Doreen "Reenie" Branning (née Gardener) was the late wife of Jim Branning and mother of Derek, April, Carol, Suzy, Max and Jack Branning. She made her first appearance on 29 April 1996.
Backstory[]
Reenie had dated Jim in the early 1960's and as a result, she fell pregnant. Jim and Reenie then got married in a shotgun wedding, but even after this, they never got on. But whenever they fought, she got pregnant.
Reenie was an alcoholic, and once for her birthday, Jim bought her a bottle of bourbon and then went out. Reenie ran herself a bath but forgot to put cold water in. She fell in the bath, scalding herself which landed her in hospital. A few days later, Jim visited her and docked her allowance for the hot water she had wasted.
Reenie was said to be maternal and doted to her children, despite their faults. She was close to April, but hardly liked daughters Carol and Suzy. She was distraught when Max walked out on the family to live with new wife Rachel in 1989, she never saw him again, but kept in contact with Bradley and Rachel.
Storylines[]
1996-1999: Arrival for April Branning's wedding and departure[]
Reenie made her first appearance in April 1996, when she attended her daughter April Branning’s wedding, to fiancé Nikos. When everybody arrived at the church, Nikos was late, but eventually the best man showed up. He told Derek that Nikos had changed his mind about the wedding and had gone back to Greece, leaving April distraught and humiliated. When Jim broke the news to Reenie, she broke down in tears. But instead, April’s sister Carol and her partner Alan decide to get married. Jim and Derek were extremely angry that Carol was marrying a black man and refused to watch the ceremony, but when Jim asked Reenie if she’s leaving as well, she says no and stays to watch her other daughter get married.
In October 1999 it was revealed that Reenie was critically ill, and her daughter Carol Jackson left Walford to care for her. A few weeks later Reenie died off-screen and it was mentioned by her grandson Robbie Jackson that her funeral was attended by Carol, Carol's ex-husband Alan Jackson and her grandchildren Robbie, Billie Jackson. Her oldest granddaughter Bianca Jackson was notably not present at the funeral due to her feud with her mother. A month after her demise Reenie's husband Jim arrived in Walford to care for their grandchildren Robbie and Sonia after Carol reconciled with Alan.
2011-2014: Details of her death[]
In 2011, Derek reveals that Reenie smoked and died of breast cancer which she passed onto her daughter Carol. In 2014, Carol reveals that Reenie died eleven days after her diagnosis. She also revealed that Reenie had previously had breast cancer when she was in her thirties.
Background information[]
- According to an official Branning family tree, Reenie and Jim had two additional children, 'Billy Branning' and 'Deena Branning'. They were presumably replaced with Max Branning and Jack Branning.