Tanya Branning
| Tanya Branning | |||||
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| File:Tanya Branning EE2.jpg | |||||
| Duration | 2006– | ||||
| First appearance | 27 June 2006 | ||||
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Tanya Branning (née Cross) is a fictional character in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. She is played by Jo Joyner.[1] She made her first appearance on 27 June 2006. Jo Joyner is contracted to appear in the show until May 2008.[2]
History
Tanya is the wife and ex-mistress of Max Branning and stepmother of Bradley Branning. Tanya is a determined mother of two young girls, Lauren and Abi.
She arrived in Albert Square to collect her husband after his car broke down, unaware that he was visiting his family in Walford. She stayed in the Square, despite finding out that Max was having an affair with a woman called Gemma Clewes.
When Max and Tanya first moved to the Square, Max had to try and win Tanya over after cheating on her with Gemma in their previous home. Max decided that he would buy Tanya her very own salon which she had been dreaming of.
The day before the salon opened, Max's ex-wife Rachel turned up in a bid to persuade her son Bradley to move back home with her. She wanted revenge on Max for hurting her many years ago when he left her and Bradley for Tanya, so she attacked Tanya at the opening of her salon and tried to kiss Max. Sean Slater tried to kiss Tanya at her house one day but Tanya warned Sean to stay away from her and her family. Tanya has yet to find out that Max is having an affair with Sean's sister, Stacey.
Tanya began to grow suspicious of Max's strange behavior and she tricked him into thinking they were going to dinner, but she actually took him to a marriage guidance session with counsellor Anna Price. Tanya later found a receipt from her favourite jewellery store and because her birthday was coming up, she assumed the jewellery was for her, but Max actually brought it for Stacey. Tanya grew even more suspicious when Abi told her that Max had bought her a handbag for her birthday. She showed the receipt to her employee Preeti, who told Stacey, who tipped off Max, who bought Tanya some jewellery.
Later, at Peggy Mitchell's birthday party, Tanya got slightly drunk, and when she received a glass of champagne, a man bumped into her and the alcohol spilled on Stacey's new top. Stacey, thinking it was done on purpose, demanded an apology, Tanya told her to calm down and tried to wipe the stain off her top. Stacey threw her glass of champagne at Tanya and slapped her. Tanya grabbed onto Stacey and started pulling her hair and pushing her until Max and Sean broke the two up. Stacey ran home and Tanya went to the ladies' toilets, where Sean went to see if she was all right. He said she was beautiful and they snogged until Tanya stopped it, thinking of her marriage. While this happened, Max was at the Slater house, confessing his love for Stacey and saying that it was stronger than the love he had in his marriage, Max still wanted to live in Spain alone with Stacey and said he would leave Tanya and his marriage for Stacey when he got everything sorted and ready; Stacey accepted this. Later, Tanya was passing the Slater house and Max came outside with Stacey and forced her to apologise.Tanya accepted this and left, returning home with Max. A few weeks after this incident Tanya had a friendly conversation with Stacey and still unaware of the affair Tanya let Stacey convince her to expand her business and open a new salon. Tanya did this behind Max's back, unaware that Stacey had encouraged her just to stir things.
On 10 May, Max's birthday, Tanya deduced that Max was cheating on her again, much to her frustration. After finding a blonde hair on his jacket and finding a message from Carly Wicks, Tanya jumped to the wrong conclusion that Carly was Max's mistress. She went round to the Wicks' house to confront Carly but she protested to Tanya that Max was just helping her sell her insurance which Tanya eventually accepted was the truth. However, she still remained sure of Max's extramarital activities and dropped the bombshell that she is pregnant to a shaken Max. A tearful Max poured his heart to Tanya telling her that he suffered abuse and cruelty during his childhood. He mentioned Jim Branning and some lads locked him in a coffin along with some undertakers and a hearse and said 'When they nailed the lid down, it was pitch black'.
Max, Tanya and the kids moved to Spain. Stacey was devastated and moved on, presuming they were to stay out there for good. However the family returned just as Max's son Bradley proposed to Stacey. Stacey said yes and Max has been trying to win her round. Tanya was delighted to welcome Stacey into the family unaware of her illicit affair with Max. Sean has also made advances on her again. Deano took a picture of Sean with his hands on Tanya's face as if they were about to kiss to prove to Carly he was a cheat but his efforts failed.
Tanya recently received a visit from her sister Rainie, a drug addict. She came to Tanya's house despite Max's warnings not to talk to her again. Rainie claimed that she was clean now, and asked Tanya to stay the night. Tanya told Rainie that she must be gone before her children wake up. When Abi was looking for her teddy rabbit, Tanya goes into the living to find it room but discovers Ranie is no longer there. Tanya then discovered Rainie injecting drugs in the kitchen. Tanya then gave Rainie a choice between taking some money which Tanya got from the bank earlier that day or staying and getting help from Tanya. It was revealed that Tanya was the person who got Rainie into drugs. When Max returned home, Tanya told him that Rainie was in the living room, but she heared the front door close and found to her horror that Rainie had taken the money and left.
On 13 September Tanya fired Chelsea from the stylists saloon due to the acuusations with Sean Slater.
Trivia
In early reports of the character's arrival, her name was spelt Tania. This was later changed on the official BBC website.[3][4]
Jo Joyner currently does not read any other parts of the EastEnders scripts apart from her own. This is because she feels her acting is improved by not knowing what the character of Max does behind her character's back.[2]
Family
- Sister: Rainie Cross
- Husband: Max Branning
- Daughters: Lauren Branning, Abi Branning
- Sister-In-law: April Branning Carol Jackson and Susie Branning
- Step-Mother in law: Dot Branning Formely Cotton Family
- Step Son: Bradley Branning
Brother in-law: Derek Branning and Jack Branning
Key Dates
10 May 2007 Revealing that she's pregnant after accusing Max of having an affair with Carly.
16 Jan 2007 Finding out about Abi's accident and blaming Max.
29 Aug 2006 Kissing Sean.
14 Aug 2006 Max's ex-wife turning up in the Square.
3 Jul 2006 Max surprising her by buying the nail salon for her to run.
3 Jul 2006 Moving into the Square without knowing that Max has a family living nearby.
References
- ^ "Additions to the Branning clan", bbc.co.uk. URL last accessed 2007-02-26
- ^ a b Joyner, Jo (2007-02-26). (Interview). Interviewed by Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan.
{{cite interview}}: Missing or empty|title=(help); Unknown parameter|program=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|subjectlink=ignored (|subject-link=suggested) (help) - ^ "EXCLUSIVE: NO ANGEL JO OFF TO ALBERT SQ", The Mirror. URL last accessed 2007-02-26
- ^ "Joyner joins 'EastEnders'", Digital Spy. URL last accessed 2007-02-26