luke. She was first seen visiting her father in March 1987, but went back to live with her mother in July. During her stay, her and her brother were friendly with Mehmet and Guizin Osman's children, Emine, Rayif and Murat.

She was later seen in January 1992, visiting her father after his release from prison. This was her last appearance. It is assumed that she now lives with her mother, as her father was later imprisoned for rape again.

Family

 * Father: James Willmott-Brown
 * Mother: Elizabeth Willmott-Brown
 * Brother: Luke Willmott-Brown
 * Grandfathers: Henry Bassett, Denis Willmott-Brown
 * Grandmother: Dulcie Bassett

June Watkins
June Watkins was the godmother of Kathy Beale's daughter Donna Ludlow. Kathy had given Donna up for adoption shortly after her birth, as she was conceived from rape. June brought Kathy news that Donna wanted to make contact with her, but told her that it was her decision. Kathy decided not to see Donna.

Reg Sparrow
Reg Sparrow was the area manager for Luxford & Copley brewery following the retirement of James Willmott-Brown. He oversaw the running of The Queen Vic pub, which was being managed by Den Watts. The Vic's profits were floundering following Den's separation from his wife Angie. Reg came to Walford to assess the problem. He wanted the money that Den owed the brewery and demanded to see the pub's invoices. Den tried to avoid this by steering clear of the pub all day and leaving his barstaff to put Reg off. This plan failed due to Angie, who happily informed Reg where Den kept all the pub's bookwork, just to spite her husband. Den was forced to sell his car to pay off some of his debt.

Later in the year Sparrow joined Den in one of the Osmans' notorious card games. Den fleeced him and managed to win a vast sum of his money, although he later gave him back half in return for a future favour. Sparrow was partial to monetary bribes and often turned a blind eye to Den's dodgy dealings. In 1988 Pat Wicks and Frank Butcher were forced to bribe Sparrow in order to get him to grant them tenancy at the Vic. After they were instated Sparrow continued to exert his influence over Frank, by persuading him to throw an exuberant birthday party at the Vic in his honour, and then disappearing without paying the bill.

Oxley
Oxley was dubbed the "Walford attacker" when he began a series of nightime assaults on the women of Walford. Several female residents of Albert Square had encounters with Oxley, but managed to escape before they were harmed. Pat Wicks wasn't so lucky, and she was brutally assaulted in February 1987 and left battered and unconscious in the middle of Albert Square. The police had no luck tracing Oxley, as he left no clues as to his identity.

However in April 1987, Oxley's luck ran out when he attempted to attack Debbie Wilkins in the launderette and was warded off by her self-defence moves. The police were able to apprehend Oxley and he was arrested and charged.

Edie Smith
Edie Smith was a religious and strict woman, which alienated her daughter, Mary, so much that she ran away from Stockport to escape her. Mary moved to London after falling pregnant, and chose not to inform her family about her child. When Mary's father tracked her down and discovered he had a grandaughter, Mary made him promise not to tell Edie. She worried that her mother would interfere and take over. Her father, Chris, paid heed to his daughter's wishes for several years. However, when he discovered that Mary had left her daughter Annie alone in her flat to prostitute herself, he decided to take action. He informed Edie and she came to Walford in May 1987 to sort Mary out. Despite Mary's protests, she took Annie back to Stockport to live with her, leaving Mary distraught.

With the help of Rod Norman, Mary managed to sort her life out. She contacted her mother to bring Annie back, but Edie kept refusing. Eventually Mary became so depressed that Rod contacted Chris and told him Mary was considering suicide. A concerned Chris then finally brought Annie home to Mary.

Chris decided to move to London early in 1988 in order to open a haulage company. Things did not go according to plan, and he spent much of his time drinking himself into a stupor. Eventually, Mary contacted her mother to come and sort Chris out and the Smith family finally managed to sort out their differences. Shortly after, Edie began to consider moving to London permanently. This was too much for Mary to bear however, and she began to rebel against her parents once again. Edie tried to intervene, but Mary was hostile and told her that she would kill her if she ever tried to take Annie from her again. Shortly after, Mary decided to leave Walford. She took Annie, and jumped on a bus to destinations unkonwn. Edie refused to waste anymore concern on her unruly daughter and she left Walford to return to Stockport. Her last appearance was in May 1988.

Family

 * Husband: Chris Smith
 * Sons: Gary Smith, Brendan Smith
 * Daughters: Mary Smith, Bridey Smith
 * Granddaughter: Annie Smith

Derek Taylor
Derek Taylor was a friendly passer-by who stopped to help when the Walford ladies' darts team's coach broke down on the way to the Isle of Dogs. He formed a friendship with Pauline Fowler, and followed the team to the Isle of Dogs. He was attracted to Pauline, and turned up in Walford on 15 September 1987 to see her in the launderette. He met Pauline's husband Arthur, and her sister-in-law Kathy Beale, offering her a deal to sell her knitware. He went back to the Fowlers' house, but got into an argument with Arthur when Arthur asked him to leave. Pauline turned him down when he visited again on 17 September, and he left Walford.

Martin Hunter
Martin Hunter was a TV presenter who went to Walford to make a documentary about East End life. He promised to feature Den Watts in the documentary, but James Wilmott-Brown diverted his attention, and introduced Hunter to his chief barmaid Angie Watts, and tried to get the documentary focused on his wine bar, The Dagmar. Wilmott-Brown introduced Hunter to Colin Russell (as one of the new breed of people in Albert Square) and Pauline Fowler (as one of the older type of people in the square).

When the documentary was aired, the residents of Walford were horrified at how Hunter had misrepresented them.

Brendan Smith
Brendan Smith was the brother of Mary Smith. He lived in Stockport with his parents Chris and Edie. He came to Walford on Christmas day 1987 to visit his father and niece, Annie, in hospital. After getting drunk, Chris had taken Annie and attempted to drive home to Stockport. However he crashed the car into a wall, and both he and Annie were hospitalised. The Smith family were overjoyed to discover that both Annie and Chris were not seriously harmed.

Family

 * Father: Chris Smith
 * Mother: Edie Smith
 * Brother: Gary Smith
 * Sisters: Mary Smith, Bridey Smith
 * Niece: Annie Smith