Abi Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera
EastEnders, played by Lorna Fitzgerald. She was introduced by
executive producer Kate Harwood on 3 July 2006 as an extension to the
Branning family, along with father Max (Jake Wood), mother Tanya
Branning (Jo Joyner) and older sister Lauren Branning (Madeline
Duggan/Jacqueline Jossa). Her storylines involve her friendships and
relationships with Ben Mitchell (Charlie Jones/Joshua Pascoe/Harry
Reid) and Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick), her toxic friendship with Babe
Smith (Annette Badland), faking a pregnancy so that Ben would not
leave her for Paul Coker (Jonny Labey), being a suspect in the murder
of Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater), her affair with Lauren's fiancé,
Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell), and becoming pregnant by him. In
September 2017, it was announced that Fitzgerald and Jossa had been
axed by executive consultant John Yorke. Abi's exit storyline involves
her and Lauren falling from the roof of The Queen Victoria pub,
leading to Abi giving birth prematurely and being confirmed brainstem
dead in later episodes. Abi's final scenes aired on 19 January 2018
after her life support is withdrawn. The character's funeral took
place on 16 February 2018.For her portrayal as Abi, Fitzgerald has
been nominated for the "Best Young Actor" at the 2010 Inside Soap
Awards and went on to win "Best Dramatic Performance from a Young
Actor or Actress" at the 2012 British Soap Awards. Kate White of
Inside Soap praised her portrayal of Abi, saying that Fitzgerald is
the "brightest young star in soap", adding "Abi's destined for great
dramatic things". A writer from the Western Mail said that Abi's
relationship with Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) is "Walford's answer to
Romeo and Juliet". However, some critics have been less positive, with
one saying in 2012 that the audience are "not nearly" seeing as much
of the "classic characters" due to the younger cast receiving more
screen time.Abi moves to Albert Square with her parents Max Branning
(Jake Wood) and Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner), and sister Lauren Branning
(Madeline Duggan), where she befriends Ben Mitchell (Charlie Jones).
Abi is hit by Dean Wicks' (Matt Di Angelo) car, suffering a broken
wrist, cuts and bruises, but she recovers with no long-term
impairment. Abi later learns that Ben's father, Phil Mitchell's (Steve
McFadden), girlfriend Stella Crawford (Sophie Thompson) is abusing
him, so due to this, Abi and Ben plan to run away, but fail as they
are caught by their parents. Abi then stands up to Stella and tells
Ben to do the same, leading 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 his son Bradley
Branning's (Charlie Clements) wife, Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), is
revealed, Max and Tanya separate and eventually divorce. Abi begins to
live sporadically with each parent, frequently defending Max to Tanya
and Lauren, until Max and Tanya reunite in 2009, however Abi leaves
with Tanya after learning of Max's financial problems. In September
2009, Abi and Jordan Johnson (Michael-Joel David Stuart) find Jordan's
mother Trina Johnson's (Sharon Duncan Brewster) body in the
summerhouse at the allotments having been accidentally killed by
Jordan's father, Lucas Johnson (Don Gilet).
EastEnders, played by Lorna Fitzgerald. She was introduced by
executive producer Kate Harwood on 3 July 2006 as an extension to the
Branning family, along with father Max (Jake Wood), mother Tanya
Branning (Jo Joyner) and older sister Lauren Branning (Madeline
Duggan/Jacqueline Jossa). Her storylines involve her friendships and
relationships with Ben Mitchell (Charlie Jones/Joshua Pascoe/Harry
Reid) and Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick), her toxic friendship with Babe
Smith (Annette Badland), faking a pregnancy so that Ben would not
leave her for Paul Coker (Jonny Labey), being a suspect in the murder
of Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater), her affair with Lauren's fiancé,
Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell), and becoming pregnant by him. In
September 2017, it was announced that Fitzgerald and Jossa had been
axed by executive consultant John Yorke. Abi's exit storyline involves
her and Lauren falling from the roof of The Queen Victoria pub,
leading to Abi giving birth prematurely and being confirmed brainstem
dead in later episodes. Abi's final scenes aired on 19 January 2018
after her life support is withdrawn. The character's funeral took
place on 16 February 2018.For her portrayal as Abi, Fitzgerald has
been nominated for the "Best Young Actor" at the 2010 Inside Soap
Awards and went on to win "Best Dramatic Performance from a Young
Actor or Actress" at the 2012 British Soap Awards. Kate White of
Inside Soap praised her portrayal of Abi, saying that Fitzgerald is
the "brightest young star in soap", adding "Abi's destined for great
dramatic things". A writer from the Western Mail said that Abi's
relationship with Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) is "Walford's answer to
Romeo and Juliet". However, some critics have been less positive, with
one saying in 2012 that the audience are "not nearly" seeing as much
of the "classic characters" due to the younger cast receiving more
screen time.Abi moves to Albert Square with her parents Max Branning
(Jake Wood) and Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner), and sister Lauren Branning
(Madeline Duggan), where she befriends Ben Mitchell (Charlie Jones).
Abi is hit by Dean Wicks' (Matt Di Angelo) car, suffering a broken
wrist, cuts and bruises, but she recovers with no long-term
impairment. Abi later learns that Ben's father, Phil Mitchell's (Steve
McFadden), girlfriend Stella Crawford (Sophie Thompson) is abusing
him, so due to this, Abi and Ben plan to run away, but fail as they
are caught by their parents. Abi then stands up to Stella and tells
Ben to do the same, leading 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 his son Bradley
Branning's (Charlie Clements) wife, Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), is
revealed, Max and Tanya separate and eventually divorce. Abi begins to
live sporadically with each parent, frequently defending Max to Tanya
and Lauren, until Max and Tanya reunite in 2009, however Abi leaves
with Tanya after learning of Max's financial problems. In September
2009, Abi and Jordan Johnson (Michael-Joel David Stuart) find Jordan's
mother Trina Johnson's (Sharon Duncan Brewster) body in the
summerhouse at the allotments having been accidentally killed by
Jordan's father, Lucas Johnson (Don Gilet).
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.