Ronnie Mitchell

Infobox EastEnders character 2


character_name = Ronnie Mitchell
actor_name =Samantha Janus
creator=Diederick Santer
years = 2007—
first = 24 July 2007
last =
dob = 7 July 1974
dod =
home = 29 Albert Square
status = Single
occupation =Club owner
family =
father= Archie Mitchell
mother= Glenda Mitchell
daughters= Danielle Jones
sisters= Roxy Mitchell
grandfathers= Phil Mitchell
grandmothers= Sandra Mitchell
great grandfathers=Edward Mitchell
great grandmothers=Betty Mitchell
uncles=Eric Mitchell
Clive Mitchell
great uncles=Kenneth Mitchell
cousins=Phil Mitchell
Grant Mitchell
Sam Mitchell
1st cousin once=Ted Mitchell
Steven Mitchell
Mark Fowler Jr.
Ben Mitchell
Courtney Mitchell
Louise Mitchell
2nd cousin=Billy Mitchell
Charlie Mitchell
2nd cousin once=Jamie Mitchell
Janet Mitchell
William Mitchell

Veronica "Ronnie" Mitchell is a fictional character in the BBC soap opera "EastEnders", a long-running serial drama about working class life in the East End of London. She is played by Samantha Janus." [http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_method=full%26objectid=19084107%26siteid=89520-name_page.html The Mitchell Sisters] ", "The Daily Mirror". URL last accessed 2007-05-11.] Ronnie and her sister Roxy were introduced by executive producer Diederick Santer in July 2007. An extension of the already established Mitchell family, Ronnie quickly became a prominent character, taking over the soap's club and forming a relationship with her business partner, Jack Branning.

Character creation

Background

In April 2007, press rumours began to circulate about the introduction of two new "EastEnders" characters, Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell, an extension of the long-running and popular Mitchell family. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4258159.stm|title= Actor McFadden back in EastEnders |publisher="BBC News"|date=2005-02-11|accessdate=2008-02-06] Dubbed the Mitchell sisters, Ronnie and Roxy were to be the daughters of Peggy Mitchell's (Barbara Windsor) late husband Eric's brother. In an exclusive in "The Sun" newspaper, a BBC insider reportedly commented, "Ronnie and Roxy are set to cause mayhem this summer. They haven't been cast yet but we've got big plans for them over the coming months. "EastEnders" is about to get a whole lot more glamorous." [cite news|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article25347.ece|title=Girls alout hit Albert Square |publisher="The Sun"|date=2007-04-17|accessdate=2007-12-09]

Though the BBC initially declined to comment on the new characters to the press, [cite news|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?in_article_id=45636&in_page_id=7&in_a_source=|title=EastEnders set for Mitchell sisters|publisher="Metro"|date=2007-04-17|accessdate=2007-12-09] the rumour was confirmed on the official "EastEnders" website, where it was revealed that actresses Samantha Janus and Rita Simons would be playing Ronnie and Roxy respectively. Janus and Simons were the first "major" signings made by executive producer Diederick Santer. In an interview in the "Daily Mirror", Santer commented, "I hope viewers will delight in the sexy, dramatic excitement that they bring to the show. They may be glamorous young women, but these girls are also Mitchells, and have all the strength of character and the unique moral code that this legendary name implies." They have been described as "the next generation" of the Mitchells, "A newer, younger, slightly more modern type". Commenting on her new role, Samantha Janus said, "It's an amazing opportunity for me, I can't wait to start causing lots of mischief."cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders/news/news_20070417.shtml|title=The Mitchell sisters|publisher=BBC|date=2007-04-17|accessdate=2007-12-09]

Casting

The producers of "EastEnders" were keen to get the chemistry between Ronnie and Roxy right. Both actresses were asked to attend several independent meetings with both the producers and writers before meeting one another. Samantha Janus has commented, "It's kind of like lovers; they're so co dependent they really needed to click." Samantha Janus and Rita Simons did not meet until one of the final meetings, however they have both claimed that they clicked and "fell in love with each other straight away." They were asked to read over a script together, and Rita Simons has said that they worked well together in the roles straight away, that they "were coming at it from the same place".cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a66405/samantha-janus-and-rita-simons.html|title=Samantha Janus and Rita Simons|publisher="Digital Spy"|date=23 July 2007|accessdate=2007-07-13]

Promotion

Both Mitchell sisters were featured heavily in a BBC marketing campaign. Several promos aired on the BBC network in summer 2007. Using the slogan "The square, under new management", one promo depicted both sisters as party girls, dancing, serving tequila in The Queen Victoria public house (The Vic), shocking the older residents with their raunchy antics and squirting men with a soda syphon to the tune of "The Girls" by Calvin Harris.cite news|url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/organgrinder/2007/08/can_roxy_and_ronnie_save_easte.html|title=Can Roxy and Ronnie save EastEnders?|publisher=The Guardian|date=2007-08-03|accessdate=2007-12-09]

Two other trailers featured Ronnie and Roxy individually. To the instrumental sound of "Little Green Bag" by George Baker (famously used in the Quentin Tarantino film "Reservoir Dogs"), each sister discussed their sibling, giving snippets of information on their personality and the dynamics of their relationship. Discussing Ronnie, Roxy said "My big sister Ronnie, she'd do anything to stop me getting hurt, including getting hurt herself. Boy she means business. We mean business. We're the Mitchell sisters after all... and you don't wanna find that out the hard way." Discussing Roxy, Ronnie said "Roxy will always be my kid sister. Fights, broken hearts, over the years we've had them all. She can be quite a handful, and she's definitely gonna stir things up around here. But remember, wherever Roxy Mitchell is... I'm right behind."

The promotion was received favourably by Leigh Holmwood, television journalist for "The Guardian" newspaper and MediaGuardian.co.uk. He commented, "now there's more to the long running BBC1 soap, apparently...Yes, it's the new sexed-up, soft focus, raunchy EastEnders trailer and it's hitting your TV screens now. In a bid to welcome the Mitchell sisters to Albert Square, the beeb have pulled out all the stops and come up with a very slick marketing campaign indeed." Referencing to the soap's reputation for being miserable and depressing, Holmwood said that the upbeat trailers were "about as un-"EastEnders" as you can get...Maybe the arrival of Roxy and Ronnie will herald a new golden age for the soap? Or maybe the BBC marketing department is just very good at putting a trailer together..."

In addition to the trailers, the BBC also planned a "glitzy" "EastEnders" BBC Radio 1 competition to promote the arrival on the the Mitchell sisters, called "I love R&R" (Ronnie and Roxy).cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/aug/03/bbc.broadcasting|title=BBC scraps EastEnders contest|publisher="The Guardian"|date=2007-08-03|accessdate=2007-12-09] It ran from the end of June 2007, and included online promotion and video via the website "Iloverandr.com". The prize consisted of VIP tickets to a special party, which was to be attended by "EastEnders" actors and Radio 1 DJ Dave Pearce. Despite inviting the winners to attend, Radio 1 cancelled the event due to orders from BBC director general Mark Thompson, who called a halt to all BBC radio, TV and online competitions following a review of its programming, which uncovered scores of editorial breaches. [cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/jul/18/bbc.broadcasting|title=BBC halts phone-in contests|publisher="The Guardian"|date=2007-07-18|accessdate=2007-12-09] Radio 1 reportedly decided to cancel the promotion as a "precautionary measure", though it is unknown whether the competition breached the BBC ban. Winners were instead told that they would be getting a tour of the "EastEnders" set, and the website was closed down on 26 July 2007.

Character development

Personality, secrets and family relationships

In an interview, Janus described her character as being "the more sensible and clever of the [sisters] , but she has a caustic tongue. She won't trust anyone enough to let them get close to her, although all she really wants is to trust again. They are very, very loyal. She would kill for her sister." Ronnie has also been described as the ice, as opposed to Roxy's fire, as having a dark side to her personality, being affected by her past, and being a control freak.cite news|url=http://showbiz.sky.com/showbiz/article/0,,50001-1294732,00.html|title=Sam's 'Enders Goss|publisher=Sky Showbiz|date=2007-11-28|accessdate=2007-11-28] cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders/characters_cast/interviews/interview_rita_s.shtml|title=Interview|publisher="BBC"|date=26 July 2007|accessdate=2007-07-13] Janus has commented, "She's not honest with herself and others, always hiding and guarding something. She's deeply damaged, she's been taught not to show her feelings. She's been taught to be a survivor. And the way she survives is by controlling: controlling her sister's life, controlling her own life and controlling others, and the minute she's taken out of that comfort zone, she starts to unravel quite quickly. She's definitely motivated by something that happened to her when she was younger that pretty much defines her...that's the thing that defines who she is."Ronnie is in her thirties,cite news|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_method=full%26objectid=18915527%26siteid=89520-name_page.html|title=Ultimate Pat Fight|publisher=The Mirror|date=2007-04-17|accessdate=2007-04-17] and the elder of the two sisters. Both sisters have been described as glamorous, and have been compared to the Kray twins, Ronnie and Reggie. Janus has noted that it is no coincidence that the sisters are named Ronnie and Roxy. She also describes the sisters as "co-dependent and dysfunctional", as well as "chilling, dark and absolutely in touch with what the other is doing".cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=467923&in_page_id=1773|title=Meet the Mitchells: Ronnie and Roxy join cousin Phil on EastEnders|publisher="Daily Mail"|date=12 July 2007|accessdate=2007-07-13] Rita Simons has described Ronnie's character as "armoured". [cite interview | last = Simons | first = Rita| subjectlink = Rita Simons| interviewer = Jonathan Ross| program = "Friday Night with Jonathan Ross"| date = 2008-01-18 ]

Shortly after the character's introduction, various undisclosed refrerences to secrets from Ronnie's past were made between the Mitchell sisters. In addition, a volatile relationship between Ronnie and her father, Archie (then unseen), was hinted towards. Commenting on this, Janus said, " [Ronnie] ’s starting to shed her layers and all her secrets are coming out. And we’re starting to see more of her darker side. It’s nice to see what’s going on with her underneath it all. I think a lot of her history and past when she was younger has affected her." As part of the character's wardrobe, Ronnie was frequently seen on-screen wearing a locket around her neck. The significance of the locket was not revealed until May 2008 when Ronnie finally disclosed that it contained a picture of her baby, whom her father had forced her to give away at birth when she was 14 years old.cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a95222/ronnie-reveals-the-secret-behind-her-locket.html|title=Ronnie reveals the secret behind her locket|publisher="Digital Spy"|date=16 May 2008|accessdate=2008-09-17] In the storyline it was explained that Ronnie had never got over the hurt of losing her child and had never forgiven her father for it, and according to Janus, this was why Ronnie had appeared "so damaged and guarded". [cite news|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/article1146148.ece|title=Coming up on EastEnders |publisher="The Sun"|date=9 May 2008|accessdate=2008-09-17]

The animosity between Ronnie and her father was explored initially in July 2008, when actor Larry Lamb made his first appearance on-screen as Archie. Various revelations featured within the episodes, including Archie's admission that Ronnie's daughter had died 13 years prior, and a death threat made by Archie to Ronnie. [cite news|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/latest/2008/07/11/ronnie-comes-to-blows-with-dad-archie-mitchell-in-eastenders-115875-20639397/|title=Ronnie comes to blows with dad Archie Mitchell in EastEnders|publisher="Daily Mirror"|date=11 July 2008|accessdate=2008-09-17] [cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article4438066.ece|title=EastEnders; Colin Jackson: The Making of Me; Snog, Marry, Avoid|publisher="The Times"|date=1 August 2008|accessdate=2008-09-17] Lamb commented, "Ronnie brings out the worst in Archie and he gets vicious. Archie wants to put right these long-standing problems he has with Ronnie. But things just get worse." [cite news|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/article1382920.ece|title=RONNIE is gunning for her dad on a tense trip to the coast. |publisher="The Sun"|date=4 July 2008|accessdate=2008-09-17] .

Romance with Jack Branning

Even before Ronnie made her first appearance on-screen, the press hinted towards a future relationship between her and an upcoming character, Jack Branning, played by Scott Maslen. [cite news|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article245944.ece|title=Cor Bill-imey for TV cop Scott|publisher="The Sun"|date=13 July 2007|accessdate=2007-07-13] Jack Branning was introduced in October 2007, and his association with Ronnie was developed after he became her business partner at the soap's club, "R&R". [cite news|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/article500984.ece|title=Enders: Let's club together|publisher="The Sun"|date=24 November 2007|accessdate=2008-01-23] A flirtatious romance was established, which led to the start of a relationship in early 2008. [cite news|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/tv/soapbox/2008/01/05/sleeping-partners-89520-20274612/|title=Sleeping partners|publisher="The Mirror"|date=5 January 2008|accessdate=2008-01-23] The on-screen affair between Ronnie and Jack has reportedly been hard for actors Samanatha Janus and Scott Maslen, as off-screen they are close friends — Janus's husband is best friends with Maslen, and Janus is best friends with Maslen's wife.cite news|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/article.html?in_article_id=77240&in_page_id=7&in_a_source=|title=EastEnders' wife-swap?|publisher="The Metro"|date=27 November 2007|accessdate=2008-01-23] Janus has commented, "I was very honest and verbal about [being freaked out] [...] Our first kissing scene felt really uncomfortable, it was terrible, but we're over it now [...] Both our sons are slightly freaked out that one mummy seems to be kissing the other daddy, but they've been on so many film sets that they're used to us doing ludicrous things." [cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a86246/walford-actress-struggled-with-kissing-scene.html|title=Walford actress struggled with kissing scene|publisher="Digital Spy"|date=19 January 2008|accessdate=2008-01-23]

In the storyline, Ronnie's association with Jack caused aggravation with her family, due to Jack's rivalry with her cousin Phil, and resentment from her sister Roxy. [cite news|url=http://tvnews.virginmedia.com/news/?news_id=43441|title=Feisty EastEnders sisters in fight|publisher="Virgin"|date=30 November 2007|accessdate=2008-01-23] However, the relationship ended on-screen, less than a month after it began. When Ronnie discovered from Roxy that Jack had cheated on her with his ex-wife, Selina, she abandoned her plans to move in with him, and punched him in the face. [cite news|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/article707004.ece|title=Ronnie Mitchell smacks a Jack|publisher="The Sun"|date=21 January 2008|accessdate=2008-01-23] In an interview in the "TV Times", Janus commented, "She [Ronnie] has a problem with physical violence. Any time she's up against it or feels she's been lied to, she lashes out". [cite journal| author= Sally Brockway| date = 26 January 2008|title = Kiss - and HELL!| journal = TV Times| pages = 24]

Despite this, the characters' on/off romance was resurrected later in the year, facilitating a plot twist whereby Jack, angered after another breakup with Ronnie, was seduced by Roxy as means of revenge on her sister for interfering in her love life. This resulted in a "who's the daddy?" storyline, [cite news|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article1006843.ece|title=EastEnder Roxy faces music |publisher="The Sun"|date=7 April 2008|accessdate=2008-09-17] which began in April 2008 and continued throughout the year, with both Jack and Sean Slater (Rob Kazinsky) potential candidates for the father of Roxy's unborn child, though Ronnie remained unaware of Jack and Roxy's liason. Rita Simons, who plays Roxy, said: "Jack winds Roxy up by suggesting that Ronnie controls her, so she decides to prove him wrong - and kisses him. Afterwards it's really awkward between them. They can barely look at one another." [cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-562012/Betrayal-Roxy-seduces-sister-Ronnies-boyfriend-explosive-episode-EastEnders.html|title=Betrayal: Roxy seduces sister Ronnie's boyfriend in explosive episode of EastEnders|publisher="Daily Mail"|date=25 April 2008|accessdate=2008-09-17] In the storyline, Roxy and Jack agreed to keep their affair secret, while Roxy appropriated Sean Slater as the father, and married him. [cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1037051/Its-Sean-Roxys-big-day-EastEnders--wheres-groom.html|title=It's Sean and Roxy's big day in EastEnders... but where's the groom?|publisher="Daily Mail"|date=22 July 2008|accessdate=2008-09-17]

torylines

Ronnie arrives in Walford with her sister Roxy on 24 July 2007 for their cousin Phil's wedding to Stella Crawford, [Cite news|url=http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/soaps/eastenders/storysofar/1258|title=Phil is questioned by police|work=What's On TV|date=2007-07-24|accessdate=2008-02-04] and the sisters decide to move there permanently from Ibiza, where they had ran a bar together. [cite news|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2001320029-2007170582,00.html|title= Girls alout hit Albert Square|publisher=The Sun|date=2007-04-17|accessdate=2007-04-17] After a period of working as a barmaid for her aunt Peggy, Ronnie decides to invest in her own business, the vacant night club in Turpin Road, which she plans to run with Roxy. However, her plan suffers a setback when another buyer puts in a higher offer on the club. In order to secure ownership, Ronnie agrees to go into partnership with Jack Branning, [Cite news|url=http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/soaps/eastenders/storysofar/1825|title=Ronnie meets the club buyer|work=What's On TV|date=2007-11-08|accessdate=2008-02-05] an ex-policeman who has shown obvious interest in Ronnie since his arrival in October 2007. The club is named R&R, after Ronnie and Roxy. Despite Jack's promise to be a silent partner, he moves to Walford and appropriates himself as part-owner. Ronnie is furious, particularly when her family discovers that she lied about the club's ownership to them. A rift forms between the Mitchells and Jack. [cite news|url=http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/soaps/eastenders/storysofar/1985|title=Roxy lets Peggy's secret slip|work=What's On TV|date=2007-12-04|accessdate=2008-02-05] Ronnie and Jack finally become a legitimate couple early in January 2008, following weeks of playing games with each other. Roxy and Phil are opposed to their union. Phil makes Ronnie suspicious about Jack's past and his estrangement from his family. When Jack refuses to divulge anything, Ronnie visits his ex-wife Selina. She discovers Jack's daughter Penny is paralysed as a result of a revenge attack from a drug dealer whom he imprisoned. Ronnie is understanding, but Jack is angry at her interference. After distancing himself from Ronnie, he has sex with Selina at R&R, where he is seen by Roxy. Furious, Roxy orders Jack to finish with Ronnie, but Jack instead asks Ronnie to move in with him, leading Roxy to divulge what she knows. Ronnie reacts by punching Jack in the face at Fargo's restaurant, ending their relationship.

Ronnie eventually forgives Jack. They reunite, but when Jack fails to tell her that her sister's lover, Sean Slater, had been dealing drugs, the relationship ends again. It transpires that Roxy is a former cocaine-addict, and Ronnie berates her for getting involved with a drug dealer. Angered by Ronnie, Roxy and Jack have sex. Shortly after the tryst, Roxy discovers she is pregnant, though she is unsure if the father is Jack or Sean. When Ronnie discovers Roxy's pregnancy, she tells her to abort the baby, adamant that she would make a bad mother. In retaliation, Roxy reveals Ronnie's secret — she had fallen pregnant at 14, but their father, Archie, had forced her to give her daughter away at birth; Ronnie has never forgiven him. Following their argument, Ronnie promises to help raise Roxy's baby, unaware that Jack could be the father. They leave Walford for Ibiza in May 2008 to escape Sean, who believes the baby is his.

Ronnie reappears in July, looking for Roxy. The sisters had argued and unbeknown to Ronnie, Roxy had taken refuge with her father in Dorset. Ronnie visits Roxy and is stunned to see Archie. They argue about their history, and Archie devastates Ronnie by revealing that her daughter, Amy, is dead, that he never wanted Ronnie and always favoured Roxy. Roxy, who has reuinted with Sean, decides to return to Walford to be near her grieving sister. Ronnie is displeased with Roxy and Sean's renewed relationship. She tries to split them up by framing Sean for drug dealing and provoking him to hit her. Ultimately, the plan backfires, and Roxy and Sean marry. Despite trying to prevent the ceremony, Ronnie accepts defeat, giving the marriage her blessing. Meanwhile, Archie begins a romance with Peggy and moves to Walford to announce thier engagement. Distrusting Archie, Ronnie attempts to split them up, but fails, and ends up being thrown out of the Vic by an exasperated Peggy; she moves into Jack's vacant flat, who is now co-habiting with his sister-in-law, Tanya Branning. On 10th October EastEnders viewers found out that Ronnie's daughter "Amy" is actually Danielle Jones, who arrived earlier in the year, this was revealled after Ronnie fired Danielle for stealing, which resulted in a weeping Danielle running back home and barricading herself in the Slaters' kitchen. Staceys attempts to pursuade Danielle to come out of the kitchen were unsuccessfull. It is at this part of the episode in which Danielle opens her locket to reveal a picture of Ronnie.

Reception

Following their introductory episode in July 2007, both Mitchell sisters were received favourably by Mark Wright of "The Stage". He commented that "Within an episode, Roxy and Ronnie look right at home" and that "they’re in the same tradition of strong soap women that ‘Enders seems to have been lacking since the exit of Kat Moon", a popular character who left the serial in 2005. He added that Samantha Janus "brings a calm but firm presence to the table as Ronnie."

Both Janus and Simons won 'Best Onscreen Partnership' at the 2008 Digital Spy Soap Awards and also won Best Newcomers at the TV Now Awards. [cite news|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/tvtoday/2007/07/farewell_vera_hello_ronnie_and_roxy_1.php|title=Farewell Vera… hello Ronnie and Roxy!|publisher="The Stage"|date=26 July 2007|accessdate=2007-07-13] Janus also won Best Newcomer at the "Daily Star Soaper Star Awards".

References

External links

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