EastEnders at 40: Best ever comedy characters from Kim Fox to Mo Harris
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The drama is never far away in Walford, and EastEnders is gearing up for an explosive 40th anniversary week.
But we love a chance for some light relief, and there are a number of iconic characters who we hold dear in our hearts for this very reason.
The residents of Albert Square need all the entertainment they can get right now, and although humour can't solve those bigger problems, the soap would be a far bleaker place without it.
Choosing the greatest comedy personas in any soap is a tall order, but here at RadioTimes.com we've done our very best to round them up into this fun list!
Join us as we delve into our strongest candidates.
EastEnders at 40: Best ever comedy characters
12. Mo Harris
Twenty-five years after her debut, Laila Morse's Mo is still spreading gossip and taking bets on the private lives of the locals - and we wouldn't have her any other way.
Mo sometimes crosses the line with the sensitive titbits she is willing to spread about the locals, but we can't help forgiving her every time.
Ultimately, the market would be dull as dishwater without the lingering Mo acting as a walking bookmaker for Walford's residents.
11. Alfie Moon
The earliest days of Mr Moon were the height of comedy for EastEnders, with ducking and diving Alfie providing that cheeky chappie persona behind the bar of The Queen Vic.
This allowed Alfie to get to know all the characters, something still reflected in his scenes to this day.
Life has been much tougher for Alfie in recent years, but with a twinkle in his eye, he'll still roll out a joke and a smile when the moment calls for it!
10. Karen Taylor
Karen ruffled a lot of feathers when she moved her large family into Albert Square. But even when she took over Dot's job at the launderette, we held a soft spot for Karen, played seamlessly by Lorraine Stanley.
Becoming infamous for telling it like it is, Karen had her rivals; but her alternate life experience brought about a whole new brand of humour.
Her departure was a huge loss, marking the end of an era for EastEnders' answer to the working-class everywoman.
9. Mick Carter
Cockney rhyming slang got a revamp when Danny Dyer joined the soap, with the actor often instrumental in keeping Mick's language on point!
Mick's one-liners were almost constant during his time on EastEnders, usually giving us a well-needed laugh amid the drama going on in other characters' storylines.
Lost at sea, Mick is now presumed dead, but we live in hope that, one day, whether in spirit or very much alive, we might just hear Mick's entertaining phrases again.
8. Arthur 'Fatboy' Chubb
Half the time we didn't understand his banter, and neither did his landlady Dot, or a bewildered Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) during Fatboy's (Ricky Norwood) unforgettable cameo during a flashback sequence.
But this cheeky character stole our hearts, and we're still mourning his untimely off-screen demise. We miss Fats and his cheeky grin, and he firmly belongs among EastEnders' comedy greats.
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7. Jean Slater
Jean's cry of "Sausage Surprise!" will always warm our hearts, even if her loved ones can't stomach her trademark dish!
Her double act with the aforementioned Shirley broadened Jean's horizons, showing her potential outside of the Slater clan.
While her comedic scenes are few and far between these days, we'll always adore Jean for her cooking and her optimism.
6. Bianca Jackson
Her infamous cry of "Rickyyyyyy!" remains one of EastEnders' most memorable catchphrases to date, cementing our B as one of the funniest presences in Walford.
You have to be a rather iconic soap character to be known via the shrieking of just one word, which has even been used in trailers!
Bianca hasn't had a single thing to laugh about lately, thanks to evil Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman) keeping her locked up.
But here's hoping that while star Palmer is still on the Square, there's some lighter moments ahead for Bianca.
5. Zainab Masood
Grumpy Zainab won hearts with her comical moodiness and hilarious singing, which eventually broke the ice after a less than warm debut!
Zainab always cared too much about what people thought of her family - but had no issue with making a scene all by herself!
Nina Wadia's opinionated alter ego became so beloved that fans still discuss a possible return to this day.
4. Dot Branning
We couldn't compile this list without the incomparable Dot (played by June Brown).
Many of her lighter moments have been made into memes, including a shocked Dot closing a laptop after an unexpected eyeful!
Indeed, Dot's funniest scenes came when she wasn't intending to make us laugh. From her mispronunciation of names to her withering looks and her claim that "I ain't one to gossip", Mrs B was iconic in every way.
3. Shirley Carter
Blunt Shirley (Linda Henry) never aimed to brighten anyone's day with her deadpan delivery, but my goodness, do we miss it!
From her savage insults to her fearless attitude during a gun siege, Shirl's mantra was to say and do whatever she liked, and somehow her careless behaviour never felt like overkill.
Here's hoping she makes it back home one day, if only to go head-to-head with Elaine Knight (Harriet Thorpe)!
2. Kim Fox
She's loud, she's proud, and her comedy value is the polar opposite to Honey - but life in Albert Square would be boring without the flamboyant Kim (Tameka Empson).
Kim makes it her mission to get the gossip, even if she doesn't always read the room quite right!
It hasn't always been smiles for Kim, but for the most part, she can always be relied on to break the mood any time, anywhere - and long may her outrageous reign continue!
1. Honey Mitchell
The gentle Honey (played by Emma Barton) has been making us laugh for almost 20 years with her quirky one-liners and often incorrect, but highly amusing, phrases.
Over the years, Honey's become a force to be reckoned with, and star Barton can turn her hand to emotional drama just as superbly as her comedy roots.
But there's always a delightful Honey-ism thrown in when the mood calls for it, and EastEnders would be a much darker place without the lovely Honey and her innocent humour, making her our number one choice!
Read more:
- Will Martin Fowler be EastEnders' 40th anniversary death? All the clues and theories
- EastEnders airs unexpected vision twist for Phil Mitchell in early iPlayer release
- EastEnders airs unannounced double return and guest cameo in early BBC iPlayer release
- EastEnders' Diane Parish reveals 'jeopardy' in Jack and Ravi choice
- EastEnders' Kellie Bright on how Linda is when she returns from rehab
- EastEnders' Lacey Turner on hopes for 40th anniversary
- Iconic EastEnders writer breaks down Barbara Windsor's outstanding final episode – departure of a great matriarch
- EastEnders confirms new behind the scenes special fronted by returning soap legend
- EastEnders confirms no early release episodes in anniversary week
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and from 6am on BBC iPlayer.
Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.
Authors
Laura Denby is a Freelance Soaps writer covering all the latest news in the Dales, Cobbles and East End for Radio Times. She's a soaps nerd with a love for comedy drama, and has also written for Digital Spy, Metro UK and Yahoo UK.
