Instruct: Given a question, retrieve documents that can help answer the question.
Query: When was Abi Branning introduced on EastEnders?
Abi Branning i<!-- Do not change is to was, she has not stopped being fictional. -->s a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Lorna Fitzgerald. She was introduced by executive producer Kate Harwood on 3 July 2006 as an extension to the Branning family, along with father Max (Jake Wood), mother Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner) and older sister Lauren Branning (Madeline Duggan/Jacqueline Jossa). Her storylines involve her friendships and relationships with Ben Mitchell (Charlie Jones/Joshua Pascoe/Harry Reid) and Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick), her toxic friendship with Babe Smith (Annette Badland), faking a pregnancy so that Ben would not leave her for Paul Coker (Jonny Labey), being a suspect in the murder of Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater), her affair with Lauren's fiancé, Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell), and becoming pregnant by him. In September 2017, it was announced that Fitzgerald and Jossa had been axed by executive consultant John Yorke.[2] Abi's exit storyline involves her and Lauren falling from the roof of The Queen Victoria pub, leading to Abi giving birth prematurely and being confirmed brainstem dead in later episodes. Abi's final scenes aired on 19 January 2018 after her life support is withdrawn. The character's funeral took place on 16 February 2018.
Lexi is conceived during a one-night stand and Lola discovers she is pregnant in November 2011. Lola denies that Ben is the father and Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald) breaks up with Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) when she thinks he is the father of Lola's baby. In April 2012, Lola discovers her baby is a girl.
Tramp is a stray dog found by Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald). He first appears on 3 December 2013. The dog wakes up several Albert Square residents in the night by barking, and in the morning, Abi tells her father Max Branning (Jake Wood) that she will deal with the dog. She immediately takes a liking to him and brings him in the house. Max wants him gone, but Abi says she has named him. Max calls him "Tramp" and when Abi's sister Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) arrives, she and Abi convince Max to let them keep the dog. He mates with the Carter family's bulldog, Lady Di, who becomes pregnant. Upset over her break-up with Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick), a drunken Abi tries to leave Albert Square, and when Max refuses to take her she decides to drive herself, but runs over Tramp, killing him.
Albert, played by Huw Parmenter, appears on 18 June. He is a French curate who arrives in Walford with Reverend Stevens (Michael Keating). Dot Cotton (June Brown) asks her step-granddaughter Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald) to show Albert around. Gary Gillatt from "Inside Soap" wrote of Albert: "We were entirely mystified as to the purpose of Albert (pronounced "Al-bear") the French curate in Walford this week. "Ze poverty! Ze vermin! Ze underworld!" he enthused to Abi—so he's clearly a fan of "EastEnders". But what was he for?"
Her body is discovered on 14 September by Jordan and his friend Abi Branning, with Lucas watching from a distance. Trina's death is pronounced as an accident by the police on 29 September 2009.
Abi and Steven's baby is conceived during their affair, while Steven is in a relationship with her mother's sister, Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa). Shortly afterwards, Steven dies after being injured in a fire caused by Abi's father Max Branning (Jake Wood). The baby is delivered via caesarean section after her mother becomes brainstem dead following a fall with Lauren from the roof of The Queen Victoria public house. She is held by Max after being born. Max and Lauren visit her and discuss naming her. Max later visits her in the hospital and takes a photograph of her, but is told that she is not strong enough to go to her mother's funeral. Her mother's uncle, Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), visits the hospital after her mother's grandmother, Cora Cross (Ann Mitchell), suggests that Max would kidnap the baby as punishment for being banned from the funeral. Jack arrives at the hospital and finds the incubator is empty. He presumes that Max has taken her, although Max returns with her and explains that he has registered her birth, naming her Abi in memory of her mother, and that he wants to do things right. After Max returns to Walford after a break away, he and his new wife, Abi's great-aunt Rainie Branning (Tanya Franks), visit Abi, who is being cared for by Cora, and vows to get her back. Max and Rainie meet with Abi's social worker, Calvin Hoskins (Colin Tierney), and use Jack's house to convince him they are suitable to raise Abi and after the meeting, Rainie and Max row about Rainie potentially ruining Max's plan to raise Abi. Abi's social worker visits Max and Rainie again to discuss their marriage, which could be considered unstable due to the short time they have been married, about Max's contemplated suicide, though Max insists he is stronger and promised to bring up Abi. Max and Rainie are asked for three references and although Jack agrees to be the family referee, other residents are unwilling to support Max, but Max's former daughter-in-law Stacey Fowler (Lacey Turner) and her husband Martin Fowler (James Bye) agree to be referees. Cora visits Rainie and Max and offers Rainie the chance to leave Max, relocate to Exeter, run a tearoom and be part of Abi's upbringing with her and Abi's maternal grandmother, Tanya Cross (Jo Joyner). Rainie accepts the offer for £30,000, but contacts Calvin and when social services visit, Max and Rainie inform them of Cora's bribe.
Santer introduced five new main characters in January, three from the online spin-off "" (Zsa Zsa Carter, Leon Small and Fatboy) as well as two members of the long-established Mitchell family, Glenda Mitchell and her son Danny. February saw the show's first birth of 2010, with Kamil Masood, the fourth child of the established Zainab Masood and Masood Ahmed. The character of Harvey Freeman was introduced in April, and the fourth main character from "EastEnders: E20", Mercy Olubunmi, joined "EastEnders" in May. Kirkwood's first major casting was Zöe Lucker in the role of Vanessa Gold and later cast her daughter Jodie and husband Harry, as well as Mercy's grandmother Grace, all of whom appeared in June. June also saw the show's second birth of the year, that of Lily Branning, the daughter of Stacey Branning and Ryan Malloy. In September, Richard Mitchell became the third birth of the year, born to Sam Mitchell and Jack Branning. Three characters arrived in October: Greg Jessop, Tanya Branning's fiancé; Michael Moon, Alfie Moon's cousin; and Julie Perkins, an old friend of Billy Mitchell. In November, Kirkwood introduced the ex-husband of Zainab Masood, Yusef Khan. Two more babies were born in December, James Branning and Tommy Moon, which triggered a long-running storyline for Ronnie Mitchell and Kat Moon.
Bernadette Logan, played by Olivia Grant, is a pupil in Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald) and Ben Mitchell's (Charlie Jones) school year. She is first seen when she takes part in Dot Branning (June Brown) and Yolande Trueman's (Angela Wynter) 2007 nativity play. Abi is jealous of her as Bernadette is playing Mary. After Abi tries to sabotage Bernadette to gain the role of Mary, she is demoted from narrator to the role of the donkey.
In January 2012, Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald) finds a love note in the charity shop and finds out the book the note was in belongs to Cora. However, Abi sees Rose reading the same note, leaving Abi confused. Cora then discovers the letter Rose is reading and asks why is anybody writing to her, leaving the two ladies to have an argument. When Rose receives more love letters, Dot and Cora rummage through her things to try and discover who the mystery man is. They are horrified when they learn he is serving a life sentence in prison, although Rose seems unfazed by this. Dot then attempts to put a stop to it by writing on Rose's behalf, but reveals her real name and address, not realising that Rose used a false name and a PO Box address.
Alexa first appears when Lola sees her with a group of friends and recognises her from their time together in a care home. The next day, Lola meets Alexa and her friends, and Lola tries to impress them, keeping a look out while they shoplift. Later, they go to the local café where Alexa starts throwing things at people, including Lola's friend Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald). Lola defends Abi, and Alexa says that she can only be friends with one of them, so Lola sides with Abi. Alexa is later shocked to discover Lola has a baby, and that Lola named her Lexi, after her. The next day, Lola sees Alexa and her gang, and Alexa insults Lexi, saying she should have had an abortion. When Abi arrives, Alexa mocks her for wearing makeup, wiping it from her face, and she and her friends start pushing and slapping Abi, filming everything on a mobile phone. They take Abi's phone, so Lola snatches it from Alexa. Alexa's friends grab Lola and when Alexa says that Lexi is dead, Lola breaks free and punches Alexa in the face, leaving her with a nosebleed. Alexa and her friends then show the police the part of their mobile phone video showing Lola attacking Alexa, and Lola is arrested, with Lexi being taken away by social services.
Between 2006 to 2012, new influx of Branning's join the show - Max Branning (Jake Wood), his wife Tanya and their children Lauren and Abi. Max and Tanya later have another child Oscar Branning. Max's son Bradley Branning (Charlie Clements) was introduced earlier in 2006. Jim's son Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) and his daughter Penny Branning (Mia Mckenna-Bruce) are introduced, as well as Bianca's children Liam (James Forde), Tiffany (Maisie Smith) and Morgan Butcher (Devon Higgs) and her foster daughter Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty). Suzy Branning (Maggie O'Neill) also returns to the show, although she leaves a few months later. In 2010, Carol returns the show with her son Billie. Once again in 2012, the Branning family are expanded with Derek Branning (now played by Jamie Foreman) returning alongside his children Joey Branning (David Witts) and Alice Branning (Jasmyn Banks). Carol's daughter Sonia returns in 2014 with her daughter Bex Fowler (Jasmine Armfield), as does Robbie in both 2015 and 2017.
The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the BBC soap opera "EastEnders" in 2006, by order of first appearance. 2006 was a year when many families joined "EastEnders". First, Deano Wicks, his sister Carly Wicks and father Kevin Wicks joined. Then, the Fox family appeared, with the characters of Denise Fox, Chelsea Fox and Libby Fox as members. The Branning family was extended with Max Branning, Tanya Branning, Abi Branning and Lauren Branning all joining. Also, May Wright, Jay Brown and Shirley Carter, the biological mother of Deano and Carly, all joined the show. Also, Owen Turner, Denise's abusive ex-husband, and his mother Liz both arrived in this year.
April Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera "EastEnders", played by Debbie Arnold. April is introduced as the sister of established character Carol Jackson (Lindsey Coulson).
Stewart said, due to Max's past events with his family, what Abi might say when Max objects to her relationship with Jay, "It won't be her setting a gerbil on him", calling her a "goody-two-shoes".[31] A writer from the Western Mail said that the Branning/Mitchell Feud makes Abi and Jay feel like "Walford's answer to Romeo and Juliet".[4] Two writers from the Daily Mirror mocked the storyline where Abi turns down the trip to Costa Rica. One said, "An extreme case of soap agoraphobia as brilliant Abi sensibly turns down the chance to spend eight weeks in the tropical paradise of Costa Rica. But in the tiny micro-world of EastEnders, even the three-mile odyssey from Walford to the West End is considered an epic journey. So Central America is simply out of the question"[33] with another saying, "Abi was a little girl arranging tearful funerals for her pets. But now she's a young teenager, secretly engaged to boyfriend Jay and planning to run away together. He then gives Abi an ultimatum: him or her trip to Costa Rica. Best pass her the suncream, then".[34] However, Abi, along with the younger members of the cast were thought to be the blame of declining ratings for the show; "In the last two months, viewers have seen lots of Lauren, Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater), Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty), Fatboy (Ricky Norwood), Ben Jay, Abi and Anthony Moon (Matt Lapinskas) - but not nearly so much of the classic characters".[5] Inside Soap noted that Abi and Jay's relationship was popular with viewers.[10]
Abi moves to Albert Square with her parents Max Branning (Jake Wood) and Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner), and sister Lauren Branning (Madeline Duggan), where she befriends Ben Mitchell (Charlie Jones). Abi is hit by Dean Wicks's (Matt Di Angelo) car, suffering a broken wrist, cuts and bruises, but she recovers with no long-term impairment. Abi later learns that Ben's father, Phil Mitchell's (Steve McFadden), girlfriend Stella Crawford (Sophie Thompson) is abusing him, so due to this, Abi and Ben plan to run away, but fail as they are caught by their parents. Abi then stands up to Stella and tells Ben to do the same, leading Stella to kill herself when Ben reveals the abuse. In December 2007, she chooses the name for her newborn baby brother, Oscar. Soon after, when Max's affair with Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) is revealed, Max and Tanya separate. Abi begins to live sporadically with each parent, frequently defending Max to Tanya and Lauren, until Max and Tanya reunite in 2009, however Abi leaves with Tanya after learning of Max's financial problems. In September 2009, Abi and Jordan Johnson (Michael-Joel David Stuart) find Jordan's mother Trina Johnson's (Sharon Duncan Brewster) body in the summerhouse at the allotments having been accidentally killed by Jordan's father, Lucas Johnson (Don Gilet).[6]
On 24 April 2018, it was announced that Spearritt would reprise the role for another guest appearance later in 2018. The character's July 2018 return was described as a "comedy plot". A third stint over Christmas 2018 was announced on 4 December 2018.
Abi Branning first appears in the episode broadcast on 29 December 2017. She is the daughter of Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald) and Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell).
This episode first aired on BBC's Red Button service on 11 January 2013. Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald) tracks down her step grandmother Dot Branning (June Brown), who has been living away from Walford with her granddaughter Dotty Cotton, following the revelation that her father Max has a secret wife, Kirsty, and the fallout it had caused for her family, including Max's current fiance/ex-wife and Abi's mother Tanya. She convinces Dot to return home to Walford when she recognises how she is lonely, starting the 'next chapter' in Dot's life. It acted as the return of June Brown to the role of Dot after six months away.
Abi and Babe discover that Ben's half-sister Louise Mitchell (Tilly Keeper) has been using Phil's credit card, so they force her to return everything she has bought. Babe asks Abi for a favour, but Abi realises that Babe has already assumed that she would say yes, so calls Babe a user. As revenge, Babe sends Ben a letter, telling him of the fake pregnancy. Louise finds the letter and blackmails Abi, telling her to move away with Ben. Abi tries to persuade Ben into moving but he refuses, saying he needs to be there for alcoholic Phil, and Abi tells Louise that Ben will always believe his girlfriend over his sister. Abi tells Babe that she is worried that Ben will find out, so Babe suggests that Abi tells Ben the truth. However, Abi allows Louise to continue using Phil's credit card. Later, Abi catches Ben and Louise arguing and assumes it is over the letter, and she inadvertently reveals she was never pregnant, but Ben was referring to Phil's credit card. In The Vic, Ben gets drunk and kisses Abi in the toilets and starts to undress her, but then drags her into the pub in her underwear and reveals via the karaoke microphone that she made up her pregnancy. Abi is humiliated and is taken to Dot Branning's (June Brown) house by her uncle Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), however, an enraged Phil takes her away in his car, but is stopped by Jay, who insists that enough people have been hurt. When Bobby Beale (Eliot Carrington) confesses to killing Lucy, Max is released, but refuses to see Abi or Lauren.
Marcus returns again in August 2015, when Max Branning (Jake Wood) hires him to represent him after he is accused of the murder of Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater). Phil tries to threaten him into dropping the case, while Jane Beale (Laurie Brett), who wants to see Max found innocent, contacts him and formulates a fake alibi for Max, claiming she slept with him on the night of Lucy's death. Marcus points the blame towards Max's daughter Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald), who is furious with her father for allowing this. Max asks Marcus to stop this line of questioning towards Abi but Marcus insists it is necessary to help clear his name and that it will raise the question of reasonable doubt in the jury's eyes. Despite Marcus's best efforts, Max is found guilty of murder because the jury foreman was bribed by Phil. However, Max's conviction is later quashed when the real killer, Bobby Beale (Eliot Carrington), confesses to Lucy's murder.
The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the BBC soap opera "EastEnders" in 2007, by order of first appearance. A new family were introduced in this year, with Zainab Masood, Masood Ahmed, Shabnam Masood and Tamwar Masood creating the Masood clan. Heather Trott was introduced, and the Mitchell family was extended, with Ronnie Mitchell and Roxy Mitchell as a fiery new double act. August saw the arrival of Tanya Branning's drug-addicted sister Rainie Cross. Scott Maslen joined the soap opera as Jack Branning in October, and his nephew Oscar Branning was born in December.
Abigail "Abi" Branning, played by Lorna Fitzgerald, is the youngest daughter of Tanya (Jo Joyner) and Max (Jake Wood). Her parents' volatile marriage often leads to Abi playing mediator, despite her family trying to shield her from the worst of the conflict. Abi develops a crush on Darren Miller (Charlie G. Hawkins), but moves on to have a relationship with Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick). Abi also proves to be a loyal support to her sister, Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) during her alcoholism. For her portrayal as Abi, Fitzgerald won the "Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or Actress" award at the 2012 British Soap Awards.
From 1995–2013, Ashdown was series consultant and lead writer on "EastEnders". He was involved in the creation of the Slater family, and along with other writers, developed the characters around the actors themselves, rather than the other way round. He created the character of Max Branning and was responsible for numerous key episodes such as Ethel Skinner's death, Stacey Slater's bipolar and the "Who Killed Archie?" storyline. In 2010 he wrote the twenty fifth anniversary live episode, ""EastEnders" Live". More recent episodes that he has written include Pat Evans' death, Mandy Salter's second exit, Janine Butcher's temporary exit, the aftermath of David Wicks' return and the Jake Stone and Sadie Young reveal. He returned to "EastEnders" to write the Christmas 2017 episode which saw Tanya Branning return and Abi Branning and Lauren Branning fall from a rooftop. He then returned to write the Christmas 2018 episodes, in which Hayley Slater pushes Alfie Moon down the stairs and he then kidnaps their daughter, Cherry Slater.
Lorna Katie Fitzgerald (born 17 April 1996) is a British actress from Northampton. Her most notable role to date is that of Abi Branning in the BBC soap opera "EastEnders".
The Watts and Mitchell families have been central to many notable "EastEnders" storylines, the show having been dominated by the Watts in the 1980s, with the 1990s focusing on the Mitchells. The early 2000s saw a shift in attention towards the newly introduced female Slater clan, before a renewal of emphasis upon the restored Watts family beginning in 2003. Since 2006, "EastEnders" has largely been dominated by the Mitchell and Branning families, though the early 2010s also saw a renewed focus on the Moon family, and from 2013 onwards, on the Carters. The Beales are the show's longest running family, having been in "EastEnders" since it began in 1985. Key people involved in the production of "EastEnders" have stressed how important the idea of strong families is to the programme. Peggy Mitchell, in particular, is notorious for her ceaseless repetition of such statements as "You're a Mitchell!" and "It's all about family!" Pauline Fowler is also known for her insistence on family and mentioning her brother and husband to instill loyalty from family members. Her mother Lou Beale is renowned for her family meetings and traditional approach to family. More recently, Derek Branning regularly expresses the importance of a strong family unit. As the eldest sibling, he is constantly asserting his position as head of his family and reminding everyone to pull together in times of trouble. Additionally, Derek commonly refers to himself, Max Branning and Jack Branning as "the Branning brothers."
Members of the Beale family currently in "EastEnders" include Ian, Martin, Bex, and Hope. Additionally, several others may be considered Beales through marriage; Kathy, Sonia and Stacey Fowler are among these. Louise Mitchell is the legal daughter of Mark Fowler and initially called Louise Fowler whilst Lily Fowler and Arthur Fowler have Mark's brother, Martin, their stepfather. Abi Branning is the daughter of Ian's stepson Steven Beale and Abi Branning.