Jack Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera
EastEnders, played by Scott Maslen. He made his first appearance on 29
October 2007. He is the youngest child of Jim (John Bardon) and Reenie
Branning (Joy Graham) and the brother of April Branning (Debbie
Arnold), Carol Jackson (Lindsey Coulson), Derek Branning (Jamie
Foreman), Suzy Branning (Maggie O'Neill) and Max Branning (Jake Wood).
The character was introduced to the show during a period when
EastEnders was being routinely criticised in the media for its
reliance on resurrecting old characters. The casting of Scott Maslen
provoked some controversy, being the first time an actor had been
poached from one mainstream soap to another. It was quickly
established that Jack is a morally ambiguous character, with a murky
past in the police force resulting in the paralysis of his young
daughter. Tabloid media have praised the character for his role as
resident Romeo, commenting frequently on his good looks and
attractiveness, although broadsheet press have been more critical of
Maslen's acting. On 1 July 2019, Maslen filmed his 1000th episode as
Jack.Maslen took a two-month break from the role in October 2010 to
participate in the 2010 series of Strictly Come Dancing, returning in
December 2010. Maslen made an indefinite departure from the role on 15
October 2013 after six years on the show. Having turned down a chance
to return to the role in April 2015, Jack made a previously
unannounced return on 24 December 2015, before leaving once again on 1
January 2016. Maslen returned to filming during the same month and
Jack returned on-screen on 1 March 2016. Since returning, his
storylines have included reuniting with Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha
Womack), gaining custody of his son Ricky Mitchell (Henri Charles),
finding out Ronnie has drowned on their wedding day and his subsequent
grief over her death, a custody battle with Charlie Cotton (Declan
Bennett) over his stepson Matthew Mitchell Cotton, supporting his
great-niece Tiffany Butcher (Maisie Smith) over her rape and
confronting her attacker, as well as rejoining the police force.Jack
is the youngest child of Jim (John Bardon) and Reenie Branning (Joy
Graham) and brother of Derek (Terence Beesley; Jamie Foreman), Carol
(Lindsey Coulson), April (Debbie Arnold), Suzy (Julie Christian-Young;
Maggie O'Neill) and Max (Jake Wood). Having grown up in a large family
in a poor area of East London, Jack regularly fought his older
brother, Max, for the attentions of his father who was an alcoholic.
He was very close friends with Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd),
another local East End boy and went to school with him and had a
closer relationship with him than he did with his brothers. As a
teenager, Jack stole his grandfather's World War II medal, knowing
that it was Jim's prized possession as his father had died in combat
when he was only six years old, and framed Max, causing a huge rift
between Jim and Max and resulting in Max walking out in 1989. Despite
Max and Jack being arch-rivals, they kept in touch as Jack was present
at Max's wedding to Tanya Cross (Jo Joyner) in 1994 and watched his
nieces Lauren (Madeline Duggan; Jacqueline Jossa) and Abi (Lorna
Fitzgerald) grow up.Jack settled down with Selina (Daisy Beaumont) and
on marrying, they had a daughter, Penny (Mia Mckenna-Bruce). Jack
built a career in the police force, but got involved in criminal
activities and when they backfired, one of Jack's informants knocked
Selina and Penny down in revenge for being accidentally sent down.
Penny's spinal cord was severed, putting her in a wheelchair and, in
the aftermath, Jack and Selina divorced and he retired from the police
force.
EastEnders, played by Scott Maslen. He made his first appearance on 29
October 2007. He is the youngest child of Jim (John Bardon) and Reenie
Branning (Joy Graham) and the brother of April Branning (Debbie
Arnold), Carol Jackson (Lindsey Coulson), Derek Branning (Jamie
Foreman), Suzy Branning (Maggie O'Neill) and Max Branning (Jake Wood).
The character was introduced to the show during a period when
EastEnders was being routinely criticised in the media for its
reliance on resurrecting old characters. The casting of Scott Maslen
provoked some controversy, being the first time an actor had been
poached from one mainstream soap to another. It was quickly
established that Jack is a morally ambiguous character, with a murky
past in the police force resulting in the paralysis of his young
daughter. Tabloid media have praised the character for his role as
resident Romeo, commenting frequently on his good looks and
attractiveness, although broadsheet press have been more critical of
Maslen's acting. On 1 July 2019, Maslen filmed his 1000th episode as
Jack.Maslen took a two-month break from the role in October 2010 to
participate in the 2010 series of Strictly Come Dancing, returning in
December 2010. Maslen made an indefinite departure from the role on 15
October 2013 after six years on the show. Having turned down a chance
to return to the role in April 2015, Jack made a previously
unannounced return on 24 December 2015, before leaving once again on 1
January 2016. Maslen returned to filming during the same month and
Jack returned on-screen on 1 March 2016. Since returning, his
storylines have included reuniting with Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha
Womack), gaining custody of his son Ricky Mitchell (Henri Charles),
finding out Ronnie has drowned on their wedding day and his subsequent
grief over her death, a custody battle with Charlie Cotton (Declan
Bennett) over his stepson Matthew Mitchell Cotton, supporting his
great-niece Tiffany Butcher (Maisie Smith) over her rape and
confronting her attacker, as well as rejoining the police force.Jack
is the youngest child of Jim (John Bardon) and Reenie Branning (Joy
Graham) and brother of Derek (Terence Beesley; Jamie Foreman), Carol
(Lindsey Coulson), April (Debbie Arnold), Suzy (Julie Christian-Young;
Maggie O'Neill) and Max (Jake Wood). Having grown up in a large family
in a poor area of East London, Jack regularly fought his older
brother, Max, for the attentions of his father who was an alcoholic.
He was very close friends with Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd),
another local East End boy and went to school with him and had a
closer relationship with him than he did with his brothers. As a
teenager, Jack stole his grandfather's World War II medal, knowing
that it was Jim's prized possession as his father had died in combat
when he was only six years old, and framed Max, causing a huge rift
between Jim and Max and resulting in Max walking out in 1989. Despite
Max and Jack being arch-rivals, they kept in touch as Jack was present
at Max's wedding to Tanya Cross (Jo Joyner) in 1994 and watched his
nieces Lauren (Madeline Duggan; Jacqueline Jossa) and Abi (Lorna
Fitzgerald) grow up.Jack settled down with Selina (Daisy Beaumont) and
on marrying, they had a daughter, Penny (Mia Mckenna-Bruce). Jack
built a career in the police force, but got involved in criminal
activities and when they backfired, one of Jack's informants knocked
Selina and Penny down in revenge for being accidentally sent down.
Penny's spinal cord was severed, putting her in a wheelchair and, in
the aftermath, Jack and Selina divorced and he retired from the police
force.
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