EastEnders ‘best character of all time’ revealed and it’s not Dot, Peggy or Phil
The best EastEnders character of all time has been revealed days before the BBC One soap opera's 41st anniversary and it's not Ian Beale, Phil Mitchell or Dot Cotton
The best EastEnders character of all time has been revealed(Image: BBC)
EastEnders has been airing on the BBC for over four decades. With a wide range of unforgettable characters gracing our screens from iconic villains to incredible landladies, it’s no wonder fans have become attached to their favourite characters.
Ahead of the soap’s 41st anniversary on February 19, new research from Betway has unveiled the best EastEnders characters ever and it’s a close call who makes it to first place.
Using a range of metrics – including positive sentiment scores, the number of award nominations, and the number of appearances on the soap – Stacey Slater has secured the top spot in the rankings.
Stacey Slater , played by Lacey Turner, has secured the top spot in the rankings(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Played by Lacey Turner since 2004, the character boasts a standout sentiment score of 51.9, and is credited for appearing in an impressive 1968 episodes.
The actress, who is currently taking a break from the show, has also racked up 23 nominations and won 20 awards over the years.
Coming into a close second place is Albert Square Hartman Phil Mitchell. Played by Steve McFadden, his character was introduced to the BBC soap in 1990 and has since then has made quite the impression in Walford.
He was involved in memorable storylines such as ‘Who K.i.l.l.e.d Archie?’ and ‘Who K.i.l.l.e.d Lucy Beale?’
Despite having a higher sentiment score of 53.9 out of 100 and appearing in more episodes than Stacey , Phil’s character has only won six awards and gained 11 nominations so far.
Steve McFadden’s character Phil Mitchell came in second place(Image: BBC)
Meanwhile, the legendary Dot Cotton, played by June Brown, appeared in 2336 episodes during their time on EastEnders and had a higher sentiment score of 56.6, but had fewer awards and nominations.
Another Walford icon who made the top 10 was Peggy Mitchell, who has the highest sentiment score of 59.8 out of 100. Played by the late Dame Barbara Windsor, the character made her first appearance in 1991 before departing in 2016.
The first episode of EastEnders aired on February 19, 1985. Jane Slaughter, who plays barmaid Tracey, is the longest-serving cast member followed by Adam Woodyatt who is the longest-serving main character.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and available to stream on BBC iPlayer from 6am
