James Willmott-Brown

James Willmott-Brown was first seen 20 March 1986, portrayed by William Boyde.

Back Story
Ex-army officer Wilmott-Brown's arrival in Albert Square caused a few curtain twitches. Nobody likes a toff in Walford, so it was inevitable that this posh-talking public schoolboy would turn out to be a psychotic beast.

Storylines
His brief affair with Debs didn't rock his boat, so the smooth-talking ladies' man tricked unsuspecting Kathy into a compromising position, and raped her in July 1988. He was imprisoned in April 1989 for the offence. Kathy tricked him into allowing him to bribe her while a policeman was waiting, and recording the conversation, and who heard him confess to the rape.

He was released in January 1992 and returned to Walford. Despite his protestations of innocence, it turned out that he had form for the same offence – and when he came crawling back, asking her to start again, he was given short shrift and the mob ran him out of Albert Square. Willmott-Brown was later imprisoned as Phil Mitchell tracked his wife down in April 1994 and she said he was in prison again for raping another woman.

He returned on the 22nd September 2017 and is revealed to be Fi Browning, Luke Browning and Josh Hemmings's father.

In December 2017, the entirety of the Willmot-Brown family enter the Queen Victoria, and reveal to everyone that Weyland&Co own Grafton Hill, and as a result the pub, much to Kathy's horror. They serve the Carters with an eviction notice for the Queen Victoria pub.

After this, Max proposes to Sophie. He only holds the box out, and James (Sophie's father), tells him to get down on one knee and ask properly. He asks properly, but doesn't get on a knee. She starts shaking her head and stutters Max's name. James starts laughing, and Max asks him what is going on. James tells him he has been useful, but all good things come to an end. He shows him a cheque for 350,000 pounds payable to Max, and throws it in the fireplace. The Willmott-Brown family are thrown out of the pub by the Carters.

2 days later, James is seen instructing Weyland&Co employees to persuade people in the area to sell their homes and businesses, as members of the Square look on.

The following day, Mick calls James in for a word in the Queen Victoria. The Carters tell him they want the money they paid Weyland&Co back. Johnny tells him he won't have a leg to stand on if it goes to court. James tells him his legal team have been working overtime to figure out why some of the signatures on the Weyland&Co documents differ, and says it suggests forgery.