EastEnders fans demand return of legendary family to make up for ‘travesty’ axing of Walford icon
EASTENDERS fans have demanded the return of a legendary family to make up for the ‘travesty’ of axing a Walford icon.
The BBC soap launched in 1985 and during that time, there have been some iconic families who have lived on Albert Square.
While the current storylines are dominated by the likes of the Mitchells, the Slaters and the Carters, some EastEnders fans are desperate for another Walford family to return.
Taking to a soap fan forum, one wrote under the title “EE- The Wicks Family”: “I know we have Dean in the show currently, but I’m primarily talking about the descendants of Pat Butcher in this thread. I’d love to see some of Pat’s family living in Walford on a full time basis again.
“The chances of David and/or Simon returning are slim to none. Bianca will turn up again soon but only briefly. Tiff and Liam returning doesn’t seem likely either, nor does a return for Morgan if none of his immediate family are around.
“Abbie Junior could turn up with Max at some point. But I think a way they could give us a resurgence of the Wicks family is through Joe. I think he would have to be recast though.”
They continued: “Joe and Sarah Hills turning up as a married couple doesn’t seem that unlikely. I’m not sure what Daniella Denby Ashe is even doing these days.
“An adult Joe Wicks dealing with his schizophrenia could be interesting. Sarah Hills would be a more confident person if she didn’t have her overbearing father to deal with. They could have two or three kids in their teens now.
“The Wicks men have always been a bit brooding and mysterious so a good opportunity to build up their male characters.”
The Wicks family have been part of the Square since the beginning, with Pat Butcher’s second husband being Brian Wicks.
Pat had two sons, David and Simon Wicks, while Brian’s nephew Kevin Wicks arrived in Walford in 2006.
Other past members of the family to reside in Albert Square include David’s son Joe Wicks, who was played by Paul Nicholls.
The post sparked a flurry of comments from other EastEnders viewers, with one replying: “I agree and when you think of all the characters who Pat was connected to you would think the square would be heaving with them.
“Also Pat never seems to get mentioned either like they do with Dot and Peggy but I suppose her having no family on the square is the main reason for that.”
A fellow viewer added: “Pam St Clement should never have been Axed. A traversity of a decision by Bryan Kirkwood.”
Pam, 81, played Pat Butcher from 1986 until New Year’s Day 2012 when Pat died after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
The star reprised her role for a cameo appearance in 2016 as part of Peggy Mitchell’s exit storyline, where she returned as a ghost.
A fellow viewer wrote in the thread: “I agree Joe’s family would seem to be the most logical option for getting blood descendants of Pat’s back in.
“I guess Simon’s children would now be old enough to visit / move to Walford but I’m not sure why they would want to as they aren’t related to anyone there (not even Dean since he isn’t Kevin’s) although they presumably know Peter, Lauren and Louis.
“Joe however is related to Ian, Peter and Bobby (uncle and cousins) and if he is indeed married to Sarah, she is also of course Kathy’s niece and Ian’s cousin so their children would be double related.”
EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.