Hi everyone. This is my 1st ever thread so be kind I was swotting up on Eastenders on Wiki as I do sometimes, and read up on Clare Butcher. I vaguely knew of her existance but knew little of her, then realised this was because her character has never really featured.
With the obvious decline of the Mitchells in favour of the Brannings, could bringing Clare and her family add a new dynamic to the show? And also to Janines character?? As brilliant as Janine is as a super-bitch and outcast, i'd love for her to have some family back-up after Pats departure.
What do all you lovely readers think?
Oh, and an early happy-new-year to u all

I have promoted this excellent idea for a long time.It will really firm up the Butcher family for another generation.

I'd love to see another Butcher in EE.

It would be good If they did that,with Pat gone It Is a perfect replacement If they made her a bit mouthy.

Firstly welcome! and secondly I agree, it would be good to see another Butcher. Or even bring back Diane... lesbian cast needed.

Very unbelievable that neither Clare nor Diane are going to be at the funeral

Clare is more or less a blank canvas for the writers. She's made only 2 brief appearances in all these years, so they could easily recast the role to a well-known actress and develop a whole new personality for her. It would be a wasted opportunity not to. And it'd be good for Ricky and Janine to have another family member around.

Clare was last mentioned as living in Australia by Diane to Dot at Frank's funeral back in 2008.

I really hope 2012 sees Clare arrive, Bryan Kirkwood does seem to like the Butchers by bringing in Lydia and we know everything he has done for Janine so yeah lets hope he does this soon.

I'd like that.

That would be great, she could easily come in with family in tow. Interesting.

I doubt it would ever happen, but they could have Diane and partner, with Diane's son Jacques. How old would he be now? 17ish? Then again, we're not in dire need of any more teenagers! It would be great to have a lesbian couple on the Square, perhaps with more children! Then again, people would probably complain - sadly enough!

Any lesbians in the square would end lying in their own blood with a rusty knife in hand. Gay in the square = misery.

I vaguely remember teenage delinquent Janine being turfed out by Peggy after Frank did a runner, Janine runs out the Vic and bumped str8 into Diane, and im sure it was an emotional scene. Also read somewhere that she didnt enjoy staying with Diane when she was shipped back up North to live with her when Frank did an earlier runner (theres a theme here...)

I would welcome Clare!

agree eastenders definately needs people with history/links to characters like ricky,bianca etc,would like to see diane and clare on the square as does'nt dianne have a son?,who i presume has never met liam or tiffany?

BIB: That was Clare in her second, and most recent appearance circa 2002 I think. It was when Janine was on drugs and Clare gave her money to sort herself out but didn't really want to hang around and burden herself, which added to Janine's isolation IIRC.

The only other time Clare appeared was for Frank and Pat's wedding way back in 1989 AFAIK - 2 brief appearances in 20 years, both played by different actresses.

I agree there's scope for Clare to be brought in but I'm not sure exactly what her purpose would be. Janine never liked her so it's not like they can revisit the Pat/Janine relationship. Carol will probably take on the Butcher/Jackson matriarch position with Pat gone. Neither Ricky or Janine ever seemed particularly close to Clare so I'd struggle to find a purpose for her. The one thing in their favour is that she's essentially a blank slate and with that they could do something original with her instead of rehashing old ideas. Does anyone have any ideas about what you'd like to see Clare do if she was brought in?

I love the idea of bringing in more Butchers, why not what someone suggested and bring back Diane, Partner and son Jacques though considering Sophie Lawrence isnt even coming back for Pat's funeral then its doubtful. I love the idea of bringing in Clare with Pat going then this would be the perfect time to bring Clare in at long last.

I think they should bring in Claire, Diane and her partner and kids also the illegitimate son - who Janine knows nothing about.

Bulk up the Butchers.

I agree!

When Clare appeared in 1989 for Frank an Pat's wedding it was revealed she was married with multiple kids. So with that being 22 years ago her children would be aged between 22 - 30 now, she's possibly even a grandma. So theres plenty of poential for bulking up the Butchers with Clare.

Do the Butchers need bulking up? I'd bulk up the Beales before I touched any of the other families. It's all very well having these extra relatives around but no one seems to have a clue what to do with them once they're there. Any potential storylines for Clare besides hanging around being another Butcher relative?