Revision as of 16:37, 19 February 2008 editStephenb (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers54,745 editsm Reverted 1 edit by Ilovepunk identified as vandalism to last revision by Stephenb. using TWINKLE← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 22:57, 13 December 2024 edit undoMeena (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers43,685 editsm Restored revision 1259763907 by Ernsanchez00 (talk): Bowden did not portray Ben in Abi's tenure.Tags: Twinkle Undo | ||
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{{About|the ''EastEnders'' character introduced in 2006|the ''EastEnders'' character introduced in 2017|Abi Branning (2017 character)}} | |||
{{Unreferenced|date=January 2008}} | |||
{{short description|Fictional character from the British soap opera EastEnders}} | |||
{{TV-in-universe}} | |||
{{EngvarB|date=December 2017}} | |||
{{Infobox EastEnders character 2 | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}} | |||
|image=] | |||
{{good article}} | |||
|character_name=Abi Branning | |||
{{Infobox soap character | |||
|actor_name=] | |||
| series= EastEnders | |||
|years=2006— | |||
| name= Abi Branning | |||
|first=] ] | |||
| image= Abi Branning (2018).jpg | |||
|books= | |||
| imagesize= 200px | |||
|dob= | |||
| caption= <!-- A caption is not needed unless the character has been portrayed by more than one actress --> | |||
|dod= | |||
| portrayer= ] | |||
|status=Single | |||
| creator = ] | |||
|occupation=Student | |||
| |
| introducer= ] | ||
| years= 2006–2018 | |||
|father= ] | |||
| alias = Abigail Branning <!-- Full name, 15 September 2009 --> | |||
|mother= ] | |||
| first=Episode 3180<br>{{start date|2006|7|3|df=y}} | |||
|siblings = ]<br>]<br>] | |||
|last= Episode 5641<br>{{end date|df=y|2018|01|19}} | |||
|children = | |||
| classification= ] | |||
|grandparents = ]<br>] | |||
| spinoffs = '']'' (2013)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01q458s|title=Dorothy Branning: The Next Chapter – Red Button Special, EastEnders – BBC One|website=BBC}}</ref> | |||
|aunts/uncles = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>] | |||
| occupation= {{plainlist| | |||
|nieces/nephews= | |||
*Student | |||
*Waitress | |||
*Veterinary receptionist | |||
*Kitchen assistant}} | |||
| family= ] | |||
| father= ] | |||
| mother= ] | |||
| stepfather= ] | |||
| stepmother= ] | |||
| sisters= ] | |||
| brothers= ] | |||
| halfbrothers= ] | |||
| halfsisters= ] | |||
| daughters= ] | |||
| grandfathers= ]<br>Bill Cross | |||
| grandmothers= ]<br>] | |||
| uncles= ]<br>] | |||
| aunts= ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>] | |||
| nephews = ] | |||
| cousins= ]<br>]<br>]<br />]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>] | |||
| relatives = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>] | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Abigail "Abi" Branning''' is a ] in the popular ] ] '']''. She is played by ]. | |||
''' Abi Branning''' is a fictional character from the ] ] '']'', played by ]. She was introduced by executive producer ] on 3 July 2006 as an extension to the ], along with father ] (]), mother ] (]) and older sister ] (]/]). Her storylines involve her friendships and relationships with ] (Charlie Jones/Joshua Pascoe/]) and ] (]), her toxic friendship with ] (]), faking a pregnancy so that Ben would not leave her for ] (]), being a suspect in the murder of ] (]), her affair with Lauren's fiancé, ] (]), and falling pregnant by him. | |||
In September 2017, it was announced that Fitzgerald and Jossa had been axed by executive consultant ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=McCreesh|first1=Louise|title=EastEnders cast shake-up sees Jacqueline Jossa and Lorna Fitzgerald written out as Lauren and Abi Branning|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/news/a837681/eastenders-jacqueline-jossa-lorna-fitzgerald-lauren-abi-branning-exit-christmas/|access-date=10 September 2017|work=]|publisher=]|date=10 September 2017}}</ref> Abi's exit storyline involved her and Lauren falling from the roof of ] ] on Christmas Day 2017, leading to Abi giving birth prematurely to her daughter, ], and being confirmed ] 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. | |||
==History== | |||
Abi is the daughter of ] and ], the sister of ] and ], and half sister of ]. She lives at ] ]. | |||
For her portrayal as Abi, Fitzgerald was nominated for Best Young Actor at the 2010 ], and went on to win Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or Actress at the 2012 ]. Kate White of '']'' praised her portrayal of Abi, saying that Fitzgerald is the "brightest young star in soap", adding "Abi's destined for great dramatic things".<ref name="kwis"/> A writer from the '']'' said that Abi's relationship with ] (]) is "Walford's answer to ]".<ref name="wm"/> However, some critics were less positive, with one saying in 2012 that the audience were "not nearly" seeing as much of the "classic characters" due to the younger cast receiving more screen time.<ref name="cc"/> | |||
Upon arriving in ], Abi made a firm friend in ]. Abi scared Ben by predicting that ] and ] would get married and send him to a strict boarding school. | |||
==Storylines== | |||
On ] ] Abi was waiting for her father to collect her from school, but he was having an affair with ] and did not turn up. She walked home but was knocked over by a car that ] was driving. Abi escaped with only a broken wrist and some cuts and brusies on her head but Tanya was furious with Max and blamed him for the accident. | |||
Abi moves to ] with her parents ] (]) and ] (]), and sister ] (]), where she befriends ] (Charlie Jones). Soon after, when Max's affair with his son ]'s (]) wife, ] (]), is revealed, Max and Tanya separate and eventually divorce. Abi begins to live sporadically with each parent, frequently defending Max to Tanya and Lauren, until Max and Tanya reunite, however Abi leaves with Tanya after learning of Max's financial problems. Abi starts to take an interest in Max's lodger ] (]), who is left uncomfortable when she tries to kiss him, telling her she is too young. She later develops a crush on ] (]), and the two begin dating. Jay and Abi cuddle up as they are watching television, but Max believes they are about to have sex, so he throws Jay out and rips Abi's bridesmaid dress to Greg and Tanya's wedding. They go to buy a new one, but they have a car crash on Greg and Tanya's wedding day. They suffer minor injuries and both recover. Despite Abi's insecurities over Jay's friendship with ] (]), she and Jay remain together, and eventually Max comes to accept them as a couple. | |||
Jay proposes to Abi and she accepts, but she is faced with a dilemma when she is offered the chance to go to ] to help with ] conservation. Jay gives Abi an ultimatum, threatening to break up with her if she goes to Costa Rica, but she goes regardless. She returns weeks later and the pair reconcile. Abi meets her cousin ] (Khali Best), not knowing they are related, and this causes Jay to be jealous until the truth of their relationship is revealed. Abi tries to support Lauren (now played by ]) with her drinking problem, however, this ends badly when Lauren destroys Abi's revision notes. Max is framed for causing a car crash that leaves ] (]) hospitalised. Abi and Lauren struggle to pay Max's legal costs, as well as their bills. Abi receives her exam results and discovers she has not gained the grades to go to university to become a vet, but Lauren, believing that Abi has passed the exams, throws a party, during which Abi blurts out that she blames Lauren for her poor results because she has an alcohol problem. Abi decides to continue studying, but when Max goes to prison, she has to take a job and struggles to find time for her studies. Max is proven innocent and returns home to support his family. In an argument between Jay and Dexter, Abi discovers that on a holiday, Jay kissed a barmaid. She also finds out that Lola knew and furiously confronts her. However, after a heart-to-heart with Jay, they decide to work through their issues and she fixes things with Dexter and Lola as well. She also takes in a stray dog, ]. | |||
In May 2007, Max, Tanya, Lauren and Abi all left Walford on a spontaneous holiday to Spain, after Max's mistress ] threatened to tell Tanya about their affair. However they did return and Abi was pleased that Bradley had bought her another guinea pig. She now had two, both named Marge. | |||
Abi's final A Level results come through and she tells everyone that she has got what she needed to get into the ]. However, she later confides in Jay that she has been lying, as not to disappoint her family. He encourages her to go through clearing and she gets a position doing a similar course at the ]. Jay decides to go with Abi. Ben returns from prison and reveals he thinks Jay is in love with Lola, and he confesses this to Abi when she confronts him. He then ends things to stay in Walford. Devastated, she wants to leave for Bolton immediately, but when Max refuses to take her, she drives the car herself, accidentally running over Tramp, killing him; she callously declares that "things die". After her break up with Jay, Abi becomes a much nastier and bitter person. She begins a relationship with Ben (now played by ]), which is discovered by ] (]) who informs Max of the relationship. Max demands that Abi does not see Ben any more, which Abi refuses to do. After she moves in with him, Ben reveals to her that he might still be gay and is worried he will never get over his homosexuality, but Abi assures him that they will make things work. | |||
On ] ] Ben confided in Abi that Stella had been hurting him. He told Abi that this was a normal part of growing up, and convinced her that Tanya was abusing Lauren in the same way. Scared that it would happen to her one day, Abi suggested to Ben that they run away. On Stella and Phil's wedding day she told Ben to tell everyone or she would and gave Ben a stone which she said was a "stone of courage". After the wedding, she gave Ben her second guinea pig, Marge 2, to take care of. | |||
Following Ben's arrest for ]'s (]) murder, Abi tells Phil that Max assaulted Lucy to get Ben off. Despite being innocent, Max turns himself in and is formally charged while Ben is released. Stacey visits Max, who tells her that he thinks Abi killed Lucy. Stacey confronts Abi, who attacks Stacey, blaming her for her parents' split and Bradley's death. Ben and Abi continue their relationship, but Ben is secretly seeing ] (]). ] (]) offers Abi work in the pub kitchen, and Abi tells Babe that she is able to turn a blind eye to Ben's homosexuality, as long as he loves her. However, when Abi finds a present that Ben has got for Paul, she realises he has feelings for Paul and confides in Babe, who helps her to publicly announce that she is pregnant. Ben asks Abi to have a termination but then changes his mind, saying he wants the baby. Abi then goes to Babe, panicking because she has lied and is not really pregnant. She decides to tell Ben the truth, but as she is about to do so, he tells her he has caught chlamydia. Abi later tests positive for chlamydia. Babe pushes Abi into Ben as he is pushed by Phil, knocking her to the ground. Babe takes Abi away from the square, and on their return, Abi tells Ben she has had a miscarriage. When she later sees Ben being comforted by Paul, she feels uneasy. | |||
] was to put on a ] play seeing it was reaching Christmas, and Abi was pleased she was to star in it. She was desperate to play ], but the part was given to a girl called Bernadette. Abi was given the part of the donkey. So, she hatched a plan with Ben to get rid of Bernadette, so she could have her part. So they left a skateboard outside Bernadette's dressing room so she would trip over. But Yolande came out and tripped over. So, ] took over the Nativity play and gave Abi the part of the Heavenly Host. Abi was thrilled that she had more lines than Bernadette. But in rehearsal times, Abi triped Bernadette up, who ran off crying. Ben confessed to Dot that Abi was the one who hurt Yolande and Bernadette, so Dot changed Abi's part back to the donkey. But on the night of the play, a vengeful Bernadette said some cruel words to Abi about being the donkey. Abi was hurt by what Bernadette said and decided she wasn't going to be in the play, but then she found Dot crying because she was missing Jim. Abi comforted Dot, so Dot gave Abi the part of the Heveanly Host again. | |||
Abi and Babe discover that Ben's half-sister ] (]) has been using Phil's credit card, so they force her to return everything she has bought. After a spat with Abi, 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. Abi accidentally confesses, after which Ben gets drunk and kisses Abi in the pub 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. Babe emotionally blackmails Abi, forcing her to resign. Abi exposes Babe's secrets to the pub's landlord, ] (]), so he tells Abi that she can keep her job. Abi locks Babe in the kitchen freezer room as an act of revenge, although Babe frames her sister, ] (]). Abi is then reinstated at the Vic by a seemingly apologetic Babe but her behaviour, when alone in the kitchen with Abi, is threatening. Babe later leaves Walford after being thrown out by her family, so Abi runs the kitchen alone. | |||
On ] ], Abi's baby brother was born. Max and Tanya said that Abi could name him, and Abi chose the name ]. However, on Christmas Day Abi was dealt the blow of watching Bradley and Stacey's wedding DVD and witnessing her dad kiss her sister-in-law. Max lied to her, claiming that it was just one kiss. Believing this, Abi became dismayed at her mother's lack of forgiveness, unaware of the true extent of his infidelity. Whilst Tanya was asleep, she sneaked out with her baby brother Oscar, and was met by her dad. A few days later, Abi gave her dad her keys while the family were out, so he could let himself into the house. She has become increasingly upset by her parents separation and hostile toward her mother. She later burnt the DVD proving that Max and Stacey had an affair, before Max and Tanya's divorce hearing. | |||
Abi tells Lauren's boyfriend, ] (]), that they would make a good couple during a heart-to-heart. Abi and Steven fall out with Lauren at Abi's 21st birthday party and start an affair; Abi later learns that Steven is lying about having a brain tumour so that Lauren will not leave him. Despite being against the idea, Abi does not tell Lauren as Steven promises Abi he is planning to leave Lauren to be with her. Then Abi is stunned by Steven's public marriage proposal to Lauren. Jane overhears Abi and Steven talking about their relationship and confronts them. Abi then discovers she is pregnant by Steven. Abi helps Steven keep up the lie by giving him a brain scan from a dog and animal medication that will give him symptoms of an illness, as well as helping to keep Lauren away from doctor's appointments that Steven has invented. Abi discovers that Ian's restaurant is on fire and goes inside. She finds Jane on the floor struggling to breathe. A pipe falls onto Abi, knocking her unconscious, but Max and Steven soon find her and drag her out. She is taken to hospital with Lauren by her side in the ambulance. At the hospital, Abi tells Steven he is going to be a father. Steven declares his love for her and makes a promise that he will make their relationship work. Steven then dies from injuries inflicted by Max during the fire, leaving an unaware Abi devastated. | |||
==Family== | |||
*Father: ] | |||
Out of jealousy that Lauren is getting all the attention, Abi tries to tell Lauren about her pregnancy, but Lauren angrily mistakes this as gloating about her own abortion. Upset at the accusation, Abi says that she wishes Lauren died instead and that she never deserved Steven. Steven's tumour lie is revealed, so Abi attends Steven's funeral as the sole mourner and declares her love. Abi is fired from her job at the vets when they have CCTV evidence of her stealing medication. She asks Mick to extend her working hours at the pub, but he makes her redundant as they need to save money. Lauren eventually learns the truth about Abi and Steven's affair when she catches Abi wearing her wedding dress. Lauren is disgusted to learn that Abi is pregnant with Steven's baby, but over time, Lauren becomes more supportive. | |||
*Mother: ] | |||
*Brother: ] | |||
Abi goes away, and on her return, is confused when people are showing hatred towards Max, unaware that he was involved in a plan to redevelop Albert Square, including turning business into luxury flats and evicting people from their homes and places of work. Abi and Lauren discover that Max knows Abi is pregnant; Lauren disowns him while Abi tries to offer support, but he insults her. However, they later make amends. On Christmas Day, Tanya returns to take Lauren and Abi away from Walford, revealing that Max killed Steven and tried to kill Jane. Lauren and Abi reject Max. Max goes to the roof of the ], planning to jump, so Lauren and Abi climb on to the ledge to try and stop him. As Max agrees to his daughter's pleas to not jump, Lauren slips on the wet surface and Abi grabs her hand to stop her falling; both sisters fall off to the ground. Still alive, they are taken to hospital, where an ultrasound shows Abi's baby is alive. Abi has a CT scan and Lauren has surgery. Lauren recovers but ] (Nick Waring) tells Max that Abi is brainstem dead and has no chance of regaining consciousness. Abi's baby is delivered via ]. Max is hopeful that Abi will recover and does not tell Lauren the truth, but she slaps Max when she finds out. Max obtains a court order to stop Abi's life support being withdrawn and plans to take her to the US for a treatment that will cost £2,000,000, but Harding urges Max to do the dignified thing for Abi as she is already dead and as Abi is not a minor, he has no legal right to take her. After her funeral Max names her baby ], in her memory and she is toasted in the Vic while her friends let off balloons. | |||
*Sister: ] | |||
*Half brother: ] | |||
==Character creation and development== | |||
*Grandfather: ] | |||
*Grandmother: ] (deceased) | |||
===Introduction and characterisation=== | |||
*Uncles: ], ] | |||
] | |||
*Aunts: ], ], ], ] | |||
Abi was introduced into the series in 2006, by executive producer ]. The character and her casting was announced on 25 May 2006.<ref>{{cite web|last=Green|first=Kris|title=Branning children cast in 'EastEnders'|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/scoop/a33429/branning-children-cast-in-eastenders.html|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=25 June 2012|date=25 May 2006}}</ref> She and her immediate family, father Max (Wood), mother Tanya (Joyner) and older sister Lauren (Duggan, recast to Jossa in 2010), are an extension of the ], who have appeared in ''EastEnders'' since 1993. Fitzgerald, in her first major television role, began filming for the soap in May 2006 and made her first on-screen appearance in July.<ref name="NETLorna">{{cite news|url=http://www.northantset.co.uk/northampton-chronicle-and-echo/Lorna39s-off-to-Albert-Square.1510708.jp|title=Lorna's off to Albert Square|last=Brosnan|first=Anna|date=18 May 2006|publisher=]|work=]|access-date=29 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418224433/http://www.northantset.co.uk/news/features/lorna-s-off-to-albert-square-1-884000|archive-date=18 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Fitzgerald's mother commented on her daughter's casting: "Personally, I feel I want to show how proud we are of her and to thank everyone who has prayed for her and helped her in any way. At first, it is just the look they go for. Then it is more intensive and she had to read from a script. By the second audition, she was still up against 60 or 70 people. You start thinking about it when she gets to the third audition, but when the agent rang up and said she had got the part it was an overwhelming feeling. You don't know what it means until that point".<ref name="NETLorna"/> Fitzgerald was offered the part about three months after her final audition.<ref name="Generation Soap"/> As Fitzgerald was only 10 years old when she got the part, she was required to balance her filming requirements with schooling in Northampton, and learning lines.<ref name="NETLorna"/> In 2012, she told '']'' that she thought she had messed up her audition, and did not realise how big the show was until she was older.<ref name="Inside Soap 2012 48">{{cite journal|last=Tyler|first=Laura-Jane|date=1–7 December 2012|title=The Big Interview – 'Abi has really grown up – she's like a mother hen!'|journal=]|volume=2012|issue=48|pages=34–36}}</ref> In 2014, she told ] that when she met Wood and Joyner, her on-screen parents, she realised it did not matter that she had messed up her lines in her last audition, because she looked like them both.<ref name="Generation Soap">{{Cite episode |title=Generation Soap |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04958lv |series=BBC Radio 1's Stories |station=] |date=14 July 2014}}</ref> Fitzgerald was required to cry on her first day of filming, and admitted in 2014 that this was embarrassing, and she was unable to produce tears, but was "just making noises".<ref name="Generation Soap"/> Fitzgerald was chaperoned by her mother until she was 16.<ref name="Inside Soap 2012 48" /> | |||
*Cousins: ], ], ], ], ] | |||
*First cousins once removed: Gordon Branning, ], ], Natasha Butcher (deceased) | |||
{{cquote|She may be young, but she's packed plenty of drama into her years. She's been hit by Deano's car, watched her parents' marriage unravel, ravel, unravel again etc. She also discovered Trina's dead body in ]'s summer-house. Most kids would have nightmares for weeks after a sighting like that. Water off a duck's back when you're ]'s niece, though.|author=The BBC on Abi.<ref name="EastEnders Profile"/>}} | |||
Abi has been described by the official ''EastEnders'' website as the family's "golden girl" compared to Lauren, hinting that she knows how to get her own way.<ref name="EastEnders Profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m86d/profiles/abi-branning|title=Abi Branning played by Lorna Fitzgerald|work=EastEnders|publisher=]|access-date=25 June 2012}}</ref> She has been described as "bubbly" and "self-assured" with a nose for mischief.<ref name="EastEnders Profile" /> She has also been described as having the biggest heart in Walford, bringing out the best in the people around her.<ref name="EastEnders Profile" /> Jane Simon of the '']'' said that Abi is a "real soft touch".<ref>{{cite web|last=Simon|first=Jane|title=We love soaps|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-previews/we-love-soaps-530965|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=25 June 2012|date=27 December 2007}}</ref> Jon Wise from '']'' said that after Abi received a makeover in 2010, she "actually turned out to be quite pretty".<ref>{{cite web|last=Wise|first=Jon|title=Wow, Abi looks part|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-235937364.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115141008/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-235937364.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 January 2016|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=23 June 2012|date=29 August 2010}}</ref> In 2012, Fitzgerald told ''Inside Soap''{{'s}} Laura-Jane Tyler that Abi has grown up in her first six years on screen, and is now sensible, "like a ]" and has had to mature quickly because of the dramatic situations she has been involved in.<ref name="Inside Soap 2012 48" /> Tyler added that Abi is the most level-headed and sensible member of the Branning family and "puts her to shame with her mature approach to ."<ref name="Inside Soap 2012 48" /> | |||
===Early development=== | |||
Abi's earlier storylines consist of her parents fighting for custody of her and her siblings,<ref>{{cite web|last=Hilton|first=Beth|title=Tanya out for revenge in 'EastEnders'|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a88648/tanya-out-for-revenge-in-eastenders.html|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=25 June 2012|date=5 February 2008}}</ref> being injured in a collision with Deano Wicks' (Di Angelo) car<ref>{{cite web|last=Laws|first=Roz|title=TV & Soaps: EastEnders|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/tv+%26+soaps%3a+eastenders.-a0157477615|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=25 June 2012|date=14 January 2007}}</ref> and helping her friend Ben (Jones) with his abuse from stepmother Stella Crawford (Thompson)<ref>{{cite web|last=Green|first=Kris|title='EastEnders' Moments: "Watch Me, Daddy!"|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a201286/eastenders-moments-watch-me-daddy.html|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=25 June 2012|date=17 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Green|first=Kris|title=Behind the scenes at Phil and Stella's wedding|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a66546/behind-the-scenes-at-phil-and-stellas-wedding.html|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=25 June 2012|date=18 July 2007}}</ref> In February 2011, Abi was involved in a car accident with Max and would suffer severe injuries after their car collides with a lorry on the way to Tanya's wedding to her new partner Greg (Booth). The crash scenes were filmed on 6 March 2011<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a307517/eastenders-films-car-crash-scenes.html|title='EastEnders' films car crash scenes|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=7 March 2011|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=7 March 2011}}</ref> and aired on 14 April 2011.<ref name="14 April 2011">{{Cite episode |title= Episode dated 14/04/2011 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0106z6b |series=EastEnders |series-link=EastEnders |credits= Director: ]; Executive Producer: Bryan Kirkwood; Writer: Simon Ashdown|network=] |station=] |airdate=14 April 2011}}</ref> After these minor storylines, Joyner said that Fitzgerald should be involved in more complex storylines in 2012.<ref name="Better Storylines">{{cite web|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|title='EastEnders' Jo Joyner talks cancer storyline, Tanya future: Interview|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/interviews/a360640/eastenders-jo-joyner-talks-cancer-storyline-tanya-future-interview.html|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=8 February 2012|date=18 January 2012}}</ref> She said, "I think it's going to be an exciting year for Lorna. She's been a natural on the show ever since she was younger, and I think she's one of our best actresses. What's lovely about this year is that she'll be doing her GCSEs, and then once that's out of the way, she can get something that's a bit heavier and a bit bigger. She'll be old enough to work longer hours, so I think they'd be mad if they didn't give her something to sink her teeth into at some point this year".<ref name="Better Storylines" /> | |||
In November 2010, after sister Lauren was recast to Jossa, Jossa stated that she enjoys working with Fitzgerald, adding the two have a lot in common.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|title=More from 'Enders star Jacqueline Jossa|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/scoop/a285804/more-from-enders-star-jacqueline-jossa.html|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=25 June 2012|date=3 November 2010}}</ref> Jossa, in 2012, wanted Lauren and Abi to bond more.<ref name="Jossa 2012">{{cite web|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|title='EastEnders' Jacqueline Jossa on NTAs and Lauren's troubles: Interview|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/interviews/a359893/eastenders-jacqueline-jossa-on-ntas-and-laurens-troubles-interview.html|work=]|publisher=]|date=13 January 2012}}</ref> She commented: "I think realistically they would when they're going through a family problem like this. It would bring the family a little bit closer. I think they are quite close already and they have a lot of family banter! They may not like each other as people, but they love each other as family".<ref name="Jossa 2012"/> In December 2012, Fitzgerald conducted her first magazine interview and spoke of a storyline where Abi comforts Lauren over a relationship break up, saying "It's nice to see the little taking care of the bigger one."<ref name="Inside Soap 2012 48" /> | |||
===Jay Brown and Ben Mitchell=== | |||
In March 2011, Abi starts a relationship with Jay (Jamie Borthwick).<ref name=Lapdog>{{cite web|last=Love|first=Ryan|title=Jamie Borthwick: 'I'm Fenwick's lapdog'|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a312134/jamie-borthwick-im-fenwicks-lapdog.html|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=25 June 2012|date=31 March 2011}}</ref> Borthwick admitted that he is enjoying filming Jay and Abi's relationship.<ref name=Lapdog /> Speaking of Jay and Abi's relationship, Borthwick told '']'', "I think Abi and Jay are a good couple," he said. "Jay's a right one – he's already had a crack at Abi's sister Lauren and now he's going for the younger one. He's got an eye for the Branning women".<ref name=Lapdog /> Fitzgerald said that Jay and Abi are "cute together" but she cringes at Abi because she is "lovey-dovey".<ref name="Inside Soap 2012 48" /> The couple split in 2014 and Abi begins a relationship with Ben, knowing that he is gay but dismissing this and branding it a "phase". Speaking of his role, newcomer Harry Reid stated that Ben would "manipulate" Abi in his attempts to prove that he is straight.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/interviews/a609698/eastenders-harry-reid-ben-mitchell-will-manipulate-abi.html#~p5QUYZ3m1wytcm|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|last2=Dainty|first2=Sophie|access-date=13 November 2014|website=]|title=EastEnders' Harry Reid: 'Ben Mitchell will manipulate Abi'|date=13 November 2014}}</ref> | |||
===Departure=== | |||
On 10 September 2017, it was announced that Fitzgerald had been axed from the show by executive consultant ], along with ]. A spokesperson said: "We can confirm Jacqueline and Lorna will be leaving. They have been wonderful to work with and we wish them all the best for the future."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2017/09/10/eastender-spoilers-huge-christmas-double-exit-for-lauren-and-abi-branning-6915756/|title=EastEnders boss plans double Christmas exit for Lauren and Abi|last=Metro.co.uk|first=Duncan Lindsay for|date=10 September 2017|website=Metro|access-date=10 September 2017}}</ref> Fitzgerald's final episode was broadcast on 19 January 2018, in which the character dies.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dainty|first1=Sophie|title=EastEnders confirms Abi Branning death date as her life-support machine is switched off|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/news/a846963/eastenders-spoilers-abi-branning-death-date-confirmed/|access-date=10 January 2018|work=]|publisher=]|date=9 January 2018}}</ref> At the end of the episode, instead of the usual closing title sequence, the image, focused on Abi's face, fades to black and no theme music is played.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailystar.co.uk/showbiz-tv/hot-tv/675531/eastenders-spoilers-abi-branning-lorna-fitzgerald-leaves-cast-fans-distraught-twitter|title=EastEnders spoilers Abi Branning Lorna Fitzgerald exits cast leaving fans distraught|last=Bond|first=Kimberley|date=19 January 2018|work=]|access-date=20 January 2018}}</ref> | |||
==Reception== | |||
Fitzgerald was nominated for the "Best Young Actor" at the ] for her portrayal of Abi <ref name="insidesoap2010noms">{{Cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a242852/in-full-inside-soap-awards-2010-nominees.html|title=In Full: ''Inside Soap'' Awards 2010 Nominees|work=]|publisher=]|last=Wightman|first=Catriona|date=13 July 2010|access-date=13 July 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100714175407/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a242852/in-full-inside-soap-awards-2010-nominees.html| archive-date= 14 July 2010}}</ref> though lost out to '']'''s, ], who plays ].<ref name="insidesoap2010winners">{{Cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2/eastenders/news/a278949/eastenders-scoops-six-inside-soap-awards.html|title='EastEnders' scoops six ''Inside Soap'' Awards|work=]|publisher=]|first=Ryan|last=Love|date=27 September 2010|access-date=25 April 2011}}</ref> Fitzgerald won the award for "Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or Actress" at the ]<ref name="STV">{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.stv.tv/tv/305712-the-british-soap-awards-2012-lorna-fitzgerald-wins-best-young-performance/ |title=The British Soap Awards 2012: Lorna Fitzgerald wins Best Young Performance |date=2 May 2012 |work=] |access-date=8 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415081204/http://entertainment.stv.tv/tv/305712-the-british-soap-awards-2012-lorna-fitzgerald-wins-best-young-performance/ |archive-date=15 April 2014 }}</ref> an award which Tony Stewart from the ''Daily Mirror'' said was "well deserved".<ref name="Deserved gongs">{{cite web|last=Stewart|first=Tony|title=High costa love; Will there be a double wedding after two marriage proposals for the Brannings?|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/High+costa+love%3b+Will+there+be+a+double+wedding+after+two+marriage...-a0292396061|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=28 June 2012|date=9 June 2012}}</ref> Fitzgerald said she did not expect to win the award.<ref name="Inside Soap 2012 48" /> In January 2012, Kate White of ''Inside Soap'' praised both Fitzgerald and her character, saying "In Fitzgerald, ''EastEnders'' has the brightest young star in soap. The rest of her family are getting all the juicy stuff right now, but Abi's destined for great dramatic things. Mark our words".<ref name="kwis">{{cite journal|last=White|first=Kate|date=7–13 January 2012|title=The 2012 wish list!|journal=]|issue=1|page=98}}</ref> Her colleague, Steven Murphy, said ''Inside Soap'' had "long admired" Fitzgerald.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Murphy|first=Steven|date=1–7 December 2012|title=Welcome to this issue of Inside Soap|journal=]|issue=48|page=3}}</ref> | |||
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".<ref name="Deserved gongs" /> A writer from the '']'' said that the Branning/Mitchell Feud makes Abi and Jay feel like "Walford's answer to Romeo and Juliet".<ref name="wm">{{cite web|title=EastEnders (4 February 2012)|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/EASTENDERS.-a0278919472|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=25 June 2012|date=4 February 2012}}</ref> 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"<ref>{{cite web|last=O'Sullivan|first=Kevin|title=Big Brother: House of the Rising Dumb|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-reviews/kevin-osullivan-column-big-brother-887191|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=23 June 2012|date=17 June 2012}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{cite web|title=What a week for Jay, Abi and Tanya|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/What+a+week+for.-a0293254526|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=26 June 2012|date=16 June 2012}}</ref> 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, ] (]), ] (]), ] (]), Ben Jay, Abi and ] (]) – but not nearly so much of the classic characters".<ref name="cc">{{cite web|last=Boyle|first=Simon|title=EastEnders bosses in talks over ratings crisis|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/SOAP+ON+THE+ROPES%3b+EastEnders+bosses+in+talks+over+ratings+crisis.-a0281456530|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=26 June 2012|date=28 February 2012}}</ref> ''Inside Soap'' noted that Abi and Jay's relationship was popular with viewers.<ref name="Inside Soap 2012 48" /> | |||
The 2016 storyline in which Abi lies that she has suffered a miscarriage to cover up a pregnancy lie was criticised by Zoe Clark-Coates, co-founder and CEO of ], who said, "To regularly see TV shows using fake miscarriages as light entertainment could make people question genuine losses."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/zoe-clarkcoates/eastenders-trivialising-miscarriage_b_9561728.html|title=EastEnders: The Danger of Trivialising Miscarriage|last=Clark-Coates|first=Zoe|date=29 March 2016|work=]|access-date=29 March 2016}}</ref> In August 2017, Fitzgerald was longlisted for "Best Bad Girl" at the ], while she and ] (]) were longlisted for "Best Partnership".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Harp|first1=Justin|title=Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks all make the ''Inside Soap'' Awards longlist|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/news/a836154/inside-soap-awards-longlist-coronation-street-eastenders-emmerdale-hollyoaks/|access-date=22 August 2017|work=]|publisher=]|date=22 August 2017}}</ref> Fitzgerald made the viewer-voted shortlist in the "Best Bad Girl" category,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kilkelly|first1=Daniel|title=''Inside Soap'' Awards 2017 shortlist revealed – which Corrie, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks stars are up for prizes?|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/news/a841879/inside-soap-awards-2017-shortlist/|access-date=31 October 2017|work=]|publisher=]|date=31 October 2017}}</ref> but lost out to ], who portrays ] in '']''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dainty|first1=Sophie|title=Emmerdale wins best soap at the ''Inside Soap'' Awards for the third year running|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/news/a842388/emmerdale-wins-best-soap-inside-soap-awards/|access-date=6 November 2017|work=]|publisher=]|date=6 November 2017}}</ref> The scene where Lauren and Abi fell from the roof of The Queen Vic was awarded "Scene of the Year" at the ], tying with '']'' who also won the same award for "The Bollywood Proposal".<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/news/a858581/british-soap-awards-2018-winners-list/|title=The British Soap Awards 2018 winners: Find out who won a trophy at the 2018 awards ceremony|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|work=]|publisher=]|date=2 June 2018|access-date=4 June 2018}}</ref> Abi's death was nominated for "Most devastating Soap Death" at the 2018 '']'' Reader Awards; it came in seventh place with 6.4% of the total votes.<ref name="DS 2018">{{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=Abby |title=Emmerdale wins big at the Digital Spy Reader Awards 2018 |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/a25612459/emmerdale-reader-awards-soap-winners-2018/ |access-date=31 December 2018 |work=] |publisher=] |date=28 December 2018}}</ref> | |||
==See also== | |||
*] | |||
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*"]" | |||
==References== | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*{{EEcharlink| |
*{{EEcharlink|abi-branning}} | ||
{{EastEnders}} | {{EastEnders characters|past}} | ||
{{EEBrannings&Jacksons}} | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Branning, Abi}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Branning, Abi}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 22:57, 13 December 2024
This article is about the EastEnders character introduced in 2006. For the EastEnders character introduced in 2017, see Abi Branning (2017 character). Fictional character from the British soap opera EastEndersSoap opera character
Abi Branning is 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 falling pregnant by him.
In September 2017, it was announced that Fitzgerald and Jossa had been axed by executive consultant John Yorke. Abi's exit storyline involved her and Lauren falling from the roof of The Queen Victoria public house on Christmas Day 2017, leading to Abi giving birth prematurely to her daughter, also named Abi, 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.
For her portrayal as Abi, Fitzgerald was nominated for Best Young Actor at the 2010 Inside Soap Awards, and went on to win Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or Actress at the 2012 British Soap Awards. Kate White of Inside Soap praised her portrayal of Abi, saying that Fitzgerald is the "brightest young star in soap", adding "Abi's destined for great dramatic things". A writer from the Western Mail said that Abi's relationship with Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) is "Walford's answer to Romeo and Juliet". However, some critics were less positive, with one saying in 2012 that the audience were "not nearly" seeing as much of the "classic characters" due to the younger cast receiving more screen time.
Storylines
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). Soon after, when Max's affair with his son Bradley Branning's (Charlie Clements) wife, Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), is revealed, Max and Tanya separate and eventually divorce. Abi begins to live sporadically with each parent, frequently defending Max to Tanya and Lauren, until Max and Tanya reunite, however Abi leaves with Tanya after learning of Max's financial problems. Abi starts to take an interest in Max's lodger Darren Miller (Charlie G. Hawkins), who is left uncomfortable when she tries to kiss him, telling her she is too young. She later develops a crush on Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick), and the two begin dating. Jay and Abi cuddle up as they are watching television, but Max believes they are about to have sex, so he throws Jay out and rips Abi's bridesmaid dress to Greg and Tanya's wedding. They go to buy a new one, but they have a car crash on Greg and Tanya's wedding day. They suffer minor injuries and both recover. Despite Abi's insecurities over Jay's friendship with Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold), she and Jay remain together, and eventually Max comes to accept them as a couple.
Jay proposes to Abi and she accepts, but she is faced with a dilemma when she is offered the chance to go to Costa Rica to help with sea turtle conservation. Jay gives Abi an ultimatum, threatening to break up with her if she goes to Costa Rica, but she goes regardless. She returns weeks later and the pair reconcile. Abi meets her cousin Dexter Hartman (Khali Best), not knowing they are related, and this causes Jay to be jealous until the truth of their relationship is revealed. Abi tries to support Lauren (now played by Jacqueline Jossa) with her drinking problem, however, this ends badly when Lauren destroys Abi's revision notes. Max is framed for causing a car crash that leaves Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) hospitalised. Abi and Lauren struggle to pay Max's legal costs, as well as their bills. Abi receives her exam results and discovers she has not gained the grades to go to university to become a vet, but Lauren, believing that Abi has passed the exams, throws a party, during which Abi blurts out that she blames Lauren for her poor results because she has an alcohol problem. Abi decides to continue studying, but when Max goes to prison, she has to take a job and struggles to find time for her studies. Max is proven innocent and returns home to support his family. In an argument between Jay and Dexter, Abi discovers that on a holiday, Jay kissed a barmaid. She also finds out that Lola knew and furiously confronts her. However, after a heart-to-heart with Jay, they decide to work through their issues and she fixes things with Dexter and Lola as well. She also takes in a stray dog, Tramp.
Abi's final A Level results come through and she tells everyone that she has got what she needed to get into the University of Liverpool. However, she later confides in Jay that she has been lying, as not to disappoint her family. He encourages her to go through clearing and she gets a position doing a similar course at the University of Bolton. Jay decides to go with Abi. Ben returns from prison and reveals he thinks Jay is in love with Lola, and he confesses this to Abi when she confronts him. He then ends things to stay in Walford. Devastated, she wants to leave for Bolton immediately, but when Max refuses to take her, she drives the car herself, accidentally running over Tramp, killing him; she callously declares that "things die". After her break up with Jay, Abi becomes a much nastier and bitter person. She begins a relationship with Ben (now played by Harry Reid), which is discovered by Emma Summerhayes (Anna Acton) who informs Max of the relationship. Max demands that Abi does not see Ben any more, which Abi refuses to do. After she moves in with him, Ben reveals to her that he might still be gay and is worried he will never get over his homosexuality, but Abi assures him that they will make things work.
Following Ben's arrest for Lucy Beale's (Hetti Bywater) murder, Abi tells Phil that Max assaulted Lucy to get Ben off. Despite being innocent, Max turns himself in and is formally charged while Ben is released. Stacey visits Max, who tells her that he thinks Abi killed Lucy. Stacey confronts Abi, who attacks Stacey, blaming her for her parents' split and Bradley's death. Ben and Abi continue their relationship, but Ben is secretly seeing Paul Coker (Jonny Labey). Babe Smith (Annette Badland) offers Abi work in the pub kitchen, and Abi tells Babe that she is able to turn a blind eye to Ben's homosexuality, as long as he loves her. However, when Abi finds a present that Ben has got for Paul, she realises he has feelings for Paul and confides in Babe, who helps her to publicly announce that she is pregnant. Ben asks Abi to have a termination but then changes his mind, saying he wants the baby. Abi then goes to Babe, panicking because she has lied and is not really pregnant. She decides to tell Ben the truth, but as she is about to do so, he tells her he has caught chlamydia. Abi later tests positive for chlamydia. Babe pushes Abi into Ben as he is pushed by Phil, knocking her to the ground. Babe takes Abi away from the square, and on their return, Abi tells Ben she has had a miscarriage. When she later sees Ben being comforted by Paul, she feels uneasy.
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. After a spat with Abi, 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. Abi accidentally confesses, after which Ben gets drunk and kisses Abi in the pub 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. Babe emotionally blackmails Abi, forcing her to resign. Abi exposes Babe's secrets to the pub's landlord, Mick Carter (Danny Dyer), so he tells Abi that she can keep her job. Abi locks Babe in the kitchen freezer room as an act of revenge, although Babe frames her sister, Sylvie Carter (Linda Marlowe). Abi is then reinstated at the Vic by a seemingly apologetic Babe but her behaviour, when alone in the kitchen with Abi, is threatening. Babe later leaves Walford after being thrown out by her family, so Abi runs the kitchen alone.
Abi tells Lauren's boyfriend, Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell), that they would make a good couple during a heart-to-heart. Abi and Steven fall out with Lauren at Abi's 21st birthday party and start an affair; Abi later learns that Steven is lying about having a brain tumour so that Lauren will not leave him. Despite being against the idea, Abi does not tell Lauren as Steven promises Abi he is planning to leave Lauren to be with her. Then Abi is stunned by Steven's public marriage proposal to Lauren. Jane overhears Abi and Steven talking about their relationship and confronts them. Abi then discovers she is pregnant by Steven. Abi helps Steven keep up the lie by giving him a brain scan from a dog and animal medication that will give him symptoms of an illness, as well as helping to keep Lauren away from doctor's appointments that Steven has invented. Abi discovers that Ian's restaurant is on fire and goes inside. She finds Jane on the floor struggling to breathe. A pipe falls onto Abi, knocking her unconscious, but Max and Steven soon find her and drag her out. She is taken to hospital with Lauren by her side in the ambulance. At the hospital, Abi tells Steven he is going to be a father. Steven declares his love for her and makes a promise that he will make their relationship work. Steven then dies from injuries inflicted by Max during the fire, leaving an unaware Abi devastated.
Out of jealousy that Lauren is getting all the attention, Abi tries to tell Lauren about her pregnancy, but Lauren angrily mistakes this as gloating about her own abortion. Upset at the accusation, Abi says that she wishes Lauren died instead and that she never deserved Steven. Steven's tumour lie is revealed, so Abi attends Steven's funeral as the sole mourner and declares her love. Abi is fired from her job at the vets when they have CCTV evidence of her stealing medication. She asks Mick to extend her working hours at the pub, but he makes her redundant as they need to save money. Lauren eventually learns the truth about Abi and Steven's affair when she catches Abi wearing her wedding dress. Lauren is disgusted to learn that Abi is pregnant with Steven's baby, but over time, Lauren becomes more supportive.
Abi goes away, and on her return, is confused when people are showing hatred towards Max, unaware that he was involved in a plan to redevelop Albert Square, including turning business into luxury flats and evicting people from their homes and places of work. Abi and Lauren discover that Max knows Abi is pregnant; Lauren disowns him while Abi tries to offer support, but he insults her. However, they later make amends. On Christmas Day, Tanya returns to take Lauren and Abi away from Walford, revealing that Max killed Steven and tried to kill Jane. Lauren and Abi reject Max. Max goes to the roof of the Queen Vic, planning to jump, so Lauren and Abi climb on to the ledge to try and stop him. As Max agrees to his daughter's pleas to not jump, Lauren slips on the wet surface and Abi grabs her hand to stop her falling; both sisters fall off to the ground. Still alive, they are taken to hospital, where an ultrasound shows Abi's baby is alive. Abi has a CT scan and Lauren has surgery. Lauren recovers but Dr. Harding (Nick Waring) tells Max that Abi is brainstem dead and has no chance of regaining consciousness. Abi's baby is delivered via cesarean section. Max is hopeful that Abi will recover and does not tell Lauren the truth, but she slaps Max when she finds out. Max obtains a court order to stop Abi's life support being withdrawn and plans to take her to the US for a treatment that will cost £2,000,000, but Harding urges Max to do the dignified thing for Abi as she is already dead and as Abi is not a minor, he has no legal right to take her. After her funeral Max names her baby Abi Branning, in her memory and she is toasted in the Vic while her friends let off balloons.
Character creation and development
Introduction and characterisation
Abi was introduced into the series in 2006, by executive producer Kate Harwood. The character and her casting was announced on 25 May 2006. She and her immediate family, father Max (Wood), mother Tanya (Joyner) and older sister Lauren (Duggan, recast to Jossa in 2010), are an extension of the Branning family, who have appeared in EastEnders since 1993. Fitzgerald, in her first major television role, began filming for the soap in May 2006 and made her first on-screen appearance in July. Fitzgerald's mother commented on her daughter's casting: "Personally, I feel I want to show how proud we are of her and to thank everyone who has prayed for her and helped her in any way. At first, it is just the look they go for. Then it is more intensive and she had to read from a script. By the second audition, she was still up against 60 or 70 people. You start thinking about it when she gets to the third audition, but when the agent rang up and said she had got the part it was an overwhelming feeling. You don't know what it means until that point". Fitzgerald was offered the part about three months after her final audition. As Fitzgerald was only 10 years old when she got the part, she was required to balance her filming requirements with schooling in Northampton, and learning lines. In 2012, she told Inside Soap that she thought she had messed up her audition, and did not realise how big the show was until she was older. In 2014, she told BBC Radio 1 that when she met Wood and Joyner, her on-screen parents, she realised it did not matter that she had messed up her lines in her last audition, because she looked like them both. Fitzgerald was required to cry on her first day of filming, and admitted in 2014 that this was embarrassing, and she was unable to produce tears, but was "just making noises". Fitzgerald was chaperoned by her mother until she was 16.
She may be young, but she's packed plenty of drama into her years. She's been hit by Deano's car, watched her parents' marriage unravel, ravel, unravel again etc. She also discovered Trina's dead body in Charlie's summer-house. Most kids would have nightmares for weeks after a sighting like that. Water off a duck's back when you're Derek Branning's niece, though.
— The BBC on Abi.
Abi has been described by the official EastEnders website as the family's "golden girl" compared to Lauren, hinting that she knows how to get her own way. She has been described as "bubbly" and "self-assured" with a nose for mischief. She has also been described as having the biggest heart in Walford, bringing out the best in the people around her. Jane Simon of the Daily Mirror said that Abi is a "real soft touch". Jon Wise from The People said that after Abi received a makeover in 2010, she "actually turned out to be quite pretty". In 2012, Fitzgerald told Inside Soap's Laura-Jane Tyler that Abi has grown up in her first six years on screen, and is now sensible, "like a mother hen" and has had to mature quickly because of the dramatic situations she has been involved in. Tyler added that Abi is the most level-headed and sensible member of the Branning family and "puts her to shame with her mature approach to ."
Early development
Abi's earlier storylines consist of her parents fighting for custody of her and her siblings, being injured in a collision with Deano Wicks' (Di Angelo) car and helping her friend Ben (Jones) with his abuse from stepmother Stella Crawford (Thompson) In February 2011, Abi was involved in a car accident with Max and would suffer severe injuries after their car collides with a lorry on the way to Tanya's wedding to her new partner Greg (Booth). The crash scenes were filmed on 6 March 2011 and aired on 14 April 2011. After these minor storylines, Joyner said that Fitzgerald should be involved in more complex storylines in 2012. She said, "I think it's going to be an exciting year for Lorna. She's been a natural on the show ever since she was younger, and I think she's one of our best actresses. What's lovely about this year is that she'll be doing her GCSEs, and then once that's out of the way, she can get something that's a bit heavier and a bit bigger. She'll be old enough to work longer hours, so I think they'd be mad if they didn't give her something to sink her teeth into at some point this year".
In November 2010, after sister Lauren was recast to Jossa, Jossa stated that she enjoys working with Fitzgerald, adding the two have a lot in common. Jossa, in 2012, wanted Lauren and Abi to bond more. She commented: "I think realistically they would when they're going through a family problem like this. It would bring the family a little bit closer. I think they are quite close already and they have a lot of family banter! They may not like each other as people, but they love each other as family". In December 2012, Fitzgerald conducted her first magazine interview and spoke of a storyline where Abi comforts Lauren over a relationship break up, saying "It's nice to see the little taking care of the bigger one."
Jay Brown and Ben Mitchell
In March 2011, Abi starts a relationship with Jay (Jamie Borthwick). Borthwick admitted that he is enjoying filming Jay and Abi's relationship. Speaking of Jay and Abi's relationship, Borthwick told Inside Soap, "I think Abi and Jay are a good couple," he said. "Jay's a right one – he's already had a crack at Abi's sister Lauren and now he's going for the younger one. He's got an eye for the Branning women". Fitzgerald said that Jay and Abi are "cute together" but she cringes at Abi because she is "lovey-dovey". The couple split in 2014 and Abi begins a relationship with Ben, knowing that he is gay but dismissing this and branding it a "phase". Speaking of his role, newcomer Harry Reid stated that Ben would "manipulate" Abi in his attempts to prove that he is straight.
Departure
On 10 September 2017, it was announced that Fitzgerald had been axed from the show by executive consultant John Yorke, along with Jacqueline Jossa. A spokesperson said: "We can confirm Jacqueline and Lorna will be leaving. They have been wonderful to work with and we wish them all the best for the future." Fitzgerald's final episode was broadcast on 19 January 2018, in which the character dies. At the end of the episode, instead of the usual closing title sequence, the image, focused on Abi's face, fades to black and no theme music is played.
Reception
Fitzgerald was nominated for the "Best Young Actor" at the 2010 Inside Soap Awards for her portrayal of Abi though lost out to Coronation Street's, Alex Bain, who plays Simon Barlow. Fitzgerald won the award for "Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or Actress" at the 2012 British Soap Awards 2012 an award which Tony Stewart from the Daily Mirror said was "well deserved". Fitzgerald said she did not expect to win the award. In January 2012, Kate White of Inside Soap praised both Fitzgerald and her character, saying "In Fitzgerald, EastEnders has the brightest young star in soap. The rest of her family are getting all the juicy stuff right now, but Abi's destined for great dramatic things. Mark our words". Her colleague, Steven Murphy, said Inside Soap had "long admired" Fitzgerald.
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". 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". 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" 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". 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". Inside Soap noted that Abi and Jay's relationship was popular with viewers.
The 2016 storyline in which Abi lies that she has suffered a miscarriage to cover up a pregnancy lie was criticised by Zoe Clark-Coates, co-founder and CEO of The Mariposa Trust, who said, "To regularly see TV shows using fake miscarriages as light entertainment could make people question genuine losses." In August 2017, Fitzgerald was longlisted for "Best Bad Girl" at the 2017 Inside Soap Awards, while she and Aaron Sidwell (Steven Beale) were longlisted for "Best Partnership". Fitzgerald made the viewer-voted shortlist in the "Best Bad Girl" category, but lost out to Gillian Kearney, who portrays Emma Barton in Emmerdale. The scene where Lauren and Abi fell from the roof of The Queen Vic was awarded "Scene of the Year" at the 2018 British Soap Awards, tying with Doctors who also won the same award for "The Bollywood Proposal". Abi's death was nominated for "Most devastating Soap Death" at the 2018 Digital Spy Reader Awards; it came in seventh place with 6.4% of the total votes.
See also
References
- "Dorothy Branning: The Next Chapter – Red Button Special, EastEnders – BBC One". BBC.
- McCreesh, Louise (10 September 2017). "EastEnders cast shake-up sees Jacqueline Jossa and Lorna Fitzgerald written out as Lauren and Abi Branning". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
- ^ White, Kate (7–13 January 2012). "The 2012 wish list!". Inside Soap (1): 98.
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- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (18 January 2012). "'EastEnders' Jo Joyner talks cancer storyline, Tanya future: Interview". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
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- Metro.co.uk, Duncan Lindsay for (10 September 2017). "EastEnders boss plans double Christmas exit for Lauren and Abi". Metro. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
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- Dainty, Sophie (6 November 2017). "Emmerdale wins best soap at the Inside Soap Awards for the third year running". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
- Kilkelly, Daniel (2 June 2018). "The British Soap Awards 2018 winners: Find out who won a trophy at the 2018 awards ceremony". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- Robinson, Abby (28 December 2018). "Emmerdale wins big at the Digital Spy Reader Awards 2018". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
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