James Willmott-Brown
| James Willmott-Brown | |||||||||
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| EastEnders character | |||||||||
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| Portrayed by | William Boyde | ||||||||
| Duration | 1986–1989, 1992, 2017 | ||||||||
| First appearance | Episode 114 20 March 1986 | ||||||||
| Last appearance | Episode 5626 28 December 2017 | ||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||
| Introduced by |
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| Book appearances | Taking Chances | ||||||||
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James Willmott-Brown (also credited as Willmott-Brown and Mr Willmott-Brown) is a fictional character from the
Following his imprisonment for Kathy's rape, Willmott-Brown made a brief comeback in 1992 after he moved back into Albert Square; however, he was forced to leave by Kathy's former husband Pete (Peter Dean) just weeks later. After an absence of 25 years, Willmott-Brown returned on 22 September 2017 as the show's hidden main antagonist upon being revealed to be the boss of Max Branning (Jake Wood) in their vengeful plot to destroy the square; with Willmott-Brown serving as the true mastermind behind the events in Max's revenge story arc carried out by his company, Weyland & Co. The character departed once again on 28 December 2017 after his scheme to recoup his relationship with Kathy by controlling the Square had ultimately failed, and he was left bedridden and disowned by both his son and daughter for his actions.
Storylines
1986–1989
James Willmott-Brown, an ex-army officer, arrives in
Willmott-Brown gives up his job as brewery manager and buys a disused pub on Turpin Road, refurbishing it as a wine bar and names it "The Dagmar". Local publican
Meanwhile, Willmott-Brown gives
1992
When Willmott-Brown is released, he returns to the square in January 1992 and tries to buy the flats that
Eventually Kathy and Pete confront Willmott-Brown at his house and he and Pete nearly come to blows. An emotional Kathy finally relays her hurt and anger over the rape and her fury that Willmott-Brown has never apologised for the act. Willmott-Brown protests that they had something truly special, but after a heated conversation, Kathy makes him realise how deluded he is by showing him the destruction he'd caused her and her family. In a bid for attention, Willmott-Brown threatens to commit suicide but Kathy stops him, refusing to allow him off the hook so easily. Willmott-Brown finally apologises for raping her and begs for her forgiveness. Kathy is pleased he is sorry, but refuses to forgive him, feeling her forgiveness would give him permission to stop being sorry and she tells him she is never going to do anything he asks, ever again, not even that. The confrontation and the apology finally gives Kathy the closure she needs, while a defeated Willmott-Brown leaves Walford.
In 1994, Kathy begins having recurring nightmares about Willmott-Brown so Phil, who is now her boyfriend, goes in search of him, and ended up tracking down his wife
2017
Twenty-five years after leaving Walford, Willmott-Brown anonymously lays flowers addressed to Kathy at a memorial for her step-grandson
On Halloween, when Kathy shuts up the café, she is startled when Willmott-Brown comes in. As Willmott-Brown acts casual, Kathy takes hold of a knife and Willmott-Brown tells her that he has been diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. Kathy rubbishes Willmott-Brown's beliefs that they are alike and Willmott-Brown says the reason for his visit is to move on from the past. Kathy wants him to explain truthfully what happened on the night of the rape, but when he refuses to do so, Kathy retells it – demanding to know when he decided to rape her and she realises that Willmott-Brown chose to rape her when he locked up The Dagmar. Kathy tells Willmott-Brown that he has scared her that night like the night he raped her, but Willmott-Brown, still in denial – refuses to apologise for the rape and he leaves Kathy his address. Luke attends Phil's daughter, Louise Mitchell's (Tilly Keeper) birthday meal to make sure Phil knows nothing about Willmott-Brown seeing Kathy, believing Kathy would tell him. Luke contacts Willmott-Brown to inform him that Phil is unaware. Kathy confides in Ian that Willmott-Brown is back and Ian contacts Phil. Phil visits Willmott-Brown and warns him away from Kathy. Phil realises Luke is Willmott-Brown's son when he finds a photo of them. Phil tells Kathy that Luke is Willmott-Brown's son and Phil fails to warn Luke away from Ben. Ben is angry with what Phil did and when Kathy tries to get Ben and Phil to make up, Kathy tells Ben that Phil was protecting him as Willmott-Brown raped her. After struggling to process what he is told, Ben is determined to hurt Willmott-Brown, but Kathy orders Ben to keep out of it as it happened to her and not him. Ben confronts Luke with what he has been told and Luke tells Ben that Willmott-Brown wants to meet him. Ben takes a hammer when he meets him and without Luke's presence, Ben threatens Willmott-Brown, but he insists to Ben that he and Kathy were having an affair and she consented. Luke rushes into the office and pulls Ben off Willmott-Brown, who tells Ben he knows he doesn't trust or believe Kathy.
When Max's daughter, Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa), finds out about Project Dagmar and the model showing how Albert Square will be, Willmott-Brown demands to Max that Lauren keeps quiet. Willmott-Brown meets Lauren when she refuses to back down and he convinces her that the project has been dropped and to delete photos of the plans. Fi finds out that the Carters have raised £50,000 and Willmott-Brown, Luke and Hugo later arrive and tells them they own Grafton Hill. They serve the Carters with an eviction notice, putting up the money owed to the original £60,000. Kathy and Ian are shocked to see him in the pub. Willmott-Brown reveals that they plan to turn their obtained buildings into luxury flats. When Max proposes to Fi, Willmott-Brown and Luke reveal that they have used him as they have doubted his loyalty and burn his cheque. Willmott-Brown orders Josh to serve an eviction notice on Ian after Lauren refuses to do so. Ian arranges to meet Willmott-Brown and tapes their conversation, where Willmott-Brown initially tells Ian that he and Kathy loved each other, but he admits to raping Kathy. Willmott-Brown deletes the recording when Ian is restrained. Josh visits Lauren and tells her the development can be stopped, but he needs her help whilst he accesses Willmott-Brown computer that has documents to prove that Willmott-Brown bribes council officials. Whilst Willmott-Brown and Fi attend a press launch, Josh downloads files that can get the development stopped and Lauren gets arresting when she stages a protest at the launch to hold Willmott-Brown and Fi up. When Willmott-Brown returns, Lauren contacts Josh and Willmott-Brown demands the downloaded files, so Josh decides to quit his job. Fi tries to get Josh to return, but he tells Fi that Willmott-Brown has ruined and controls their lives just like with their mothers. When Fi attempts to question Willmott-Brown over why he never allowed Josh's mother, Wendy, to get a job or why Elizabeth committed suicide, Willmott-Brown pushes her to the ground. Fi asks Kathy about the rape and her version causes Fi to be physically sick. Towards the end of the year after Christmas, Fi tells Willmott-Brown that she believes he did rape Kathy – prompting him to throw her out of his building. He then goes to see Kathy and attempts to manipulate her into starting anew with him; Kathy appears to be interested at first, but then grabs James at the front and stands up for herself – telling Willmott-Brown that he is "going to hell" regardless of what he does. When he returns to his office, Willmott-Brown is horrified to find that his safe has had a break-in and that all his documents – which he showed Fi earlier on about the secrecy to exposing Weyland & Co – are missing, just as the police arrive. Whilst desperately trying to destroy them, he suffers a heart attack. It soon transpires that Fi, disgusted with her father's callousness and the discovery that he raped Kathy, stole the documents and reported Weyland & Co's criminal activities to the police. After forcing Hugo to relinquish Weyland & Co of their power over the Square, destroying the company in the process, Fi visits Willmott-Brown in hospital and tells him she is not going to keep on trying to get his approval as she wanted his love. As Willmott-Brown reaches out for Fi, she tells the staff that she is not his daughter before leaving – having disowned her father and leaving him to suffer alone.
Development
Storyline development
In 1988, the character of Willmott-Brown raped Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) in a "prolific and controversial [...] deplorable" rape storyline. Taylforth was apprehensive about the storyline when it was pitched to her, commenting that she "didn't think it was a great idea at first" as her character had already been raped and "didn't think Wilmott-Brown was a very likely rapist."[1] Taylforth said she "loved working" with Boyde, saying he played the part "brilliantly" as well as it being his own idea "to step up Wilmott-Brown's drinking in order for the rape to make some sense."[1]
Boyde departed the role in 1989, when his character was found guilty of rape.[2] The storyline "had massive repercussions for the residents of Walford", notably for Den Watts (Leslie Grantham), as the storyline resulted in his imprisonment for "taking the rap" over The Dagmar fire caused by The Firm.[3] Boyde returned in 1992 for a short stint, which saw Willmott-Brown "try and reintegrate in Walford" but a "lack of remorse saw him receive significant backlash."[2]
Reintroduction
Boyde reprised his role as Willmott-Brown in September 2017 and the actor expressed his delight at returning to the serial.
The characters of
In popular culture
A running joke in the 2015 episode of Catherine Tate's Nan titled "Knees Up Wilmott-Brown" involves the lead character, Nan, mistaking another character, Charles Wilmott, for the EastEnders character.[9]
Reception
In 2020, Sara Wallis and Ian Hyland from The Daily Mirror placed James 69th on their ranked list of the best EastEnders characters of all time, calling him "Toff" and "a rotter in a suit".[10]
See also
References
- ^ a b Wilson, Tim (1994). "Gillian Taylforth interview". Walford Gazette. Archived from the original on 21 December 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
- ^ a b Lindsay, Duncan (22 September 2017). "EastEnders spoilers: Kathy Beale's rapist James Willmott-Brown returns as the head of Max Branning's revenge". Metro. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
- ^ Brown, David (22 September 2017). "EastEnders: who is James Willmott-Brown?". Radio Times. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
- ^ Brown, David (22 September 2017). "James Willmott-Brown returns to EastEnders – as big family secrets are revealed". Radio Times. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
- ^ a b c Lindsay, Duncan (22 September 2017). "EastEnders spoilers: Who is James Willmott-Brown connected to in Max's revenge plot and what happens next?". Metro. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
- Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
- ^ "BBC EastEnders". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
- ^ Lindsay, Duncan (29 December 2017). "EastEnders spoilers: Three exits air as Fi Browning brings down James Willmott-Brown". Metro. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- ^ Marshall, Sharon (2 January 2016). "Catherine Tate served up too much of her sweary Nan this Christmas – Sharon Marshall – Mirror Online". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
- ^ Sara Wallis; Ian Hyland (12 June 2020). "100 Best EastEnders characters ever". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 20 October 2023.