Richard "Ricky" Branning (né Mitchell) is the son of Sam Mitchell and Jack Branning. He is the half-brother of Penny Branning, Amy Mitchell and James Branning. He is also the father to Charli Slater. He made his first appearance on 2 September 2010.
Backstory
In late 2009 while in a relationship with Ricky Butcher, Sam had an affair with Jack Branning before being arrested and sent to prison for her role in the death of Den Watts. It was during this time frame when he was conceived. Sometime later, Sam discovered she was pregnant but did not tell anyone except for close friend Minty Peterson.
In late August 2010, Sam's mother Peggy Mitchell visited Sam in prison and it was not until the end of the visit until Peggy realised Sam was pregnant. Sam still angry that her mother tried to frame her for Archie Mitchell's murder insisted that she did not want to see Peggy but after being rushed to hospital Peggy ignored Sam's demands and rushed to the hospital and it is during an argument between them when Sam goes into labour.
Storylines
2010: Birth and departure
When Richard is born, Sam wants to put him up for adoption but her mother Peggy Mitchell insists she keep him, saying the baby is the only way Sam can get back with Ricky, who is now remarried to Bianca Jackson.
Despite insisting that the baby is Ricky's son and even naming him "Richard" after him, Jack, Ricky, Bianca and Ronnie still insist on a DNA paternity test. It is carried out and Sam receives a phone call with the results which she claims confirmed Ricky was the father, however a suspicious Bianca contacts the DNA testing clinic pretending to be Sam and is shocked to discover that Sam lied and Jack is the father of the baby. After confronting her about it publicly Sam admits she lied because Ronnie persuaded her too.
A short while later after a tragic fire in the Queen Vic, Ricky's grandmother Peggy (who had promised to help raise Richard) leaves Albert Square, leaving Sam feeling alone and vulnerable. After a mishap where Sam mistakes the colour of baby feces for a serious illness, Sam realises how inexperienced she is and says she wants Ronnie and Jack to have the baby. They agree and make plans for Sam to bring Richard and his belongings over to Jack and Ronnie but Sam does not arrive. Ronnie goes to Sam's and tries to persuade her not to give Richard up saying that it will be the biggest mistake of her life. After the breakdown of her relationship with Minty Peterson, she leaves with Ricky and goes to Portugal to live with her brother, Grant Mitchell in September 2010.
Ricky was mentioned a few months later when Phil Mitchell and Shirley Carter visited Grant Mitchell, Sam and Ricky in Portugal. Jack mentioned that Shirley had some photos of Ricky to show him and Ronnie asked him did he miss Ricky and Jack claimed that he didn't and that Ricky was happy and had a new family now.
2016-2021: Return, being abandoned and meeting Jack and Amy
Sam shows signs of finding it hard to cope with her son, who is left at Jack's house to bond with him and Jack's daughter Amy Mitchell. He just wants to be eat junk food and play video games, it was obvious that Sam gave her son no attention at all and Jack decides to get to know Ricky, Deciding Ricky is better off without her, Sam abandons Ricky, leaving him with Jack, and goes back to Portugal. Jack tries various ways to bond with Ricky, however he is mostly unsuccessful. However Ricky eventually befriends Kamil Masood, who is part of the Beavers. Seeing this, Jack encourages Ricky to join Kamil at Beavers, however Ricky is reluctant. During this time, the kids are enrolled at a school in Essex as Jack, Ronnie and Roxy planned to move there, but they later return to Walford Primary.
2022-: Reuniting with Sam and having a baby with Lily
In April 2022, Ricky's mother, Sam, returns to the square. Ricky is keen to bond with her, but Sam is uninterested as she was called back for Phil, and Sam uses Ricky as a way to get at Jack. Ricky asks Sam why she abandoned him, but she finds herself unable to answer. Sam and Ricky are not seen spending time together for months, but, On 17 August 2022, Sam admits to Phil she hasn't made an effort with Ricky as she knows she can't put down roots and can't be there for him, whereas Jack can. She admits she wants to put down roots and be part of the family again, and make an effort for Ricky. On 5 October 2022, Ricky visits Sam and says he heard she was in a fight and got thrown out. He says he convinced Jack that she can stay in one of his flats, and Jack hands her the keys to 5B Albert Square, and Sam and Ricky hug, with her Calling him a gorgeous boy and thanking him.
Later in October, Ricky steals Denise's toast at breakfast. After this, Denise and Jack start dancing round the kitchen, Much to Amy and Ricky's dismay. Later at home, Jack says he's going to be checking Amy's homework, and him and Denise leave. Amy convinces Ricky to leave by giving him ten pounds, and he leaves.
In 2023, Lily Slater becomes pregnant with Ricky's baby, saying that he can never know. She explains "He's not my boyfriend, we only did it once."
After Lily decides to keep the baby and informs Ricky that she is pregnant and states that she only told him to warn him that the police will want to talk to him as they shouldn't have had sex so young. He confides in Sam, who relays her knowledge of Lily being pregnant with Ricky's baby to Jack. Jack confronts the Slater's who reveal Lily wants to keep the baby. After Ricky is interviewed by the police Sam comes by to reveal that she is staying in Walford to help Ricky and be there for him. Ricky decides to help Lily and support her and their baby, despite Jack's opposition to this. Jack then goes to see Lily and attempts to scare her about the reality of her situation into getting an abortion. Lily tells Stacey about her conversation with Jack and she bans Ricky and his family from having anything to do with the baby. When Ricky learns his mother Sam has chosen to take a job managing a hotel in Spain Ricky is hurt and pushes his mum away by telling her he couldn't care if she leaves refusing to go to her leaving do organised for Sam by Honey before Sam leaves Ricky decides to reconcile with his mum thanks to Amy talking about how she doesn't have her mother anymore.
On 5 September 2023 Lily gives birth to her and Ricky's daughter Charli, Ricky then tells Jack he is going to change his name from Mitchell to Branning because he's always felt like more of a Branning, when Ricky and Lily take Charlie out for the first time they are pressured by their other teenage friends such as Davinder and Denzel to make Charli luck a salt crisp. Ricky and Lily give into the peer-pressure are about to give Charli a crisp but are caught by Jack who is furious and takes Charli away.
Sam then goes to see Ricky and Charli, Ricky initially doesn't want to see Sam since she left him and didn't keep in touch, although he later let's Sam see Charli but tells her has had his second name changed from Mitchell to Branning. When the Mitchell Family discover Sal has died Sam asks Ricky to attend the funeral with her, which he does. Sam reveals to Kat and the rest of the customers in the Vic that Phil slept with Emma Harding. Sam leaves Walford after Phil, the Mitchell's and some Walford residents turn on her, however she has a touching farewell with Ricky before departing.
Employment history
| Occupation | Years Active |
|---|---|
| Student at Walford Primary School | 2016, 2017-2022 |
| Student at a Primary School in Essex | 2016-2017 |
| Student at Walford High School | 2022- |
Residence
| Address | Years |
|---|---|
| 27 Albert Square | 2010, 2016-2023, 2023- |
| Portugal | 2010-2016 |
| 5B Albert Square | 2023 |
| 5D Albert Square | 2023 |