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User:AnemoneProjectors/List of pets in EastEnders

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The following is a list of pets from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders.

Dogs

[edit]
Roly
EastEnders character
Portrayed byRoly
Duration1985–1993
First appearanceEpisode 1
"Poor Old Reg"
19 February 1985 (1985-02-19)
Last appearanceEpisode 909
19 October 1993 (1993-10-19)
ClassificationPast; regular
SpeciesDog
BreedStandard Poodle
In-universe information
Owner(s)
Roly

Roly is first owned by Den Watts (Leslie Grantham) and Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean). While he belongs to Sharon, he is often seen by Den's side.[1] Roly is later given to Pat Butcher (Pam St. Clement) and Frank Butcher (Mike Reid) but returns to Sharon. He dies from being run over by a lorry. Roly was owned by the co-creator/producer of EastEnders, Julia Smith. She later felt that the dog disliked being on set and she removed him from the show.[2] 14.8 million viewers tuned in to see Roly's last appearance on-screen.[3]

Roly was cast less than a week before the filming of EastEnders began. From the beginning it was decided that the occupants of The Queen Victoria pub, Den, Angie and Sharon Watts, were to have a German Shepherd named Prince.[4] However, finding an Alsatian that was light enough in colour not to merge into the background of the set proved to be difficult. Eventually, the co-creator/producer of the show, Julia Smith, was contacted by a company named Janimals, who specialised in providing and training animals for television and films. They had found a seven-month-old Poodle, called Roly, who might still be young enough to be trained. Training was said to take three weeks, and as the Poodle was a similar size to an Alsatian, Roly got the part. Roly was made the property of the BBC, given an ID card, and taken to live with Julia Smith at her home in London. Roly and Willy the pug shared a dressing room at Elstree studios.[5] Off-screen, the real Roly was getting too old to appear regularly on television so it was decided that he should retire to live with his owner, Julia Smith. On 2 August 1995, Roly died following an operation for breathing problems aggravated by the 1995 heatwave.[6]

Willy

Willy is owned by Ethel Skinner (Gretchen Franklin). Willy falls ill in 1992 and is put down.[2] Willy had not been trained prior to starring in EastEnders. Following many scenes with Franklin the dog became attached to her. Unlike Roly, he was energetic and could take part in more scenes.[2] Franklin has spoken about sharing comedic scenes with Willy, such as bath time and him thieving Ethel's wool. The actress felt emotional filming Willy being put down. She shed tears recalling the loss of previous dogs she had owned. She told Larry Jaffee that could not understand why the production team chose to include the scene.[2] Willy died sixteen days after being written out of the show.[7] Vicky Prior of the Metro has suggested that Willy was the "real star" out of the duo.[1]

Albert
  • Duration: 7–16 January 1986

Albert is a puppy who is abandoned in the launderette by a girl, so Pauline takes him in and names him Albert in the hope that her mother, Lou Beale, would take to him. However, the girl's mother later turns up and explains that the dog was a Christmas present for her daughter but she got bored of him. Pauline offers to keep the dog but her husband, Arthur Fowler, insists that he is returned to his rightful owner.

Heathcliff
Willy II
  • Breed: Greyhound-cross
  • Duration: 1992

Willy II is a puppy, bought by the regulars of the Queen Vic in 1992 as Ethel's replacement for Willy. She turns the dog down, saying she is too old to get attached to another dog. Willy II is originally called Snoopy but is renamed by Grant and Phil Mitchell.

Puppy (no name)
Delilah

Delilah is purchased by Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) and Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) from Jimmy Coombes (Harry Fowler) for £100 when he says he is going to shoot her because he can no longer afford to keep her and she has lost five races, though he says if she is fed well she could race again. Sanjay Kapoor (Deepak Verma) offers to train Delilah and tells Grant and Nigel they should buy a slower dog that will lose races and then switch the dogs in a scam to win money.[8] The scam falls through when someone realises the dogs have been swapped.

Freda

Freda is purchased for £600 as part of Sanjay Kapoor (Deepak Verma) greyhound betting scam, to enter into races and lose and then switch with Delilah when she attracts high odds. Phil sees that Freda's feet are a different to Delilah's so Sanjay says they will paint them. After the scam falls through and failed attempts to sell both dogs, Nigel takes Freda in. After Sharon Mitchell's (Letitia Dean) dog, Roly, is killed by a truck, her husband, Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp), gives her Freda to cheer her up on her birthday. Sharon is against the idea of replacing Roly at first but quickly warms to the idea of keeping Freda. Freda later gets pregnant by fellow canine Wellard but the puppies are all stillborn.r h When Grant leaves for overseas, Freda is sent to live with Nigel in Edingburgh.[8] Vicky Prior of the Metro noted that Grant would often use Freda in many of his scams.[1]

Wellard

Wellard made his first onscreen appearance during the episode originally broadcast on 18 October 1994.[9] Wellard was rescued by Robbie Jackson (Dean Gaffney) from Mr Hammond who had been mistreating him. During his tenure Wellard has fathered stillborn puuppies with Grant Mitchell's (Ross Kemp) dog Frieda and been reported for biting Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt). When Robbie left the show, he was given a new home with Gus Smith (Mohammed George).[9] A BBC Online writer describes him as "The loyal mutt [who] paid his master [Robbie] back many times over."[9] Wellard's popularity remained following his death with many tributes being uploaded to the video sharing website Youtube.[1] Vicky Prior of the Metro referred to him as "the undisputed king of the canines."[1]

Patch
  • Owner: Ronnie
  • Duration: 25 December 1998 (2 episodes)
Terrence

Terrenece is a Lhasa Apso dog that is given to Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) as a present from Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick). Terrence was originally played by a dog named "Jayridge Next Edition For Zaylon".[10] Terrence made her first on-screen appearance during the episode originally broadcast on 29 October 2001.[11] The dog playing her is also named Terrence. A BBC Online writer as being Albert Square's "glam dog". They list her "low points" as being abandoned by Janine, nearly being sold to Barry Evans (Shaun Williamson) and being put in a dog pound by Terry Raymond (Gavin Richards). Terry had taken the dog in but soon tired of her.[11]

Blu (or Bloo or Blue)

Blu appears only in the special episode "Dot's Story".

Genghis

Genghis is an Irish Wolfhound owned by Keith (David Spinx) and Rosie Miller (Gerry Cowper).[12] Prior to his arrival, Nicola Methven from the Daily Mirror billed Genghis as a "comedy dog" with his own set of storylines.[13] Jim Shelley of the Daily Mirror branded Ghenghis a "scraggy old dog".[14] Nancy Banks-Smith of The Guardian described the canine as a "shaggy dog".[15]Louisa Lytton who played Ruby Allen has admitted she never dared to go near the dog on set.[16] In 2008, Genghis leaves Albert Square alongside Keith and Mickey Miller (Joe Swash).[17] Vicky Prior of the Metro has branded Genghis "Walford’s biggest and dosiest character" and "as strangely loveable as the rest of his family".[1] Laura Morgan from Digital Spy said Genghis has a "cheeky personality" but "looked like he was in need of a good bath", and noted that the dog "was a right sly thief, and managed to get himself chucked out of the Vic by furious Peggy Mitchell after she caught him wolfing down her buffet. It must have taken some strength too – Genghis was nearly as big as Peg."[18]

Betty

Originally Pauline's dog, named after her aunt. After Pauline dies, Dot looks after Betty. Martin, Sonia and Rebecca take Betty with them when they move out of Walford.

Chips

Chips is a present to Ian from his partner Jane Collins and children Peter Beale and Lucy Beale. He runs away when Steven Beale leaves the gate open in 2007.

Dalgliesh
Albert
Sugar

When Syd moves to Canada, Sugar stays with Liz at Jim Branning's house. Sugar is the only witness to Lucas Johnson burying Owen Turner's corpse under a tree in the Square, and sits by the tree to Liz's despair. After Liz moves to Spain, Sugar is handed over to Lucas's son Jordan. When Sugar starts sniffing around the tree again in February 2010, Lucas takes her for a walk and returns without her. It is implied that he has killed the dog. Vicky Prior of the Metro said that Sugar "found herself at the centre of national outrage" following her implied death.[1]

Gumbo

Kate White of Inside Soap branded Gumbo "adorable".[19]

Tramp

A stray dog taken in by Abi. In 2014, a drunk Abi runs over Tramp and kills him. Tramp appears in the 2015 flashback episode.

Lady Di

The Carter family's dog. Tramp and Lady Di have puppies.

Wellard 2
Bronson
  • Owners: Taylor family
  • Duration: 2017–15 March 2021

Bronson is euthanised in March 2021 following illness due to his advanced age.

Banjo or Ziggy
  • Owner: Molly
  • Duration: 16 March 2021–

Ziggy is a stray dog found by Bailey Baker and Bernadette Taylor after Bronson's death. Bailey thinks the dog was sent by Bronson for them to look after but Karen Taylor insists that they cannot afford to look after a new dog and Bronson cannot be replaced. Later, Mitch Baker catches the dog and takes him home. Bailey decides to name him Banjo but he runs away when Karen enters the room. Karen then tells Mitch that Banjo must be taken to a dog's home. Mitch finds a poster for a lost dog but decides not to show Bailey. Bernadette later sees Molly (Juliette Alexandra) putting up posters saying that Ziggy is a lost dog. She tells Karen and Mitch, who decide they should keep the dog so Bernadette meets Molly and tells her she saw Ziggy being stolen. Bailey later sees a poster and decides to return Ziggy so Bernadette calls Molly and says they found Ziggy but Bailey admits that they have had him for a few weeks. Ziggy does not go with Molly when she calls him but when Bailey tells "Banjo" to go, he does. Molly allows Bailey and Bernadette to look after Banjo and when Bailey runs away from home, she takes Banjo with her. They become separated when Bailey's bags are taken and Banjo chases the people responsible. Banjo makes his way to Walford and is found by Bailey's brother, Keegan Baker (Zack Morris, with blood on him.

Cats

[edit]
Starsky and Hutch

Two black kittens owned by Andy O'Brien (Ross Davidson) and Debbie Wilkins (Shirley Cheriton).[8] Andy rescues them from the boiler room of the hospital where he works and convinces Debbie to keep them. After Andy's death, Debbie decides to give the cats away because they remind her too much of him, but Tony Carpenter accidentally traps them under Debbie's floorboards while fixing a leaky pipe. Debbie then gives Starsky to Sue Osman (Sandy Ratcliff) despite hoping to keep both cats together.

Stray cat (no name)
  • Duration: 1989

A stray cat, taken in by Pete Beale (Peter Dean).

Rodents

[edit]
  • Gerbils owned by Zoe Slater.
  • Rolf, Abi Branning's gerbil, who died on 23 February 2007. Abi buried him in the front garden and sung "Bright Eyes" at his funeral (2006–2007). In May 2016, Rolf is uncovered by Andy Flynn, the builder renovating the house into flats. Abi decides to bury Rolf in Albert Square gardens.
  • Marge, Abi's guinea pig, a replacement for Rolf after he died (23 February 2007-??). Bradley Branning thought Marge had been killed when a black bin bag was thrown into a workmans' fire, but Marge had actually been underneath it and later returned to the house by herself.
  • Marge 2, a guinea pig bought by Bradley to replace Marge as he mistakenly believed that Marge had been killed (31 May 2007-?)
  • Gilbert, a chinchilla Abi Branning bought after Marge died. (March 2008-?) Vicky Prior of the Metro branded Abi the "Dr Doolittle of Albert Square" for her many pets.[1]

Other mammals

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  • Chops, a pig that Mo Harris kept. She took it for walks, bathed it and sheltered it in Charlie Slater's summer house until Ian Beale tried to steal and sell it to settle a debt. Mo caught him and decided to sell the pig anyway. Chops was then taken away to be slaughtered.
  • Hercules, a rabbit that Ronnie Mitchell buys on 9 May 2016 for Amy Mitchell, saying it is from Amy's mother and Ronnie's sister, Roxy Mitchell.
  • Mr Pickles, a rabbit bought by Isaac Baptiste for Arthur Fowler on 8 June 2021. Isaac states that he once heard that pets can help children deal with grief and take ownership of something. Isaac's girlfriend, Lola Pearce, tells him he cannot just buy someone a rabbit but Ruby Allen then says Arthur will love it and Martin Fowler agrees, though says the rabbit would "make a great stew" if Arthur does not like it. Following Mr Pickles' first episode, the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF) said, "We are getting complaints about the EastEnders storyline featuring a rabbit. Are we happy with this messaging the BBC is now sharing with millions of viewers? Surely all the work of the RWAF is in vain if the BBC is sharing exactly the opposite welfare message but with much greater public access." It was reported that 267 complaints were received.[28][29]
  • Patricia, a pony that is a Christmas present from Janine Butcher to her daughter Scarlett Butcher, on 25 December 2021.

Birds

[edit]
  • Lovebirds given to Irene Hills (Roberta Taylor) by Terry Raymond (Gavin Richards) on Christmas Day 1997. The lovebirds were supplied by Animal Ark. When not required at Elstree Studios they lived with Animal Ark owner David Manning.[30]
  • Joey, a budgerigar owned by Dot (June Brown) and Jim Branning (John Bardon). In July 2002, Joey is accidentally killed when vacuumed up by Jim cleans his house.[31] The Sunday Mirror's Ian Hyland believed that is was something expected of the character of "Frank Spencer from Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em.[32] Jim purchases a look-a-like bird to replace Joey. Hyland believed it to be unfunny, embarrassing and that Bardon looked ashamed about playing the story.[33]
  • Unnamed budgie, belonging to Stan Porter's appeared in the spin-off Pat and Mo.
  • Robbie and Georgie, Jim and Dot's budgies, Georgie was the chick of Joey, and was set free by the E20 gang when they broke into Dot's house. Ian Hyland from the Sunday Mirror described storylines involving them as "daft"[34]
  • Corky, a parrot, bought by Mo Harris (Laila Morse) on Christmas Day 2005. She mistakenly assumed she was buying a cheap turkey for Christmas dinner.[35]
  • A parrot belonging to Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons).[36] In a comedic storyline, Roxy accidentally lets the parrot escape on her wedding day. It announces her wedding and leads Roxy stranded on a roof.[37] Naomi McElroy writing for the Sunday Mirror branded it "a turn of events that would never happen in real life."[38]
  • Pretty, a Lovebird, owned by Queenie Trott (Judy Cornwell)
  • Frank, a parrot, bought by Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) to keep in the office at R&R, but he is only there one day before Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) let him out (2 August 2011). Naomi McElroy of the Sunday Mirror said that Phil's actions towards the parrot were a "bizarre development".[39] The Daily Mail's Jaci Stephen believed that Frank would add comedic value and suspected that he could be used to expose residents secrets.[40]

Reptiles

[edit]
Crush

Crush is brought to Walford when Guizin Osman moves to Albert Square with her children, Emine Osman, Rayif Osman and Murat Osman, though she tells Sue Osman that she hoped she would not see the snake again. Sue is curious to see Crush, who is kept in a box, and it later escapes and scares Nick Cotton and Tony Carpenter when they see it. Sue's husband, Ali Osman, captures Crush. Later, the snake escapes in the house and Ali frantically searches the square but later reveals he found the snake in a school bag and it had not left the house. Crush also scares Dot Cotton when it escapes in the café and she sees it behind the counter, causing her to scream.

  • Lionel, a python snake, owned by Sasha Perkins (Jemma Walker) (2004–2005). In one episode Tariq Larousi (Nabil Elouahabi) spends a day "cowering" in the belief that Lionel has escaped. But Sasha has taken him to the vets where he is diagnosed with animal depression.[41]
  • Rooney, a bearded dragon that belongs to the Taylor family (2017).

Fish

[edit]
Gloria

Barry Clark (Gary Hailes) brings Gloria into Colin Russell's flat when Barry moves in.

Posh and Becks

Two fish owned by Little Mo Mitchell (Kacey Ainsworth). In 2001, Paul Trueman (Gary Beadle) hosts a party but following an accident with a champagne bottle, the fish are killed. Paul then decides to secretly replace the fish with look-a-likes.[42] Alastair McKay of the The Scotsman said they were "washed to oblivion during a riotous party".[43] Ian Hyland of the Sunday Mirror said that the replacement fish were as "pretty and dumb" as the original set.[42]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prior, Vicky (26 December 2013). "EastEnders' best pets: From Mick Carter's Lady Di to Wellard, Roly and Ghengis". Metro. (dmg media). Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d Jaffee 2009, p.38.
  3. ^ "Death of a poodle". BBC Online. (BBC). Archived from the original on 12 April 2004. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Once upon a time in the East". The Independent. Retrieved 2008-06-26. [dead link]
  5. ^ Smith, Julia; Holland, Tony (1987). EastEnders – The Inside Story. Book Club Associates. ISBN 978-0-563-20601-9.
  6. ^ Brake, Colin (1995). EastEnders: The First 10 Years: A Celebration. BBC Books. ISBN 978-0-563-37057-4.
  7. ^ Jaffee 2009, p.39.
  8. ^ a b c d e Lock 2000, p.127.
  9. ^ a b c "Wellard played by Kyte". BBC Online. (BBC). Archived from the original on 5 February 2007. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  10. ^ "Showbiz showbiz; The man in the know". Daily Record. (Trinity Mirror via The Free Library). 1 November 2003. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  11. ^ a b "Terrence played by Terrence". BBC Online. (BBC). Archived from the original on 8 June 2004. Retrieved 28 December 2013.
  12. ^ "Trouble with the Millers!(". South Wales Echo. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). 9 August 2004. Retrieved 27 December 2013.(subscription required)
  13. ^ Cummins, Fiona (12 August 2004). "My old man's a jailed armed robber; Murky Past of New Actress in Albert Square". Daily Mirror. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). Retrieved 27 December 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)(subscription required)
  14. ^ Shelley, Jim (16 November 2004). "Shelley Vision: Den Returns as a Panto Donkey". Daily Mirror. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). Retrieved 27 December 2013.(subscription required)
  15. ^ Banks-Smith, Nancy (26 April 2005). "Once were warriors". The Guardian. (Guardian News and Media). Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  16. ^ "Bill's dog tale has a happy ending; Ex-EastEnder Louisa Lytton finds puppy love in this week's episode The Bill Thursday, STV, 8pm". Daily Record. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). 4 August 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2013.(subscription required)
  17. ^ "EastEnders: Mickey and Keith bid Albert Square goodbye as they leave for new lives". Daily Mail. (Associated Newspapers). 24 June 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  18. ^ Morgan, Laura (5 May 2017). "11 of Soapland's most beloved pets, from EastEnders' Wellard to Coronation Street's Schmeichel". Digital Spy. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  19. ^ "A familiar face?". Inside Soap. 2016 (16): 23. 23–29 April 2016.
  20. ^ a b Green, Ru (14 September 2003). "Ian Hyland's TV week: Lisa goes on warpath in warpain". Coventry Evening Telegraph. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). Retrieved 27 December 2013.(subscription required)
  21. ^ "TV mail: Soap watch". Birmingham Evening Mail. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). 12 September 2003. Retrieved 27 December 2013.(subscription required)
  22. ^ Hyland, Ian (14 September 2003). "Ian Hyland's TV week: Lisa goes on warpath in warpain". Sunday Mirror. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). Retrieved 27 December 2013.(subscription required)
  23. ^ Shelley, Jim (23 September 2003). "Shelley Vision: Going down". Daily Mirror. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). Retrieved 27 December 2013.(subscription required)
  24. ^ Shelley, Jim (18 November 2003). "Shelley Vision: EastEnders is criminally bad". Daily Mirror. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). Retrieved 27 December 2013.(subscription required)
  25. ^ Fitton, Caroline (6 November 2010). "Soap Watch; Caroline Fitton's ultimate insight into the week's soaps". Daily Mail. (Associated Newspapers). Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  26. ^ Simon, Jane (9 November 2010). "We Love Telly; Young & Gifted". Daily Mirror. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). Retrieved 27 December 2013.(subscription required)
  27. ^ "All the goss from your soaps". Daily Record. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). 10 May 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2013.(subscription required)
  28. ^ Milward, Charlie (25 June 2021). "EastEnders backlash: BBC soap receives 'hundreds of complaints' over 'rabbit cruelty'". Daily Express. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  29. ^ Patterson, Stephen (25 June 2021). "EastEnders 'hit with 200 complaints over rabbit scenes". Metro. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  30. ^ Malins, Sue (12 June 1999). "A Day in the Life Of.: Animal Supplier David Manning". Daily Mirror. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). Retrieved 28 December 2013.(subscription required)
  31. ^ "Ian Hyland's TV week: EastEnders". Birmingham Evening Mail. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). 11 July 2002. Retrieved 28 December 2013.(subscription required)
  32. ^ Hyland, Ian (7 July 2002). "Switch on: Ian Hyland's soapwatch". Sunday Mirror. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). Retrieved 28 December 2013.(subscription required)
  33. ^ Hyland, Ian (14 July 2002). "Ian Hyland's TV week: This storyline is no more, it is deceased". Sunday Mirror. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). Retrieved 28 December 2013.(subscription required)
  34. ^ Hyland, Ian (8 September 2002). "Ian Hyland's TV week: EastEnders". Sunday Mirror. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). Retrieved 28 December 2013.(subscription required)
  35. ^ Wise, Jon (3 December 2006). "EastEnder to HaciEnder! Exclusive how soap Laila will say adios to Walford's wheeler-dealer gran Mo Slater". The People. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). Retrieved 28 December 2013.(subscription required)
  36. ^ Shelley, Jim (30 March 2009). "Shelley Vision: Down". Daily Mirror. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). Retrieved 28 December 2013.(subscription required)
  37. ^ Shelley, Jim (4 August 2008). "Shelley Vision: East End Nuptials Are a Roxy Horror Show". Daily Mirror. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). Retrieved 28 December 2013.(subscription required)
  38. ^ McElroy, Naomi (27 July 2008). "Telly Vision: Soap watch". Sunday Mirror. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). Retrieved 28 December 2013.(subscription required)
  39. ^ McElroy, Naomi (31 July 2011). "Soapwatch; Your TV". Sunday Mirror. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). Retrieved 28 December 2013.(subscription required)
  40. ^ Stephen, Jaci (31 July 2011). "Soap Watch". Daily Mail. (Associated Newspapers via Highbeam Research). Retrieved 28 December 2013.(subscription required)
  41. ^ Shelley, Jim (14 September 2004). "Shelley Vision: Familiar Twist in Millers' Tale". Daily Mirror. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). Retrieved 27 December 2013.(subscription required)
  42. ^ a b Hyland, Ian (30 September 2001). "Ian Hyland's TV Week: Square Peg Rounds Off". Sunday Mirror. (Trinity Mirror via Highbeam Research). Retrieved 27 December 2013.(subscription required)
  43. ^ McKay, Alastair (4 October 2001). "What's the script?". The Scotsman. (Johnston Press via Highbeam Research). Retrieved 27 December 2013.(subscription required)

Bibliography

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Pets EastEnders