Alice Branning

Alice Branning
A promotional image of Alice Branning
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Jasmyn Banks
Duration	2012–2013
First appearance	Episode 4424 10 May 2012
Last appearance	Episode 4768 24 December 2013
Introduced by	Bryan Kirkwood
Classification	Former; regular
Profile
Occupation	Recruitment consultant Nanny
Family Branning Father Derek Branning Brothers Joey Branning Uncles Max Branning Jack Branning Aunts Carol Jackson First cousins Lauren Branning Abi Branning Oscar Branning Bianca Butcher

Alice Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Jasmyn Banks. Alice is the daughter of Derek Branning (Jamie Foreman). She made her first appearance on 10 May 2012. The character and casting was announced on 14 April 2012 with executive producer Lorraine Newman stating that Alice will allow the audience to see a softer side to Derek. Banks also stated that Alice will allow viewers to see a "lovely" side to Derek. Alice has received mixed reviews from critics with one from the Daily Mail saying that the storyline involving Derek and Alice is boring while another from the Daily Mirror praised the character for revealing herself as Derek's daughter on her first appearance, comparing her to Danielle Jones (Lauren Crace) after she kept her identity to her mother Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Womack) a secret for months and then dying minutes after revealing herself. Another critic from the Daily Mirror said that Alice has had a "colossal impact" on Derek. In September 2013, it was announced that Banks would be leaving the show as part of Michael Moon's (Steve John Shepherd) exit storyline. She departed on 24 December 2013, after being arrested for Michael's murder.

Alice first appears following Derek Branning (Jamie Foreman) around Walford, unnerving him. When he furiously confronts her, accusing her of being a police officer, she says she is his daughter before hurriedly fleeing. After she leaves, Derek finds her phone and uses this to track her down, asking her to hear him out. He apologises for abandoning her and not watching her grow up and Alice admits that she should not have bothered tracking him down. However, Derek asks her to meet with him next week so he can introduce her to his family, telling her he is a good man who has done bad things. When Alice arrives in Walford to meet her family, she walks in to find the Brannings arguing and Derek absent. All of Derek's family praise him, apart from Tanya Jessop (Jo Joyner), who says nothing. After Alice speaks to Tanya, she decides to leave, despite Derek's pleas for her to stay. Alice returns to spend time with her cousin Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) and eventually visits Derek. She reveals that Tanya told her things about Derek, which angers Derek, and Alice decides to leave. Cora Cross (Ann Mitchell) then shows Alice an unsent letter that Derek wrote for her, which prompts Alice to decide to get to know Derek. He promises to live a crime-free life from now on, but Alice discovers that Derek is dealing in forged banknotes, so leaves again. She continues to return and takes a liking to Anthony Moon (Matt Lapinskas), which Derek notices. Derek forces Anthony to take Alice out, but she ends up drunk and Derek looks after her. He later tells her that he will definitely change his behaviour for her, and they can keep seeing each other as long as they keep it a secret from Alice's mother, who has discovered their meetings. Derek forces Anthony to date Alice again and chaperones. When Alice's phone rings, Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater), who is being terrorised by Derek, answers the phone to Alice's mother and tells her where Alice is. Anthony insults Alice, unaware that she can hear him.