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Jack Branning is a fictional character from the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Scott Maslen. He made his first appearance on 29 October 2007. He is the youngest child of Jim and Reenie Branning and the brother of established characters Carol Jackson, Suzy Branning and Max Branning. 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, however broadsheet press have been more critical of Maslen's acting.
[edit] Creation[edit] BackgroundJack Branning was one of several new characters to join the EastEnders cast in the second half of 2007. At a time when the show was undergoing media criticism for its resurrection of old characters-[1] with the announcement that Patsy Palmer and Sid Owen would be reprising their roles as Bianca and Ricky Butcher respectively[2] - John Yorke, the BBC's controller of drama production, defended the show's ability to create interesting, new characters. He praised the show's executive producer Diederick Santer for his development of new, "strong characters", including Jack Branning, and Roxy and Ronnie Mitchell. Speaking of this new wave of characters, he stated: "It feels like a new dynasty is emerging, which is important."[3] Prior to his introduction in October 2007, the character was referred to once, a week before his arrival. He is a member of the soap's Branning family; his sister Carol first appeared in the serial in 1993, while father Jim had appeared from 1996. More recently, brother Max and his own family were introduced in June 2006. [edit] CastingIt was first announced on 13 July 2007 that actor Scott Maslen had been cast in the role of Jack.[4] Previously best known for his role as DS Phil Hunter in ITV police drama The Bill, the media were quick to pick up on the fact his new role was notably similar - with TV critic Jane Simon sarcastically commenting: "What a relief it must be for actor Scott Maslen to get a role that allows him to show off his incredible versatility."[5] Malsen himself pointed out that the character of Jack was actually higher ranking than Phil Hunter, joking: "I've been promoted from playing a DS in Sun Hill!"[6] Maslen's casting marked the first time an established actor had been poached from one mainstream soap to another.[4] Speaking for the first time about his new role, Maslen said: "I was very sad to leave The Bill but after five years I wanted to explore new opportunities. The Bill afforded me some fantastic storylines. I'm really looking forward to playing Jack. He's an extremely competitive man who likes to win in business and in pleasure!"[7] [edit] DevelopmentUpon announcing his casting, Maslen described the character of Jack as "an extremely competitive man who always likes to win in business and in pleasure".[8] He mentioned that there would be an "instant attraction"[6] between Jack and fellow newcomer Ronnie Mitchell, and explained that he already had a longstanding friendship with Samantha Janus who plays Ronnie, having known her since he was 16 years old, and being godfather to her children.[9] The relationship between the two characters developed quickly from friendship to romance, with Janus commenting that due to her friendship with Maslen; "Our first kissing scene felt really uncomfortable, it was terrible, but we're over it now."[10] Several media publications commented on the fact that the attraction between the two characters had been obvious, and bound to develop into more than a professional relationship.[11][12] As the character's personality developed, questions were raised over whether his intentions and motivations were good or bad, with Maslen explaining: "I call him amoral; neither good nor bad. He gets what he wants out of the situation but that isn’t necessarily just a selfish thing. He’s not an evil character, but if there are people that are threatening him, his business or his family, he will do whatever he needs to do to eliminate that problem."[13] [edit] Storylines[edit] BackstoryJack is the youngest child of Jim and Reenie Branning, and brother of Derek, Carol, April, Suzy and Max. 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 Jim, who was an alcoholic. 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 6-years-old, and framed Max, causing a huge rift between Jim and Max and resulting in Max walking out on his family in 1989. Despite the fact that Max and Jack were arch-rivals, they kept in touch as Jack was present at Max's wedding to Tanya Cross in 1994 and has watched his nieces Lauren and Abi grow up, unlike their father, who was unaware of their existence. Jack himself settled down with a woman named Selina and upon marrying, they had a daughter, Penny. Jack also built up a career in the police force, but got involved in criminal activities and when they backfired, Penny, was left wheelchair-bound due to her spinal cord being severed when one of Jack's informants knocked her down in revenge for Jack accidentally getting them sent down. This caused Jack and Selina to divorce and Jack retired from the police force. [edit] 2007—Jack first arrives in Walford on 29 October 2007 for his nephew, Bradley Branning, 's wedding to Stacey Slater. Upon his arrival, he soaks Ronnie Mitchell when he drives through a puddle and she retaliates by soaking him with her water bottle. A fight with his brother, Max, leads to his invitation to the wedding being revoked so he stays at The Queen Victoria public house and helps Roxy Mitchell, Ronnie's sister, prepare for the reception. Deciding to stick around, Jack comes between the sisters when he outbids Ronnie for Scarlet Nightclub and offers her a partnership (the club is subsequently renamed R&R after Ronnie and Roxy). Jack also causes disruption in the Mitchell family when he sets up Ronnie's cousin Phil Mitchell, by taping him confessing to his hand in Kevin Wicks's death by selling him cut-and-shut cars. Jack blackmails Phil with this, demanding the car lot for his silence (which he then rents out to Pat Evans). Despite the Mitchells' animosity, Jack falls for Ronnie, and after sharing a kiss on Christmas Day 2007, they start dating in the New Year. However, their relationship has many obstacles - such as the Mitchells, particularly Roxy, trying to split them up. Jack's ex-wife, Selina, reappears briefly and has a one-night stand with Jack, which Roxy finds out about. Ronnie meanwhile, decides to move in with Jack but Roxy tells her about Jack's infidelity so she punches him and ends their brief relationship. They reconcile in April 2008 but it doesn't last as Ronnie doesn't trust Jack and his daughter, Penny, is difficult with Ronnie. Still raw from breaking up with Ronnie again, Jack gets drunk with Roxy and they have a one-night stand. Both immediately regret their actions and agree to keep it secret, but Roxy is pregnant by him. Roxy convinces her on/off boyfriend Sean Slater that he is the father, and after marrying him, prematurely gives birth to her and Jack's daughter Amy on 14 November 2008. In May 2008, after Ronnie goes to Ibiza, Jack starts dating Tanya Branning, Max's estranged wife. Jack looks after Tanya and her children while they struggle to cope after discovering that Max had an affair with Stacey Slater and departure. However, Max returns to Walford, and is furious to discover that they are together. Max puts in an offer for the family home but Jack goes higher and buys 5 Albert Square, later moving in with Tanya and the children. Max tries to come between Jack and Tanya, mentioning Penny's accident to her and asks how Jack is able to buy the house and the nightclub without a mortgage. Tanya demands answers and Jack confesses to being a bent policeman who helped out drug dealers. Tanya is furious but forgives him. In desperation, Max tries framing Jack by getting him to touch a gun. Max fires the same gun in his flat and calls the police, claiming that Jack has tried to kill him. Jack is arrested, but is soon released, due to his connections in the police force. In revenge, Jack takes Max hostage, beating him and taunting him, before abandoning him in an old warehouse. Later that night, Max is mowed down by a car that aims straight at him, and Jack is prime suspect. It later transpires that Max's daughter, Lauren, is responsible and, in order to save Lauren from prison, Tanya tells the police that she is responsible and is arrested in November 2008, Tanya tells Jack that their relationship is over. Depressed after his break-up with Tanya, Jack turns his attention to Amy, Roxy's daughter. He demands a paternity test and Roxy reluctantly agrees, telling him that Sean is Amy's father when she gets the results. Jack backs off and begins to concentrate on re-building his relationship with Ronnie, with whom he now shares a flat. However on Christmas Day 2008, Jack's sister, Suzy Branning, reveals that Jack is Amy's father to the Mitchells, Jack and Sean. Furious, Sean abducts Amy and lures Roxy into joining him on a get-away trip to Dagenham. However, Sean then tries to kill them all by driving into a frozen lake. Jack and Ronnie appear and save Roxy and Amy. When they return to Walford, Roxy tells Jack he will have nothing to do with their daughter, and Ronnie makes it clear there is no chance they will get back together. Jack tries establishing regular contact with Amy, and unable to stand this, Ronnie decides to leave Walford. Racing to the airport to stop her, Jack announces that he loves her over the airport tannoy. Ronnie returns to Walford with him and they start dating again and Roxy agrees not to interfere. Ronnie tells Jack that she wants a baby, but he insists it is too soon after the death of her daughter Danielle Jones. Jack asks Ronnie to marry him, but catches her piercing the condoms, hoping she will get pregnant. They argue, and Jack storms out, but finds Ronnie's ring on the table when he returns. After telling Jack that Ronnie has left Walford permanently, Roxy tries to seduce Jack but he pushes her away and states his love for Ronnie. When Ronnie returns, Jack begs her to reunite with him, but she refuses. A few weeks later, she asks him to buy her share of the nightclub and to fund this, Jack sells the car lot to Archie Mitchell, Ronnie's father (who she despises). This distances Ronnie further from Jack. The feud between Jack and Phil recommences. Phil discovers that Jack is involved with drug dealing, and when Shirley Carter buys drugs from one of Jack's contacts, Phil forces Jack to buy them back. Humiliated, Jack employs Phil's sister Sam Mitchell, infuriating Phil. Despite knowing that she is engaged to Ricky Butcher, Jack has a one-night stand with Sam and they have an affair. Archie intervenes and pays Jack to keep seeing Sam, as part of his plan to take over the Queen Victoria pub. Archie furthur intervenes, informing Jack's niece and Ricky's ex-wife Bianca of the affair. Later on, Bianca drags Sam down the stairs into the Queen Vic and in front of Ricky and a crowded pub, forces her to tell Ricky (in front of her uncle Jack) about the affair they were having. Jack is distraught as he was about to get an address for his true love, Ronnie from her sister, Roxy. When the affair is revealed, Roxy rips the address up and throws him out of the pub because of his lies and due to the fact that he has had relations with three Mitchell women, Ronnie, Roxy and their cousin, Sam. [edit] ReceptionMuch media response to the character has centred around Maslen's good looks, with the Daily Express commenting: "At last. Someone remotely attractive comes to Albert Square."[14] The Mirror similarly referred to him as "the new hunk on the Square",[11] as well as "the hottest property on EastEnders".[15] Inside Soap praised Maslen's transition between roles, declaring his performance as Jack to be "flawless".[16] However, The Times were more critical, writing of 2007's New Year's Eve episode: "The alleged erotic tension between Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Janus) and Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) was so underplayed as to be invisible."[17] [edit] References
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