Bex Fowler

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Bex Fowler
EastEnders character
Jasmine Armfield as Bex Fowler (2018)
Portrayed by
  • Alex and Vicky Gonzalez (2000–2002)
  • Jade Sharif (2005–2007)
  • Jasmine Armfield (2014–2020)
Duration2000–2002, 2005–2007, 2014–2020
First appearanceEpisode 2020
26 October 2000 (2000-10-26)
Last appearanceEpisode 6091/6092
6 March 2020 (2020-03-06)
ClassificationFormer; regular
Introduced by
In-universe information
Other namesRebecca Fowler
Chloe Jackson
Rebecca Miller
Occupation
  • Student
  • Café worker
Family
Charli Slater

Rebecca "Bex" Fowler

Sonia Jackson (Natalie Cassidy). She was born on-screen during the episode broadcast on 26 October 2000. Bex was played by twins Alex and Vicky Gonzalez from 2000 to 2002, and Jade Sharif from 2005 to 2007. The character was reintroduced in January 2014, with Jasmine Armfield taking over the role. On 28 January 2020, it was announced that Armfield had decided to leave the soap; she departed on-screen in the episode broadcast on 6 March 2020.[2][3]

Her storylines on

Gethin Pryce (Cerith Flinn), getting into the University of Oxford, developing an addiction to ADHD drugs, dealing with depression
and running away, attempting suicide, and overdosing during a boat party on the River Thames.

Development

Reintroduction (2014)

When Rebecca returned in 2014, the role was recast to actress Jasmine Armfield.

Bex, (now played by

Lindsay Coulson) being diagnosed with breast cancer.[4][5][6] Bex made her return on 15 January 2014. Armfield's casting as Rebecca was announced in January 2014. Of her casting, Armfield's drama school principal, Teri Levett, said, "I'm so very proud of her. Jasmine is a really hardworking student. EastEnders is going to be fantastic for her and I'm really, really pleased."[7] When Armfield auditioned for EastEnders, she was unaware of the character she would be playing and was "surprised" when she found out, saying of her casting, "My agent called and I couldn't believe it...it was amazing news"..[8]

Sexting and revenge porn (2016)

Bullying storyline (2017) & losing Shakil (2018)

With the introduction of

Shakil Kazemi, Tilly Keeper said, "there will probably be maybe a little bit of a love triangle and a lot of jealousy" between Louise and Bex. Keeper also added that Louise will show a "bit more of a manipulative side."[9]

A sexting plot began in December 2016, with Bex, Shakil and Louise as central characters. The storyline progressed into a revenge porn plot, following the aftermath of the bus crash Disaster Week.[10] David Brown, from Radio Times, says the storyline "tackles a topic that should be of massive concern to both tech-savvy teenagers and parents who fear they’re being left behind when it comes to the way their offspring communicate" and "that the fallout of these rash actions" could lead to legal consequences for Louise, Bex and Shakil. He also added that the show "is in a powerful position in that it can provide moral guidance to its younger viewers" and "has the potential to articulate the fears and worries of viewers who might not be able to express such concerns by themselves".[11]

Bex enters a storyline where she is bullied by

Alexandra D'Costa (Sydney Craven). They are friends of Louise Mitchell (Tilly Keeper) who meet Bex through their mutual friend; they begin to taunt Bex for months. Louise also then starts bullying Bex and their friendship deteriorates. On one occasion, they are in a scene where Bex is brutally attacked in a school bathroom by the girls, and viewers were noted to be angry.[12] Madison and Alexandra then also fall out with Louise after realising Louise still wishes to be friends with Bex and in the final showdown Louise is then pushed onto a tray of burning candles.[13] Armfield had stated that her scenes in filming the bullying actually scare her.[14] Fans later praised Armfield for her work in the storyline.[15]

"I think nerves are a great thing because you really care about what you’re doing, for me I really, truly do care about my job and love it and because it’s such a big topic, bullying, I really did want to give it justice."[15]

– Armfield on portraying bullying storyline (2017)

stabbed in altercation with a gang over a stolen bike and Shakil dies as a result of his injuries.[16][17][18][b]
Bex struggles upon the news of Shakil's death – she begins to have breakdowns.

Attempted suicide (2019) & departure (2020)

In spring 2019, Bex is struggling with her dependency on

the Queen Vic, Lisa Fowler (Lucy Benjamin) notices the brave face being put on by Bex and encourages Bex to tell Sonia about how she is feeling as Lisa sees past her brave face and also has a history of poor mental health.[20] Bex later doesn’t and does attempt suicide: she is saved by Sonia and survives the ordeal.[22]

On 28 January 2020, it was announced Armfield was set to depart from the soap in coming months.

Oxford university and travel the world.[20]
Bex is regularly mentioned in the show since her last appearance; most of them about where she has been and what she has been up to from having off-screen contact with on-screen mother Sonia.

Storylines

2000–2007

Sonia does not know she is pregnant until she goes into labour and

Dot Branning (June Brown
) fifteen minutes to persuade Sonia to give Rebecca back before they phone the police. Dot successfully persuades Sonia to give Rebecca back.

In 2005, Neil and Sue are killed in a car crash and Rebecca moves in with Sue's mother,

Margaret Wilson (Janet Amsden
). Sonia reads about the crash in the newspaper and she and Martin, who are now married, are concerned for their daughter and decide to track her down to make sure she is well. Posing as friends of the Millers, Margaret allows the Fowlers into their home where they meet Rebecca (now Sharif). It is only when they admit who they really are that she tells them to leave. Pauline demands to be part of Rebecca's life, causing upset. Sonia is furious when she discovers Pauline and Martin have been seeing her daughter behind her back. Eventually Sonia gives into her urges and grows closer to Rebecca too. Margaret decides to make Sonia and Martin Rebecca's legal guardians in case anything happens to her, unaware that Sonia and Martin have separated due to Sonia's lesbian adultery. Sonia persuades Martin not to tell Margaret that they have split up, but when the truth comes out, Margaret is furious and refuses to give Sonia guardianship of Rebecca. When Margaret has a fall and dies, Rebecca is given to Martin and Pauline refuses Sonia access, causing many rows.

Sonia and Martin reunite in December 2006. On Christmas Day 2006, Pauline dies just before emigrating to America. Rebecca saw Sonia slap Pauline before her death and believes that Sonia killed Pauline. Sonia tries to hush Rebecca but the truth comes out and Sonia is arrested following a row with Martin. After absconding with Rebecca, Sonia is cleared of Pauline's murder when Joe Macer (Ray Brooks), Pauline's husband, admits to manslaughter. Sonia leaves Walford with Martin and Rebecca in February 2007.

2014–2020

Rebecca returned on 15 January 2014,

goth fashion style and insists on being referred to by her former name, Chloe, before deciding to go by Bex. Bex rejects Sonia as she has been living away from them, and they become further estranged when Martin (now Bye) reveals Sonia is having a lesbian relationship with Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White
). Martin, realising the situation may be his own fault, decides to have Bex live with Sonia, reasoning that she needs to spend more time with her mother.

Martin starts a relationship with

Kush Kazemi (Davood Ghadami
) is Arthur's father to everyone in the pub, including Bex. Martin tells Bex that Arthur is still her brother, and Bex later explains to Stacey that she hurt her father. When Martin and Stacey get engaged, Martin tells Bex, who says that Arthur really is her brother now.

Bex takes

Shakil Kazemi (Shaheen Jafargholi) and is jealous when Louise flirts with him. At Martin and Stacey's reception, Bex and Shakil kiss, seen by a jealous Louise. Martin struggles to accept Bex dating, and after disputes between Martin and Shakil, Sonia gets them to make amends for Bex's sake.[29]

Tina's mother

Sylvie Carter (Linda Marlowe), who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, later moves in with Sonia and Tina, but Bex does not cope looking after her when Sonia and Tina are not around. Bex is stunned when Shakil tells her he wants to have sex with her.[30]
Bex tells him that she is not ready for sex and she talks about it with Louise, who tells her Shakil will not wait for long. After taking advice from Louise, Bex decides to change her appearance. Bex confides in Stacey about Shakil wanting to have sex, who mentions this to Martin; Martin interrupts Shakil's party, but later apologises to Bex.

Sonia is offered a job in Kettering and Martin and Stacey agree for Bex to live with them. Bex is angry and upset with Sonia and refuses to say goodbye, but Tina arranges for them to talk. Bex is upset and Shakil comforts her. Bex moves in with Martin and Stacey, but struggles to cope with the overcrowding until they move into Sonia's old house. When Bex discovers Shakil has bought condoms, she cancels her 16th birthday party to avoid him. Stacey advises Bex to tell Shakil how she feels. When the pair are alone in Bex's room, she stops him from going further than kissing, so he calls her frigid. However, Shakil apologises to Bex and she forgives him. Bex finds out from Louise and Shakil that people are talking about her relationship and about her and Shakil not having sex. Shakil suggests to Bex they send explicit photos of themselves to each other instead of sex. After talking with Louise and Tina, Bex decides to take an explicit photo. She tells Louise she has not sent the photo and thinks Shakil is not interested in her when he ignores her. Bex confronts Shakil about his ignoring her and Bex admits to Shakil that she did not want to break the law and feared the photos being shared, but apologises for hurting his feelings. Bex then tells Shakil she wants to have sex with him and they try to arrange a place and time that they can be alone. Bex goes round to Shakil's whilst his mother

Carmel Kazemi (Bonnie Langford) and brother Kush are out and they have sex. Immediately afterwards, Shakil sees Bex and Louise talking and assumes Bex is telling Louise about it, so he ignores Bex and refuses to tell her if they are still together. Bex asks Stacey how to know if you're having sex right and explains how Shakil is behaving towards her. Bex is upset when Shakil changes his online status to single. An upset Bex tells Stacey she has been dumped, who tells Martin and she is left embarrassed when Martin publicly has a go at Shakil. Martin's aunt and godmother, Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth
) tries to justify his actions, but Bex refuses to forgive Martin or Stacey until she watches Shakil kiss Louise as part of the Christmas play. Bex shows Louise a prospectus for a college after deciding she needs a fresh start but decides to stay at her school's 6th form to study A-Levels.

Whitney Carter (Shona McGarty
) stick up for Bex, ordering Preston to leave. While trying to find Preston, Michelle crashes a car into the chip shop after taking sleeping pills with alcohol. After this, Preston returns to America after being convinced that Michelle does not need him; Bex is glad that he has gone. Michelle tries to make amends with Bex, who reminds Michelle of what she has lost. Bex works alongside Michelle at the café and she snaps at Michelle when Madison and Alexandra make remarks about them and Preston.

Bex goes busking but almost backs out when she sees a group of girls laughing. Shakil persuades her to carry on, but she is stopped by Martin. When Alexandra sees Bex in the local shop, she knocks the sugar she is buying out of her hands and sticks chewing gum in her hair when she goes to pick it up. Later, Bex goes to the café where Kathy asks her to serve Alexandra and Madison their drinks. They insult her and Alexandra trips Bex, causing Kathy to spill soup on Madison. They later warn Bex that she can never escape them, and gain access to Bex's home by telling Stacey they are her friends and they smash her guitar. Bex is then tricked by them into putting mud covered in chocolate in her mouth, which the film and tell her it is cat faeces. Bex sees the video of this online and calls Sonia in tears, who returns to Walford and announces that she wants Bex to live with her. Sonia also visits Bex's school but does not mention Louise is part of the bullying when Bex asks her not to, which gives Louise hope that they can be friends again. After Michelle and Sharon get them talking, Louise agrees not to be friends with Alexandra and Madison, but in front of Bex she tells them she is not friends with Bex again, so Bex walks off in anger. Unknown to Louise, Madison and Alexandra plan to take revenge on her because they blame her for being reported to the school. Bex overhears Madison and Alexandra inviting Travis to a party at Louise's home, which Louise believes will just be for the three girls. Bex tries to warn Louise that they cannot be trusted but Louise accuses her of being jealous because she has no friends of her own. Travis leaves Louise's party and tells Bex that Louise needs her. After Louise gets drunk and is sick, she staggers outside, coughs up blood and collapses, panicking Bex, Madison, Alexandra, Keegan, Travis and Dennis, who are watching. Louise is taken to hospital with paralysis and Sharon tells Louise about Bex finding her. When Louise is sent home, she invites Bex round, but Madison and Alexandra turn up so Bex does not go to Louise's house. After speaking to Dennis about the party on Travis's behalf, Bex tells Louise that Alexandra followed Travis into the kitchen and Alexandra interrupts them. Alexandra gets herself out of trouble by telling Louise and Bex that Travis may not have been responsible for spiking her drink and Louise insists that Madison and Alexandra are still her friends. Bex hears a rumour that Louise had sex with Keegan at the party, so she tells her to take a pregnancy test, but Martin catches Bex purchasing the test for Louise and wrongly assumes it is for herself. Bex is delighted when she learns Stacey and Martin are having a baby.

Sonia returns from Kettering and wants Bex to move in with her and her brother, Robbie Jackson (Dean Gaffney) and Dot, however, Bex wants to remain with Martin and Stacey. Alexandra decides she will take revenge on Bex when she overhears Bex smugly telling Travis that Alexandra will mess up in the showcase. Before Bex's performance at the showcase, Madison and Alexandra break a guitar string and when Bex looks for one in a classroom, Madison and Alexandra pin Bex up against a wall. Shakil hears the bullying through headphones and exposes it through the soundboard. Bex is found locked in the cupboard and she is encouraged to perform following her ordeal. Bex and Louise make amends and Bex decides to go the prom with Shakil. At the prom, Louise suffers burns after being pushed onto lit candles by Alexandra and Madison, leading to their arrests. Bex visits Louise in hospital but her mother, Lisa Fowler (Lucy Benjamin), says Louise wants no visitors and Lisa tells Bex her plans for Louise if she was well. Louise is distressed when Lisa and Bex arrange for Travis to visit her. Bex receives her GCSE results and is disappointed that she gained a D in music, so Sonia contacts Gethin about Bex's result and Gethin agrees to tutor Bex. Following a gas explosion, Bex tends to Gethin's wounds and they kiss. Bex apologises but Gethin reassures her, however, he says he can no longer tutor her and says a relationship would be illegal due to the fact he is her teacher and insists he has no feelings for her. Bex attempts to make Gethin jealous by flirting with Shakil and Gethin asks her to stop her behaviour and he later kisses Sonia, watched by Bex. When Bex claims to have a new boyfriend, Gethin starts tutoring her again. Bex continues to pursue him but he insists nothing can happen, and Louise asks Bex not to chase Gethin. However, Bex tries to get Gethin to admit he likes her, but he goes through with telling Sonia that Bex kissed him. Sonia is furious that the kiss happened weeks ago and throws Gethin out. She asks Bex for the whole truth and Bex insists it was just a kiss and asks Sonia not to report Gethin. Gethin gets drunk and Bex's great-uncle, Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), Gethin's landlord, evicts Gethin when he finds out about the kiss. Gethin then leaves Walford. Louise accidentally tells Shakil about Bex and Gethin, and Bex is heartbroken when Shakil kisses Louise, though Louise is stunned and disgusted by Shakil's immaturity. Bex is devastated when Shakil is stabbed and killed in a knife attack in May 2018.

The following year, overwhelmed by the prospect of going to Oxford, Bex takes drugs to cope with her exams and runs away; she is found by

Stuart Highway (Ricky Champ
). On the night of her leaving party, Bex writes a suicide note to her parents and attempts to overdose on pills. The following morning, Sonia finds her unresponsive in bed. She recovers well but decides to defer Oxford for a year, and once her life is back on track, she makes the decision to go travelling, which Sonia is unhappy about. However, she writes her mother a letter and successfully persuades her that she's doing the right thing. Martin and Sonia see her off at the Tube station.

Reception

In 2017,

Alexandra D'Costa (Sydney Craven)'s characters.[12] Armfield has also been praised for her work in many storylines – her most notable praises from fans are for her work in her bullying storyline in 2017 and suicide storyline in 2019.[15][22]

Notes

  1. ^ Bex also has another half-brother via Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton) who has not yet made an appearance in the show. Lytton was supposedly returning after her maternity leave in 2021.
  2. ^ This has been compared for its similarities to back when the characters on-screen mother Sonia (Natalie Cassidy) loses on-screen boyfriend Jamie Mitchell (Jack Ryder) on Christmas Day 2002 after he is killed accidentally by Martin (James Alexandrou); a massive similarity is also how Sonia was around a similar age to Bex when she lost Jamie.

See also

References

  1. ^ "BBC One – EastEnders, 04/05/2015". BBC Online. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  2. ^
    OK! Magazine
    . 28 January 2020.
  3. ^ a b "EastEnders spoilers: Bex Fowler to die in boat tragedy as Jasmine Armfield quits?". Metro. 28 January 2020.
  4. ^ News Team, EastEnders (19 December 2013). "Jasmine Armfield to join EastEnders as Rebecca Fowler". BBC. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  5. ^
    Trinity Mirror. Archived
    from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  6. Hearst Magazines UK. Archived
    from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  7. ^ "Jasmine,15, lands dream part in EastEnders". Echo News. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  8. ^ Jasmine Armfield on Twitter: First interview with @InsideSoapMag ! Feeling very lucky🙏🏻❤️
  9. ^ Walker, Danny (23 May 2016). "EastEnders spoilers: Louise Mitchell set for biggest storyline yet as Tilly Keeper teases 'manipulative' love triangle". The Mirror. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  10. ^ Dainty, Sophie (2 February 2017). "EastEnders reveals naked pictures scandal as Louise Mitchell gets her revenge on Shakil Kazemi". Digital Spy. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  11. ^ Brown, David (6 February 2017). "EastEnders: why the revenge porn plotline should be essential viewing - for both teenagers and their parents". Radio Times. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  12. ^ a b O'Connor, Rory (11 April 2017). "EastEnders viewers 'SWITCH OFF' in anger over violent Bex Fowler bullying storyline".
  13. ^ Lyndsay, Duncan (14 July 2017). "Bex Fowlers evil bullies are found out, but something nasty lays ahead".
  14. ^ "Jasmine Armfield is genuinely scared acting out bullying scenes". Metro. 13 April 2017.
  15. ^ a b c Lindsay, Duncan (13 April 2017). "EastEnders fans heap praise on Bex Fowlers bullying storyline as her ordeal gets worse". Metro.
  16. ^ Dainty, Sophie (22 March 2018). "EastEnders is lining up a harrowing knife crime storyline involving Keegan and Shakil". Digital Spy. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  17. ^ Hughes, Jonathon (22 March 2018). "EastEnders to tackle knife crime in hard-hitting new storyline". Radio Times. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  18. ^ Lindsay, Duncan (22 March 2018). "EastEnders spoilers: Double stabbing horror as soap tackles knife crime storyline". Metro. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  19. ^ Baillie, Katie (18 April 2019). "Bex Fowler for devastating drug addiction storyline". Metro.
  20. ^ a b c d e Milan, Aidan (4 October 2019). "What happened to Bex in EastEnders – a recap on her suicide storyline". Metro.
  21. ^ Dainty, Sophie (14 May 2019). "Bex Fowler declares her love for Kush as her struggles continue". Digital Spy.
  22. ^ a b Harp, Justin (4 October 2019). "Viewers praise star Jasmine Armfield for her work in suicide storyline". Digital Spy.
  23. ^ – As of 8 January 2014
  24. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (19 December 2013). "EastEnders: Jasmine Armfield to play Sonia's daughter Rebecca". Digital Spy. Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  25. ^ Executive Producer: Dominic Treadwell-Collins; Director; John Howlett; Writer: Matt Evans (18 April 2016). "Episode dated 18/04/2016". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  26. ^ Executive Producer: Dominic Treadwell-Collins; Director: John Howlett; Writer: Maya Sondhi (19 April 2016). "Episode dated 19/04/2016". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  27. ^ Executive Producer: Dominic Treadwell-Collins; Director: Nic Phillips; Writer: Anya Reiss (26 April 2016). "Episode dated 26/04/2016". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  28. ^ Executive Producer: Dominic Treadwell-Collins; Director: Nic Phillips; Writer: Natalie Mitchell, Colin Wyatt (27 April 2016). "Episode dated 27/04/2016". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  29. ^ Executive Producer: Dominic Treadwell-Collins; Director: David Tucker; Writer: Katie Douglas (16 June 2016). "Episode dated 16/06/2016". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  30. ^ Executive Producer: Sean O'Connor; Director: Nic Phillips; Writer: Anya Reiss (23 August 2016). "Episode dated 23/08/2016". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  31. ^ "Royal showdown as The Crown battles Victoria at TV Choice Awards". The Irish News. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bex_Fowler&oldid=1219635358"