Sal Martin

Infobox EastEnders character 2


character_name=Sal Martin
actor_name=Anna Karen
years=1996, 1997–1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008
first=21 March 1996
last=
status=Married
occupation=Retired
dob= 17 December 1937
husband=Harold
sisters=Peggy Mitchell
mother=Lilly Martin
father=Jack Martin
nieces=Sam Mitchell
nephews=Phil Mitchell
Grant Mitchell
great nieces=Courtney Mitchell
Louise Mitchell
great nephews=Mark Fowler Jr.
Ben Mitchell

Sally "Sal" Martincite news |title=Bosom pals for 30 years|url= http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-61324146.html|publisher= "The Mirror"|date=16 March 2002 |accessdate=2008-10-02] is a recurring fictional character in the popular BBC soap opera "EastEnders". She is played by Anna Karen. [cite news |title=ME AND MY TROLLEY ...with Anna Karen|url= http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-61114166.html|publisher= "The People"|date=19 January 1997 |accessdate=2008-10-02] She has appeared several times over the years, but usually for only one or two episodes at a time, and is usually referred to as Aunt Sal. As of October 2008, Sal has collectively featured in 31 episodes of the show since she first appeared in 1996.

Character creation

In February 1996, it was announced that comedy actress Anna Karen would be joining the cast of "EastEnders" as Peggy Mitchell's sister Sal. Anna Karen and the actress who plays Peggy, Barbara Windsor, are "best friends" in reality and Windosr has expressed how happy she was to have Karen on the cast of "EastEnders". [cite news |title=ASTHMA CAMPAIGN - Actors and authors put weight behind the|url= http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20020331/ai_n12602409?tag=content;col1|publisher= "The Independent"|date=31 March 2002 |accessdate=2008-10-02] [cite news |title=TAKE A BUTCHER'S AT BABS|url= http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-61157527.html|publisher= "The People"|date=3 February 1996 |accessdate=2008-10-02]

Producers decided to hire Karen after Michael French, who played "romeo" David Wicks decided to quit. They reportedly failed to lure back June Brown, who played Dot Cotton between 1985 and 1993 (although they were successful in doing so a year later). They asked Karen to audition and decided she "was just the ticket". [cite news |title=EASTENDER OLIVE|url= http://www.highbeam.com/Search.aspx?q=audition++producers+decided++ticket|publisher= "The Mirror"|date=13 February 1996 |accessdate=2008-10-02]

Commenting on her casting, Karen said, "It's great to be back on the box and a real treat to be working alongside my old mate [Barbara Windsor] ."

torylines

She is the older sister of Peggy Mitchell and usually appears at Mitchell family occasions or when she's had a row with her husband. Sal is a heavy smoker and when visiting her sister, enjoys parking herself at the end of the bar with a cigarette. Peggy also goes to stay with her when she need somewhere to rest. She is married to downtrodden Harold, and mentioned a son in January 1997 and a daughter to Peggy at Grant and Tiffany's wedding blessing ceremony. She also mentioned in 1997 that she ran a pub.

Her first appearance was at Peggy's 54th birthday party in 1996, in January 1997 to support Peggy through her breast cancer, [" [http://walford.net/cgi-bin/update.pl?19970123 Thursday 23 January 1997] ", "walford.net". URL last accessed 2008-09-21.] and then again at Grant and Tiffany Mitchell's blessing where she stood in for Peggy in August 1997.

Sal came to stay with the Mitchell family for Christmas 1997. During her visit she took baby Courtney Mitchell for a walk and left her outside the café in her pram. Whilst Sal was inside, Courtney was taken, causing everyone to panic. She was later found being looked after by Bianca Butcher, Tiffany Mitchell's best friend.

Other appearances included Peggy and Harry Slater's engagement party in 2001, Louise Fowler's naming party in October 2002, Jamie Mitchell's funeral in January 2003, and Sam Mitchell's wedding in September 2004.

She returned in July 2007 for Phil's wedding to Stella Crawford and portentously noted that Stella would never be a Mitchell. She also returned when Peggy threw her a birthday party on 17 December 2007 and again on Christmas Day 2007 when she drunkenly infuriated Phil.

On July 8 2008 she returned again to keep an eye on Billy and Honey whilst they looked after The Queen Vic as Peggy was away.

She returned on August 14 2008. Peggy and Archie had a engagement party with Aunt Sal invited, who straight away spoke her mind about Archie, not knowing that he was next to her. She changed her mind about him and gave Peggy her approval.

References