Jill Marsden (EastEnders)
| Jill Marsden | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| EastEnders character | |
| Portrayed by | Sophie Stanton |
| Duration | 2001–2003, 2009–2010, 2012, 2015 |
| First appearance | Episode 2079 5 March 2001 |
| Last appearance | Episode 5166 2 November 2015 |
| Introduced by |
John Yorke (2001) Louise Berridge (2003) Diederick Santer (2009) Bryan Kirkwood (2012) Dominic Treadwell-Collins (2015) |
| Spin-off appearances |
Marsden's Video Diaries (2009–2010) |
| Classification | Former; recurring |
| Profile | |
| Occupation | Detective Chief Inspector |
Detective Chief Inspector Jillian "Jill" Marsden is a fictional character in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Sophie Stanton. She made her first appearance on 5 March 2001 investigating the shooting of Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), which was part of the whodunit storyline "Who Shot Phil?". Marsden returned in 2002, 2003 and 2009 (for another whodunit storyline, "Who Killed Archie?"). She returned on 5 January 2012 for her third whodunit storyline, "Who's Stalking Phil?", departing four months later on 10 May 2012. Marsden returned for two episodes on 17 August 2012 to conclude the latter storyline. On 16 July 2015, she returned for part of the "Who Killed Lucy Beale?" whodunit storyline.
When she was brought back in 2009, Marsden's feelings were explored in a segment of the BBC EastEnders homepage entitled "Marsden's Video Diaries", documenting the character's thoughts about the storyline in which she was involved. Marsden's relationship with Phil has been explored since her first appearance, with the BBC describing their relationship as a "romance in negative...her ultimate dream is that some day she'll get [Phil] behind bars" and the Daily Mirror's Tony Stewart calling her Phil's "arch enemy".
The character has been criticised by police detectives who felt that Marsden's habit of discussing investigation details with suspects (as her colleagues accepted bribes) did not properly represent their profession. In response, the BBC said it had sought advice from a police consultant for storylines involving Marsden.
Marsden first arrives in Albert Square in March 2001, investigating Phil Mitchell's shooting in her first case as detective chief inspector. She identifies the five main suspects: Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), Dan Sullivan (Craig Fairbrass), Steve Owen (Martin Kemp), Mark Fowler (Todd Carty) and Lisa Shaw (Lucy Benjamin). Marsden arrests Dan for the shooting, although he is later acquitted due to lack of evidence. Dan was set up by Phil but it was, in fact, Lisa who shot him. Marsden later arrests Little Mo Slater (Kacey Ainsworth) for the attempted murder of her husband Trevor Morgan (Alex Ferns). Little Mo claims self-defence, since she has been a victim of domestic violence at the hands of Trevor. The trial ends, with Trevor's treatment of Little Mo revealed. In 2003, Sonia Jackson (Natalie Cassidy) visits Marsden with evidence that Phil killed his ex-girlfriend Lisa. Jill helps set up a honey-trap for Phil in order to obtain a confession from him, with PC Kate Morton (Jill Halfpenny) and DI Dominic Price (Paul Brennen), but it fails when Kate falls in love with Phil and Marsden fires her. Marsden arrests Phil, but with insufficient evidence and no confession he is released. It later emerges that Lisa is safe and well, and Phil is innocent. Marsden later arrests Phil when Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman) and Den Watts (Leslie Grantham) set him up in an armed robbery.
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