Benny Bloom

Benny Bloom
© BBC
About
Portrayed by	Arnold Yarrow (search)
Introduced by	Julia Smith (1988)
Gender	Male
First Appearance	25 August 1988
Last Appearance	19 January 1989
Duration	1988–1989
Episode Count	16
Address	5 Albert Square (1938-1945)
Status	Deceased
Occupation	Bricklayer
Classification	Former; recurring
Relationships/Known relatives
Wife	Golda Bloom (Widowed)
Daughters	Margaret Stone
Research
Page Links:	What Links Here

Benny Bloom made his first appearance on 25 August 1988. He is portrayed by Arnold Yarrow.

Storylines

Benny is a Jewish bricklayer who lived with his wife, Golda, at 5 Albert Square during World War II, later retiring to Clacton where Golda died. Benny first appears, visiting his old friend Dr Harold Legg and begins spending time with Ethel Skinner, who is also an old friend of his. As Benny and Ethel spend more time together, their friendship blossoms into a romance. A very drunk Benny later propositions Ethel, asking her to move in with him. Ethel initially thinks the offer is for a proposal of marriage, but when she realises that his motives are less than honourable she is furious and smashes his Issy Bonn records over his head. When relaying her concerns to her friend Dot Cotton, Ethel confesses that she does love Benny, which angers Dot as she feels that Benny is an old pervert and she tells Ethel to stay well clear of him.

Ethel and Benny reconcile, and over lunch Benny decides to propose to Ethel, this time for marriage. However, Dot has heard that Benny plans to propose and in a bid to prevent her best friend from accepting, she turns up at their luncheon and brands Ethel stupid for considering marriage, saying she could never be happy with a Jew, as they were "different". Ethel accuses Dot of anti-Semitism and just to spite Dot, she agrees to marry Benny. However, Ethel becomes unsure when Benny relays all the domestic duties he expects from her. The final straw comes when Benny informs Ethel that her pug Willy will not be able to stay at the manor where he lives, due to a "no pets" rule. Ethel cannot consider parting with her dog, so the engagement is called off.

This is Benny's last appearance on the Square, but a few months later the residents hear news that Benny has died and he has left Ethel £2,000 in his will.

List of appearances

1988

1. 25 August 1988
2. 30 August 1988
3. 1 September 1988
4. 6 September 1988
5. 22 September 1988
6. 29 September 1988
7. 11 October 1988
8. 13 October 1988
9. 27 October 1988
10. 1 November 1988
11. 3 November 1988
12. 13 December 1988
13. 15 December 1988
14. 27 December 1988

1989

1. 10 January 1989
2. 19 January 1989