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Tom Banks made his first appearance 23 April 2002 and his last appearance on 1 November 2002. He is portrayed by Colm Ó Maonlaí.

Storylines[]

Tom was a Merchant Marine who was friends with Mark Fowler and Sharon Watts when they were children. He also knew Mark's cousin, Ian Beale, but used to bully him, and reveals the childhood nickname he gave Ian to the rest of Walford, "Squeal Beale". Tom had left the Marines by 2002 and first appears at the funeral of Sharon's mother Angie Watts. Now a firefighter, Tom starts dating Sharon, despite interference from her ex-boyfriend, Phil Mitchell and his ex-wife, Sadie Banks. Determined to split them up, she uses her daughter, Charlotte Banks, as an excuse to be part of Tom's life and convinces Sharon that they are having an affair. Eventually Sharon realises that Sadie is lying and stands by Tom, despite the rest of Walford turning against them. Sadie becomes deranged and holds Sharon hostage in her flat, threatening to harm her unless she and Tom get back together. She attempts suicide but is convinced by Tom and Sharon to get psychiatric help.

Things take a turn for the worse when Tom discovers he has a brain tumour but keeps this from Sharon who proposes to him when they swap roles for a day. Worried about his health, he ends the relationship, claiming it was all just a 'bit of fun'. Sharon knows there is something wrong with Tom and insists that he tell her what's wrong so he admits that he is ill but doesn't want Sharon to be his nurse. As Tom crumbles, Sharon promises that she will be there for him until the end. They plan to travel around the world but Tom decides to spend his last days in Walford and proposes to Sharon using her father's signet ring. When Trevor Morgan starts a fire at 23 Albert Square, Tom runs in to rescue him and his hostages Little Mo and his son, Sean Andrews. He rescues Mo and Sean and returns for Trevor, reaching him just as a petrol can explodes, killing them both instantly.

See also[]

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