List of EastEnders characters (2017) facts for kids

The EastEnders logo

This page lists characters who first appeared in the BBC soap opera EastEnders during 2017. These characters were introduced by the show's executive producer, Sean O'Connor, or later by John Yorke.

The first new character was Keegan Baker (Zack Morris), a friend of Shakil Kazemi (Shaheen Jafargholi). Next came Emerald Fox (Doña Croll), who is the mother of Denise Fox (Diane Parish) and Kim Fox-Hubbard (Tameka Empson).

In January, three new teenage characters joined: Madison Drake (Seraphina Beh), Alexandra D'Costa (Sydney Craven), and Travis Law-Hughes (Alex James-Phelps). Their school teacher, Mr Gethin Pryce (Cerith Flinn), also arrived, along with Hugo Browning (Simon Williams), who was the chairman of a company called Weyland & Co.

In February, Preston Cooper (Martin Anzor), a student who had a complicated relationship with Michelle Fowler (Jenna Russell) in the United States, made his first appearance. Also, Konrad Topolski (Piotr Baumann), a new friend for Shirley Carter (Linda Henry), joined the show.

Josh Hemmings (Eddie Eyre), the son of James Willmott-Brown (William Boyde) and a love interest for Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa), and Tommy, a friend of Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick), both appeared in March. April saw the first appearance of Woody Woodward (Lee Ryan), a friend of the Carter family.

Ted Murray (Christopher Timothy) and Joyce Murray (Maggie Steed), an older couple, arrived in May. In June, Tom Bailey (Daniel Casey), a new friend for Michelle, and the Taylor family were introduced. The Taylor family includes Karen Taylor (Lorraine Stanley), Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters), Bernadette Taylor (Clair Norris), Riley Taylor (Tom Jacobs), and Chatham Taylor (Alfie Jacobs). Also, Ingrid Solberg (Pernille Broch), a nanny hired by Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), joined the cast.

Felix Moore (George Maguire), a market trader, arrived in July. Hope Fowler, the daughter of Martin Fowler (James Bye) and Stacey Fowler (Lacey Turner), was born in October. Aidan Maguire (Patrick Bergin) arrived in November. Finally, Kandice Taylor (Hannah Spearritt), Karen's sister, and Abi Branning, the daughter of Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald) and Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell), made their first appearances in December.

Keegan Baker

Keegan Butcher-Baker (also known as Baker) is played by Zack Morris. He is a friend of Shakil Kazemi (Shaheen Jafargholi) and goes to school with Louise Mitchell (Tilly Keeper), Bex Fowler (Jasmine Armfield), Travis Law-Hughes (Alex James-Phelps), Alexandra D'Costa (Sydney Craven), and Madison Drake (Seraphina Beh).

Keegan first appeared on 9 January 2017. Zack Morris left his role as Keegan on 17 March 2022, along with his wife Tiffany Butcher (Maisie Smith).

Emerald Fox

Emerald Fox is played by Doña Croll. She is the mother of Denise Fox (Diane Parish) and Kim Fox-Hubbard (Tameka Empson). Her arrival in the show was announced on 1 January 2017. Emerald appeared in a few episodes. Her name was sometimes referred to as "Ada" in the show, but Denise later asked if her mother was "still calling herself [Emerald]", suggesting it might be a nickname.

Raymond Dawkins

Raymond Dawkins first appeared on 13 January 2017. He is the son of Denise Fox (Diane Parish) and Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden). In 2020, Raymond returned to the show after his adoptive parents passed away in a car accident. Since 2020, he has been played by Michael Jose Pomares Calixte.

Madison Drake and Alexandra D'Costa

Madison Drake is played by Seraphina Beh, and Alexandra D'Costa is played by Sydney Craven. They are school friends of Louise Mitchell (Tilly Keeper). They first appeared together on 17 January 2017 and made their last appearances on 21 July 2017.

Travis Law-Hughes

Travis Law-Hughes is played by Alex James-Phelps. He is a friend of Louise Mitchell (Tilly Keeper). He first appeared on 17 January 2017 and made his last appearance on 2 November 2017.

Gethin Pryce

Gethin Pryce is played by Cerith Flinn. He is a teacher at Walford High School. He first appeared on 23 January 2017 and made his last appearance on 14 November. He was in 36 episodes.

Hugo Browning

Hugo Browning was initially called Chairman, Weyland & Co in the credits. He is the chairman of a development company named Weyland & Co. He first appeared on 26 January 2017 and left the show on 28 December 2017 when his storyline ended.

Preston Cooper

Preston Cooper is played by Martin Anzor. He was a student of Michelle Fowler's (Jenna Russell) in Florida. He appeared in 16 episodes between 14 February and 31 March 2017.

Konrad Topolski

Konrad Topolski is played by Piotr Baumann. He is a Polish shopkeeper. He first appeared on 16 February 2017.

Josh Hemmings

Josh Hemmings is played by Eddie Eyre. He works for Weyland & Co and is a colleague of Max Branning (Jake Wood). He was introduced as a potential love interest for Max's daughter, Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa). He first appeared on 17 March 2017 and was first called "Photocopier guy" in the credits. Eddie Eyre finished filming in February 2018, and Josh left the show on 16 February 2018.

Tommy

Tommy, also known as Tom, is played by Jordan Coulson. He first appeared on 21 March 2017. He is a friend of Jay Brown's (Jamie Borthwick) and helped Jay plan Ben Mitchell's (Harry Reid) 21st birthday party.

Woody Woodward

Lee Ryan plays Woody Woodward.

Harry "Woody" Woodward is played by singer Lee Ryan. He first appeared on 18 April 2017. Woody was initially a guest character but later became a regular. His return aired on 3 August. Lee Ryan left the show on 15 June 2018.

Freda

Freda is played by Leila Hoffman. She appeared in two episodes on 22 and 26 May 2017, and later returned in October 2019.

Freda is an older woman who meets Denise Fox (Diane Parish) when they are both taking their English literature GCSE exam. Denise learns that Freda is taking five exams: English, English literature, French, history, and maths. After the exam, Freda tells Denise that she enjoyed studying, even if the exam was hard. She said it was better than her job cleaning houses.

In 2019, Martin Fowler (James Bye) was asked to collect money from Freda by Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden). Martin felt sorry for Freda and instead used money from the market stall to pay Ben.

Ted Murray

Actor Christopher Timothy was cast as Ted.

Ted Murray is played by Christopher Timothy. He first appeared on 26 May 2017, along with his wife Joyce Murray, played by Maggie Steed. Ted left the show on 27 September 2019.

Joyce Murray

Joyce Murray is played by Maggie Steed. She first appeared on 26 May 2017, along with her husband, Ted Murray, played by Christopher Timothy. It was announced on 22 March 2018 that Maggie Steed would be leaving the show. Joyce passed away on 29 March.

Tom Bailey

Tom Bailey was first called "nosebleed man" in the credits. He is played by Daniel Casey. He first appeared on 1 June 2017 and left on 9 November 2017, appearing in 22 episodes.

Karen Taylor

Karen Taylor is played by Lorraine Stanley. She first appeared on 15 June 2017, along with four of her children: Keanu (Danny Walters), Bernadette (Clair Norris), Riley (Tom Jacobs), and Chatham Taylor (Alfie Jacobs). The family also has two pets: a dog named Bronson and a Bearded lizard named Rooney.

Lorraine Stanley had appeared in EastEnders before, playing a young Mo Harris in a 2004 spin-off and Thelma Bragg in 2016. Karen left the show on 8 December 2023 but has made guest appearances since then.

Keanu Taylor

Keanu Taylor is played by Danny Walters. He first appeared on 15 June 2017, along with his mother Karen (Lorraine Stanley) and siblings Bernadette (Clair Norris), Riley (Tom Jacobs), and Chatham (Alfie Jacobs). The family also has a dog named Bronson and a Bearded lizard named Rooney.

Danny Walters left the series on 3 January 2020 but returned for special anniversary episodes. He made an unannounced return on 13 December 2022. Keanu passed away on 25 December 2023.

Bernadette Taylor

Clair Norris portrays Bernadette Taylor.

Bernadette Taylor is played by Clair Norris. She first appeared on 15 June 2017, along with her mother Karen Taylor (Lorraine Stanley) and siblings Keanu (Danny Walters), Riley (Tom Jacobs), and Chatham (Alfie Jacobs). The family also has a dog named Bronson and a Bearded lizard named Rooney. Clair Norris took a break from the show and exited on 8 October 2021.

Bronson

Bronson is the Taylor family's dog. The family includes Karen Taylor (Lorraine Stanley), Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters), Keegan Baker (Zack Morris), Bernadette Taylor (Clair Norris), Riley Taylor (Tom Jacobs), and Chatham Taylor (Alfie Jacobs). He first appeared on 15 June 2017 and made his last appearance on 15 March 2021.

Riley Taylor

Riley Taylor is played by Tom Jacobs. He first appeared on 15 June 2017, along with his mother Karen Taylor (Lorraine Stanley) and siblings Keanu (Danny Walters), Bernadette (Clair Norris), and Chatham (Alfie Jacobs). The family also has a dog named Bronson and a Bearded lizard named Rooney.

Chatham Taylor

Chatham Taylor is played by Alfie Jacobs. He first appeared on 15 June 2017, along with his mother Karen Taylor (Lorraine Stanley) and siblings Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters), Bernadette Taylor (Clair Norris), and Riley Taylor (Tom Jacobs). The family also has a dog named Bronson and a Bearded lizard named Rooney.

Ingrid Solberg

Ingrid Solberg is played by Pernille Broch. She first appeared on 22 June 2017. Ingrid left the series on 7 May 2018.

Felix Moore

Felix Moore is played by George Maguire. He first appeared on 6 July 2017. He was a customer in the Bridge Street Café and asked about renting a stall at the market. He later had drinks with his friends at The Queen Victoria pub.

When Donna Yates (Lisa Hammond) was late paying her market fees, Robbie Jackson (Dean Gaffney) gave her stall to Felix. Felix planned to sell "vintage goods" there. This made the other market traders upset with Robbie. However, Felix was also annoyed when Robbie changed his mind and gave the stall back to Donna. Felix continued to appear in Walford and later got a permanent spot at the market.

Hope Fowler

Hope Fowler first appeared on 16 October 2017. She is the daughter of Martin Fowler (James Bye) and Stacey Fowler (Lacey Turner).

Aidan Maguire

Aidan Joseph Patrick "JP" Maguire is played by Patrick Bergin. He made his first appearance on 27 November 2017. He was involved in a robbery storyline. Aidan left the series on 9 March 2018 when his storyline concluded.

Kandice Taylor

Hannah Spearritt appeared as Kandice Taylor.

Kandice Taylor is played by Hannah Spearritt. She first appeared in two episodes on 28 December 2017. She later appeared again in July and December 2018. She is the younger sister of Karen Taylor (Lorraine Stanley).

Abi Branning

Abi Branning first appeared on 29 December 2017. She is the daughter of Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald) and Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell).