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Abigail "Abi" Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Lorna Fitzgerald. She first appeared in the show on 3 July 2006. The character and her casting was announced on 25 May 2006. She and her immediate family—father Max (Jake Wood), mother Tanya (Jo Joyner) and older sister Lauren (Madeline Duggan/Jacqueline Jossa) — are an extension of the popular and long-running Jackson/Branning clan, who has appeared in the serial since 1993. Fitzgerald, in her first major role, began filming for the soap in May 2006 and made her first appearance on-screen in July. Fitzgerald was nominated for the "Best Young Actor" award at the 2010 Inside Soap Awards for her portrayal of Abi though lost out to Coronation Street's Alex Bain (Simon Barlow). Kate White of Inside Soap praised both Fitzgerald and her character, saying "In actress Lorna 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." Fitzgerald won the award for Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or Actress at the 2012 British Soap Awards.

Storylines

Abi moves to Albert Square in 2006 along with her parents Max (Jake Wood) and Tanya (Jo Joyner), and sister Lauren (Madeline Duggan/Jacqueline Jossa). She befriends Ben Mitchell (Charlie Jones). In January 2007, Abi is hit by Deano Wicks's (Matt Di Angelo) car, suffering a broken wrist, cuts and bruises, but she recovers with no long-term impairment. Months later, she learns Ben's father's girlfriend Stella Crawford (Sophie Thompson) is abusing him. They plan to run away, but fail as they are caught by their parents. Abi then stands up to Stella and tells Ben to the same, leading to 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. This has a negative effect on Abi as she is torn between her two parents. She lives sporadically with each parent, frequently defending her father to her mother and sister, until Max and Tanya reunite in 2009, however Abi leaves with her mother after learning of Max's financial problems.

Abi starts dating school friend Jordan Johnson, but months later he is attacked by Ben with a spanner, leaving him in a coma. Later, it is revealed to all that his dad was a killer. They spilt up, but remain friends. Progressing into her teens, 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 is heartbroken when Darren proposes to Jodie Gold. She later forms a close relationship with her mother's fiancé Greg Jessop. She later develops a crush on Jay Mitchell (Jamie Borthwick), who returns her interest and they begin dating. Believing Jay is only interested in Abi for sex, Max tries to split them up, but fails to do so. Jay and Abi plan to have sex several times, but on each occasion, they are unable to go through with it. At one time, Jay and Abi cuddle up as they as watching TV, but Max believes they are about to have sex, so he throws Jay out and rips Abi's brisemaid dress to Greg and Tanya's wedding. They go to buy a new one, but they have a car crash and Greg and Tanya's wedding day the next day. They suffer minor injuries, but recover fully. Max and Tanya kiss at this point, nearly being caught out by Greg and Max's girlfriend Vanessa Gold.

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. Max and Tanya continue to see each other, but when Tanya gets cancer, she keeps this to herself. Eventually, Greg and Vanessa leave Walford when the truth comes out about the affair. Months later, Abi, Ben and Lola cause trouble and Abi is arrested for stealing trainers. When Abi is mugged, Lola teaches her how to self defend. Later, Tanya finds a pregnancy test in the bin and believes it is Abi's, before finding out about her trouble causing and calls Abi a slapper, before Lauren reveals to the family that Tanya has cancer. Abi is hurt by this, but is later pleased when Max and Tanya reconcile. Months later, 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; Abi goes regardless. When she returns several weeks later, she looks for Jay but nobody will tell her where he is. Max and Tanya eventually tell her that Jay was involved in the murder of Heather Trott (Cheryl Fergison). Abi is upset and slams the door in Jay's face when he tries to see her. She later goes to visit him but when Tanya discovers they have been seeing each other, she bans Abi from speaking to him. When looking after Lola's baby daughter Lexi Pearce, Abi is confronted by Lola's old friend Alexa Smith (Saffron Coomber), but Lola comes and defends her. While Alexa is insulting Lola, Abi walks past checking her phone, so Alexa and her gang start bullying her. They push her around, before Alexa slaps Abi. The girls grab Abi's mobile phone and start looking through it, before Lola snatches the phone off them and gives it back to Abi. Abi then walks away with Lexi, while Lola punches Alexa for slapping Abi and threatening to kill Lexi.

Casting and characterisation

Abi Branning, played by Lorna Fitzgerald, was introduced 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 (Jake Wood), mother Tanya (Jo Joyner) and older sister Lauren (Madeline Duggan until 2010, Jacqueline Jossa thereafter)—are an extension of the popular and long-running Jackson/Branning clan, who has appeared in the serial since 1993. Fitzgerald, in her first major role, began filming for the soap in May 2006 and made her first appearance on-screen in July. Abi has been described by the official EastEnders website as the family's "golden girl" compared to sister Lauren and hinted that she knows how to get her own way. Abi's personality has been described as "bubbly", "self-assured" and has a nose for mischief. She has also been described as having the biggest heart in Walford and brings out the best in the people around her.

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." Fitzgerald was informed about the role via her agent and turned up to the BBC studios in London for the first of three auditions. Fitzgerald's mother continued: "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. It is exciting for her to be in something her friends may be watching. In the past, she has been in programmes they couldn't watch." 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 November 2010, after sister Lauren was recast, newcomer Jacqueline Jossa said that she enjoys working with Fitzgerald, stating that they have a lot in common.

Storyline development

Abi's earlier storylines consist of her parents fighting for custody of her and her siblings, and being injured in a collision with Deano Wicks' (Matt Di Angelo) car, helping her friend Ben Mitchell (Charlie Jones) with his abuse from stepmother Stella Crawford (Sophie Thompson) and being held hostage is the local café by Nick Cotton (John Altman). In August 2009, it was announced that Abi will suggest to Tanya and Jane Beale (Laurie Brett) that they should switch lives for a week. In September 2009, Abi and her friend Jordan Johnson (Michael-Joel David Stuart) find Jordan's mother Trina's (Sharon Duncan Brewster) decaying body in the summerhouse at the allotments having been accidentally killed by Jordan's father, Lucas (Don Gilet). In February 2011, it was reported that Abi would be involved in a car accident along 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 Jessop (Stefan Booth). The crash scenes were filmed on 6 March 2011 and aired on 14 April 2011.

Speaking to Digital Spy, Jacqueline Jossa said that she would like Abi to bond with Lauren 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, though, and they have a lot of family banter! They may not like each other as people, but they love each other as family." Jo Joyner said that Abi should be involved in some more complex storylines in 2012. She commented: "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 hopefully 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 March 2011, Abi starts a relationship with Jay Mitchell (Jamie Borthwick). Borthwick admitted that he is enjoying filming Jay and Abi's relationship, but jokes that he would like to see his character start a relationship with Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons). 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. I reckon Roxy be a good match for him too - he'd be happy to learn a few things from her, I'm sure!" In June 2012, it was reported that Abi will be forced to decide how strong her feelings are for Jay as she receives a letter offering her a scholarship trip to Costa Rica. Abi becomes distracted, but soon realises that she can't leave Jay. Abi is thrilled to hear that Jay cannot live without her but is later livid when Tanya accepts the scholarship trip without her consent. Jay then proposes to Abi, saying that they can go to Costa Rica on their honeymoon, to which Abi accepts. Abi is later convinced to attend the scholarship and Jay issue's her with an ultimatum, him or the trip. Abi decides to leave for the trip, leaving Jay devastated.

Reception

Jane Simon of the Daily Mirror said that Abi is a "real soft touch". Fitzgerald was nominated for the "Best Young Actor" award at the 2010 Inside Soap Awards for her portrayal of Abi though lost out to Coronation Street's, Alex Bain (Simon Barlow). Jon Wise from The People said that after Abi received a makeover in 2010, she "actually turned out to be quite pretty." In February 2012, speaking of the storyline involving Abi and Darren Miller (Charlie G. Hawkins), Jane Simon from the Daily Mirror said "there's another harsh lesson in love for Abi Branning, who’s been waiting patiently for her chance to seduce Darren Miller." In January 2012, Kate White of Inside Soap praised both Fitzgerald and her character, saying "In actress Lorna 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." A show insider said in February 2012: "In the last two months, viewers have seen lots of Lauren Branning, Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater), Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty), Fatboy (Ricky Norwood), Ben Mitchell, Jay, Abi Branning and Anthony Moon (Matt Lapinskas) - but not nearly so much of the classic characters."

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". Fitzgerald won the award for Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or Actress at the 2012 British Soap Awards. When Abi turns down the trip to Costa Rica, Kevin O'Sullivan of the Daily Mirror said: "An extreme case of soap agoraphobia as brilliant Abi Branning 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." Another writer for the Daily Mirror said: "Abi Branning 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." Tony Stewart from the Daily Mirror said that the actors who portray the Branning family picked up "well deserved gongs" at the British Soap Awards. He said of Max's past events with his family such as being buried alive by Tanya and being run over by Lauren: "So imagine what the normal goody-two-shoes Abi might have in store for him should he object to her relationship with Jay. And it won't be her setting a gerbil on him, either."

See also

• List of EastEnders characters (2006)

References

1. Green, Kris (25 May 2006). "Branning children cast in 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
2. ^ Brosnan, Anna (18 May 2006). "Lorna's off to Albert Square". Northants Evening Telegraph. Johnston Press. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
3. ^ "Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald)". EastEnders. BBC Online. 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
4. Kilkelly, Daniel (3 November 2010). "More from 'Enders star Jacqueline Jossa". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
5. Hilton, Beth (5 February 2008). "Tanya out for revenge in 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
6. Laws, Roz (14 January 2007). "TV & Soaps: EastEnders". Sunday Mercury. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
7. Green, Kris (17 February 2010). "'EastEnders' Moments: "Watch Me, Daddy!"". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
8. Green, Kris (18 July 2007). "Behind the scenes at Phil and Stella's wedding". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
9. Green, Kris (26 May 2009). "Charlie Clements (Bradley Branning, 'EastEnders')". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
10. Green, Kris (14 August 2009). "Branning/Beale wife swap plot for 'EastEnders'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
11. Green, Kris (9 September 2009). "Which soapy face is to guest in 'EastEnders'?". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
12. Kilkelly, Daniel (7 March 2011). "'EastEnders' films car crash scenes". Digital Spy. London: Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
13. Director: Karl Neilson; Executive Producer: Bryan Kirkwood; Writer: Simon Ashdown (14 April 2011). "Episode dated 14/04/2011". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One. {{cite episode}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |city= (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
14. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (13 January 2012). "'EastEnders' Jacqueline Jossa on NTAs and Lauren's troubles: Interview". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK.
15. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (18 January 2012). "'EastEnders' Jo Joyner talks cancer storyline, Tanya future: Interview". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
16. ^ Love, Ryan (31 March 2011). "Jamie Borthwick: 'I'm Fenwick's lapdog'". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
17. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (3 June 2012). "Corrie scare, 'Enders proposal, E'dale affair, 'Oaks Walker return". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
18. ^ Director: Karl Neilson; Executive Producer: Bryan Kirkwood; Writer: Simon Ashdown (28 June 2012). "Episode dated 28/06/2012". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One. {{cite episode}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |city= (help); Unknown parameter |serieslink= ignored (|series-link= suggested) (help)
19. Simon, Jane (27 December 2007). "We love soaps". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
20. Wightman, Catriona (13 July 2010). "In Full: Inside Soap Awards 2010 Nominees". Digital Spy. London: Hachette Filipacchi UK. Archived from the original on 14 July 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
21. Love, Ryan (27 September 2010). "'EastEnders' scoops six Inside Soap Awards". Digital Spy. London: Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
22. Wise, Jon (29 August 2010). "Wow, Abi looks part". The People. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
23. Simon, Jane (2 February 2011). "We love soaps: Emmerdale, EastEnders". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
24. White, Kate (7–13 January 2012). "The 2012 wish list!". Inside Soap (1). Hearst Magazines UK: 98. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
25. Boyle, Simon (28 February 2012). "EastEnders bosses in talks over ratings crisis". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
26. "EastEnders (4 February 2012)". Western Mail. Media Wales Ltd. 4 February 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
27. "The British Soap Awards 2012: Lorna Fitzgerald wins Best Young Performance". STV. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012. {{cite web}}: Text "STV Entertainment" ignored (help); Text "TV: Latest News" ignored (help)
28. O'Sullivan, Kevin (17 June 2012). "Big Brother: House of the Rising Dumb". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
29. "What a week for Jay, Abi and Tanya". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
30. ^ Stewart, Tony (9 June 2012). "High costa love; Will there be a double wedding after two marriage proposals for the Brannings?". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 28 June 2012.

External links

• Abi Branning at BBC Online

• EastEnders characters
• Fictional characters introduced in 2006
• Child characters in television