EastEnders is a BBC soap opera that first aired on 19 February 1985. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in 2017, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the show's executive producer Sean O'Connor or, from 27 November, his successor as executive consultant, John Yorke.
The first character to be introduced was Keegan Baker (Zack Morris), a friend of Shakil Kazemi (Shaheen Jafargholi), followed by Emerald Fox (Doña Croll), the mother of Denise Fox (Diane Parish) and Kim Fox-Hubbard (Tameka Empson). Madison Drake (Seraphina Beh), Alexandra D'Costa (Sydney Craven) and Travis Law-Hughes (Alex James-Phelps), three new teenage characters, were also introduced in January as well as their school teacher Mr Gethin Pryce (Cerith Flinn) and Hugo Browning (Simon Williams), the chairman of Weyland & Co. The following month, Preston Cooper (Martin Anzor), a student with whom Michelle Fowler (Jenna Russell) had an illegal relationship in the United States, and Konrad Topolski (Piotr Baumann), a love interest for Shirley Carter (Linda Henry), made their first appearances.
Josh Hemmings (Eddie Eyre), the son of James Willmott-Brown (William Boyde) and love interest for Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa), and Tommy, a friend of Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick), both debuted in March. April sees the first appearance of Woody Woodward (Lee Ryan), a friend of the Carters'. Ted Murray (Christopher Timothy) and Joyce Murray (Maggie Steed), an elderly couple, made their first appearances in May. The following month, Tom Bailey (Daniel Casey), a love interest for Michelle, the Taylor family − comprising Karen Taylor (Lorraine Stanley), Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters), Bernadette Taylor (Clair Norris), Riley Taylor (Tom Jacobs) and Chatham Taylor (Alfie Jacobs) − and Ingrid Solberg (Pernille Broch), a nanny hired by Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), were introduced. Felix Moore (George Maguire), a market trader, debuted in July. Hope Fowler, the daughter of Martin Fowler (James Bye) and Stacey Fowler (Lacey Turner), was born in October. Aidan Maguire (Patrick Bergin) arrived in November, while Kandice Taylor (Hannah Spearritt), Karen's sister, and Abi Branning, the daughter of Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald) and Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell), made their first appearance in December.
Keegan Baker
Keegan Butcher-Baker (also Baker), played by Zack Morris, is a friend of Shakil Kazemi (Shaheen Jafargholi) who also goes to school with Louise Mitchell (Tilly Keeper), Bex Fowler (Jasmine Armfield), Travis Law-Hughes (Alex James-Phelps), Alexandra D'Costa (Sydney Craven) and Madison Drake (Seraphina Beh). He first appears in the episode broadcast on 9 January 2017. On 23 February 2022, it was announced that Morris would be leaving his role as Keegan with his exit scenes set to air in the spring. Keegan departed on 17 March 2022, alongside his wife Tiffany Butcher (Maisie Smith).
Emerald Fox
Emerald Fox, played by Doña Croll, is the mother of Denise Fox (Diane Parish) and Kim Fox-Hubbard (Tameka Empson). Her introduction to the series was revealed on 1 January 2017, in a trailer for upcoming storylines. It was revealed the character would be appearing in "a handful of episodes". The character was previously referred to in the series as "Ada", though in the 5 January 2017 episode, Denise asks if her mother is "still calling herself [Emerald]", implying that it is a nickname, rather than the character's name being changed.
Emerald and Kim arrive at the hospital for the birth of Denise's son, Raymond. Kim finds out Denise has decided to keep the adoption plans for him and both Emerald and Kim are upset with her. Emerald researches adoption, and is pleased to learn that Denise is allowed to change her mind. Emerald tells Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker), Denise and Kim's surrogate father, about what she would have to do to stop the adoption and he advises her to support Denise. Kim decides to cut all ties with Denise as a result of the adoption and when Emerald stands by Denise, Kim angrily throws her mother out leaving Emerald no choice but to move in with Denise, Libby and Patrick.
When a bus crashes into the market and viaduct, Emerald is relieved to learn that Denise has survived the crash with minor injuries. Emerald catches Keegan Baker (Zack Morris) shoplifting at the local shop where Denise works whilst everyone is in chaos rescuing the injured, and attempts to stop him but he pushes her against the shelves. Emerald tells Kim's husband, Vincent Hubbard (Richard Blackwood), that Kim's behaviour is unreasonable and Kim throws her out, so she moves in with Denise. Before Emerald leaves Walford, Denise defends Kim to Emerald and Kim says she is thankful for her sister, to which Emerald states that they are not sisters. When pushed for more information, Emerald reveals that Denise was brought to her as a baby and she felt she had no choice but to raise her as her own. Emerald says she is still Denise's mother and then leaves. Over a year later, Kim and Denise take a DNA test, which reveals that they are biological sisters and that Emerald lied.
Raymond Fox
Raymond Fox (also Dawkins) first appears in the episode broadcast on 13 January 2017. He is the son of established characters Denise Fox (Diane Parish) and Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden). In 2020, Raymond returned to the serial following the death of his adoptive parents in a car accident. Since 2020, he has been played by Michael Jose Pomares Calixte.
Raymond was conceived when Denise had a drunken one-night stand with Phil, who was battling with cirrhosis of the liver from his battle with alcoholism. Denise puts him up for adoption immediately after his birth, visiting him in his cot and telling him her reasons. The next day, Phil finds out he is the father after his wife Sharon Mitchell (Letitia Dean) overheard Denise telling Phil's ex-girlfriend Shirley Carter (Linda Henry). Denise tells him their ages and lifestyles would make them bad parents, and that adoption is the best thing for the baby. Phil finds his son and holds him, but then leaves the hospital, having accepted Denise's decision. Social worker Trish Barnes (Tessa Churchard) visits Denise a few weeks later to inform her how her son is doing with his potential adoptive family and that he has been named Raymond after Ray Charles as the parents are a fan of his. Denise later reads a letter from his adoptive parents informing her that Raymond is living a happy life with them. Months later, Denise gets confirmation that the adoption has been finalised. Denise gives Phil the letter about Raymond's progress. When Phil gets an offer for some land he owns, he tells Sharon that he would like to provide for Raymond. In July, Phil's eldest son, Ben Mitchell (Harry Reid), is angry when he finds out about Raymond. Raymond has been mentioned by Phil on some occasions. In September 2020, Raymond is involved in a car accident along with his adoptive parents and sister. Denise visits Raymond in hospital and meets Raymond's adoptive grandmother, Ellie Nixon (Mica Paris).
As part of Phil's alcoholism storyline, in April 2016, he has a one-night stand with Denise after being estranged from his wife, Sharon; the "unlikely pair" are brought together by parenting issues. The one-night stand leads to a "much bigger plan" when Denise finds out she is pregnant with Phil's baby. It was reported that this would "spark a huge storyline" due to the "hatred" expressed between them. When it was reported that Denise would opt for adoption, Kim would make the plan "increasingly complicated" when she offers to adopt the baby. Phil discovers he is the father of the baby because Sharon feels she "has been left with no option but to tell" Phil as she wants to give him the option of meeting his child.
Madison Drake
Madison Drake, played by Seraphina Beh, is a school friend of Louise Mitchell (Tilly Keeper). She first appears in the episode broadcast on 17 January 2017, and made her final appearance in the episode broadcast on 21 July 2017. Beh's casting in EastEnders was announced on Twitter by her management, Hero Talent Group.
Madison and Alexadnra D'Costa (Sydney Craven) attend the drama club at Walford High School with Louise. They are both unfriendly towards her when Louise tries to speak to them. When Travis Law-Hughes (Alex James-Phelps) greets Louise, they tease her when they notice she has a crush on him. They tell Louise's friend Bex Fowler (Jasmine Armfield) that they have treated Louise better than she has, following her teasing over the recent bus crash and advise Louise to get her own back. Alexandra and Madison help Louise come up with a plan to get revenge on Shakil Kazemi (Shaheen Jafargholi) and Keegan Baker (Zack Morris), who have teased Louise about how scared she was during the crash, and Louise inadvertently shows them a naked photo that Shakil sent to Bex. Under Madison and Alexandra's instruction, Louise gets Bex's phone and sends Shakil's naked photo to them and Bex is left distressed when she finds out what Louise did and that the photo has been sent to another person.
Bex receives an anonymous Valentine's card and believes Shakil sent it, however, realises that Madison and Alexandra sent it as a joke. Shakil tells Louise that he has seen Bex and Travis together and Madison and Alexandra tell Louise they believe Bex has been after Travis for a while, causing Louise to confront Bex, but Bex insists they are just friends. After finding out Bex has had sex with Preston Cooper (Martin Anzor), Madison and Alexandra spread it around online. When a porn video with Bex's face imposed in the model's body is sent around school (created by Keegan in revenge for Shakil's photo being distributed), the police get involved and the explicit photo of Shakil is discovered and Bex takes the blame. After Bex is told she will be interviewed under caution, she tells Louise she will admit the truth, so Louise confesses that Madison and Alexandra were responsible for sending it on and she should think about bringing them into it. After being given a warning, Bex tells Madison, Alexandra and Louise she took the blame despite being the only innocent person, and they laugh at her.