Hi everyone, it's the start of a new year which means it's time to start a new count.
Hopefully you'll join me again throughout the year to see who appears in the most episodes. The thread will be updated weekly.

EE character count 2012: The Top 21

1. Derek Branning: 130 episodes
2. Alfie Moon & Phil Mitchell: 124 '
4. Lucy Beale & Max Branning: 120 '
6. Tanya Cross: 118 '
7. Jay Mitchell: 111 '
8. Roxy Mitchell: 110 '
9. Lauren Branning: 108 '
10. Cora Cross, Jack Branning & Michael Moon: 104 '
13. Fatboy Chubb: 102 '
14. Shirley Carter: 101 '
15. Lola Pearce: 100 '
16. Billy Mitchell: 97 '
17. Ian Beale: 95 '
18. Jean Slater: 93 '
19. Denise Fox, Kim Fox & Whitney Dean: 91 '
EE character count 2012

Top appearances per month:
January: Bianca(15)

February: Roxy(14)

March: Ian(15)

April: Alfie(16)

May: Phil(16)

June: Jean & Michael(13)

July: Alfie & Ben(15)

August: Shirley & Ian(17)

September: Sharon(14)

October: Lola, Phil & Chyred(14)

November: Derek & Max(15)

December: Alfie(16)

You can also view the 2011 count which saw Alfie win with 118 episodes.
view here

Happy New Year everyone

Looking forward to this.

First update

EE character appearance count(up to and including 11th Jan.)
no. of episodes aired: 8

008 episodes: Abi Branning

007 episodes: Sharon Rickman, Jack Branning, Denise Fox, Max Branning & Lauren Branning

006 episodes: Cora Cross, Zainab Masood, Tanya Cross, Joey Branning & Kat Moon

005 episodes: Phil Mitchell, Jay Mitchell, Kim Fox, Alice Branning, Ray Dixon & Bianca Butcher

004 episodes: Alfie Moon, Masood Ahmed, Ayesha Rani & Ian Beale

003 episodes: Lola Pearce, Roxy Mitchell, AJ Ahmed, Michael Moon, Lucy Beale, Carol Jackson, Poppy Meadow, Liam Butcher & Dexter Hartman

002 episodes: Tamwar Masood, Shirley Carter, Fatboy Chubb, Patrick Trueman, Jean Slater & Ava Hartman

001 episode: Billy Mitchell, Whitney Dean, Tyler Moon, Tiffany Butcher, Morgan Butcher & Dennis Rickman Jnr.

Yet to appear:
Mo Harris, Bobby Beale & Dot Branning

Abi leads the count I'll add Kirsty in the next update, the cast lists were put up before we knew Max's secret.

Probably the only time Abi will lead the count

How strange to see Abi leading the count, probably won't will the count but who knows she might top January?!

I did this previously and dullagj2 has asked me if I would update it.

Last time I posted this I was missing a considerable chunk of the 90s and part of 87. This has now been filled in, and while I'm still missing odd weeks here and there, particularly in 1998, it's probably as complete as it ever will be.

Based on credited appearances (missing months indicated) the characters who have appeared most in each year are:

1985: Pete Beale – 83 episodes
1986: Simon Wicks – 97 episodes
1987: Den Watts – 64 episodes (missing credits for September – November)
1988: Den Watts – 94 episodes
1989: Ian Beale & Dot Branning – 88 episodes
1990: Simon Wicks – 96 episodes
1991: Grant Mitchell – 88 episodes
1992: Sharon Rickman – 77 episodes (missing credits for December)
1993: Kathy Mitchell – 88 episodes
1994: Grant Mitchell – 109 episodes
1995: Mark Fowler – 132 episodes
1996: Grant Mitchell – 134 episodes
1997: Grant Mitchell – 110 episodes
1998: Peggy Mitchell – 85 episodes (missing credits for 4 months)
1999: Melanie Owen – 125 episodes
2000: Melanie Owen - 135 episodes
2001: Lynne Hobbs - 148 episodes
2002: Peggy Mitchell - 166 episodes
2003: Alfie Moon - 176 episodes
2004: Alfie Moon - 156 episodes
2005: Pauline Fowler - 133 episodes
2006: Peggy Mitchell - 135 episodes
2007: Peggy Mitchell & Stacey Branning - 135 episodes
2008: Jack Branning - 136 episodes
2009: Ronnie Branning - 115 episodes
2010: Max Branning - 126 episodes
2011: Alfie Moon – 118 episodes
2012: Derek Branning – 130 episodes

For 1985 – 1989, the characters with the most appearances (minus the previously stated missing months) are:

1. Michelle Fowler (376 episodes)
2. Pete Beale (372 episodes)
3. Arthur Fowler (367 episodes)
4. Ian Beale (364 episodes)
5. Pauline Fowler (359 episodes)
6. Kathy Mitchell (355 episodes)
7. Den Watts (346 episodes)
8. Simon Wicks (337 episodes)
9. Dot Branning (329 episodes)
10. Sharon Rickman (328 episodes)

For 1990 – 1999, the characters with the most appearances (minus the previously stated missing months) are:

1. Grant Mitchell (922 episodes)
2. Phil Mitchell (902 episodes)
3. Pat Evans (785 episodes)
4. Ricky Butcher (770 episodes)
5. Mark Fowler (768 episodes)
6. Ian Beale (749 episodes)
7. Kathy Mitchell (715 episodes)
8. Pauline Fowler (711 episodes)
9. Bianca Butcher (573 episodes)
10. Peggy Mitchell (522 episodes)

For 2000 – 2009 the characters with the most appearances are:

1. Ian Beale (1034 episodes)
2. Phil Mitchell (1006 episodes)
3. Peggy Mitchell (963 episodes)
4. Billy Mitchell (919 episodes)
5. Dot Branning (901 episodes)
6. Pat Evans (861 episodes)
7. Jim Branning (851 episodes)
8. Mo Harris (819 episodes)
9. Garry Hobbs (800 episodes)
10. Pauline Fowler (770 episodes)

For 2010 – Thursday 10th January 2013 the characters with the most credited appearances are:

1. Phil Mitchell (343 episodes)
2. Max Branning (327 episodes)
3. Roxy Mitchell (322 episodes)
4. Shirley Carter (299 episodes)
5. Ian Beale (290 episodes)
6. Jack Branning (285 episodes)
7. Alfie Moon (283 episodes)
8. Whitney Dean (275 episodes)
9. Zainab Khan (267 episodes)
10. Fat Boy Chubb (259 episodes)
11. Janine Butcher (257 episodes)
12. Billy Mitchell (252 episodes)
13. Masood Ahmed (240 episodes)
14. Denise Fox (238 episodes)
15. Kat Moon (237 episodes)

For the entire history of the show, the characters with the most appearances are:

1. Ian Beale (2437 episodes)
2. Phil Mitchell (2251 episodes)
3. Pat Evans (2044 episodes)
4. Pauline Fowler (1840 episodes)
5. Dot Branning (1805 episodes)
6. Peggy Mitchell (1577 episodes)
7. Ricky Butcher (1374 episodes)
8. Sharon Rickman (1322 episodes)
9. Billy Mitchell (1188 episodes)
10. Mark Fowler (1159 episodes)
11. Kathy Mitchell (1073 episodes)
12. Sonia Fowler (1031 episodes)
13. Janine Butcher (993 episodes)
14. Mo Harris (970 episodes)
15. Grant Mitchell (965 episodes)
16: Bianca Butcher (928 episodes)
17. Jim Branning (892 episodes)
18. Arthur Fowler (884 episodes)
19. Michelle Fowler (883 episodes)
20. Kat Moon (872 episodes)

The only character to have been credited in every year is Ian Beale.

The only years Pat Evans hasn’t appeared are 1985 and 2013, clocking up 27 years with a credit. Dot Branning makes 25 (about to enter her 26th). Phil is up to 23 years so far, just ahead of Pauline Fowler (22) and Ricky Butcher who has appeared in 21 years of the show’s history.

2013 will be Janine’s 20th year in the show and she is just seven episodes short of making her one thousandth appearance

There are now 8 characters in total who have had a credited appearance in all four decades of the show. They are

Ian Beale, Dot Branning, Pat Evans, the Butcher siblings: Ricky, Diane and Janine, Tracey the barmaid and now thanks to her return last year, everyone’s princess Sharon Rickman

There are only 3 other living characters that can achieve credited appearances in all four decades: Dr Legg, Nick Cotton – and Winston, who despite numerous appearances in the show, hasn’t technically been credited since 2008.

Tracey the barmaid has been credited a grand total of 120 times in the last 28 years

Thanks Berty those facts are a fascinating read, go Tracey

Janine, Bianca & Mo should all hit 1000 this year!

Next update will hopefully be tonight

Oh wow, that was great to see thanks!

Ian's at the top!

Out of curiosity, how is Tracey credited? Can't say I've ever noticed before, but surely not as "Tracey the barmaid"!?

Just as 'Tracey'

Amendments: 4/1 P2: Jay + Phil- +1/ 11/1: Lola -1.

EE character appearance count(up to and including 11th Jan.)
no. of episodes aired: 8

008 episodes: Abi Branning

007 episodes: Sharon Rickman, Jack Branning, Denise Fox, Max Branning & Lauren Branning

006 episodes: Cora Cross, Zainab Khan, Tanya Cross, Joey Branning, Kat Moon, Phil Mitchell, Jay Mitchell & Kirsty Branning

005 episodes: Kim Fox, Alice Branning, Ray Dixon & Bianca Butcher

004 episodes: Alfie Moon, Masood Ahmed, Ayesha Rana & Ian Beale

003 episodes: Roxy Mitchell, AJ Ahmed, Michael Moon, Lucy Beale, Carol Jackson, Poppy Meadow, Liam Butcher & Dexter Hartman

002 episodes: Tamwar Masood, Shirley Carter, Fatboy Chubb, Patrick Trueman, Jean Slater, Lola Pearce & Ava Hartman

001 episode: Billy Mitchell, Whitney Dean, Tyler Moon, Tiffany Butcher, Morgan Butcher & Dennis Rickman Jnr.

Yet to appear:
Mo Harris, Bobby Beale & Dot Branning

EE character appearance count(up to and including 18th Jan.)
no. of episodes aired: 12

012 episodes: Abi Branning
011 episodes: Max Branning & Lauren Branning
010 episodes: Sharon Rickman, Jack Branning, Tanya Cross & Zainab Khan

009 episodes: Cora Cross, Joey Branning & Phil Mitchell

008 episodes: Denise Fox, Jay Mitchell, Kirsty Branning, Ray Dixon, Masood Ahmed & Ayesha Rana

007 episodes: Kat Moon, Alice Branning & Bianca Butcher

006 episodes: Kim Fox, Alfie Moon, Ian Beale & Dexter Hartman

005 episodes: Roxy Mitchell & Poppy Meadow

004 episodes: Lola Pearce, Ava Hartman, AJ Ahmed, Patrick Trueman, Carol Jackson, Fatboy Chubb & Dot Branning

003 episodes: Michael Moon, Lucy Beale, Liam Butcher & Tamwar Masood

002 episodes: Shirley Carter, Jean Slater, Tiffany Butcher, Morgan Butcher & Dennis Rickman Jnr.

001 episode: Billy Mitchell, Whitney Dean & Tyler Moon

Yet to appear:
Mo Harris & Bobby Beale

Recurring characters:
003 episodes: Rashid Kayani

Abi continues to lead the count appearing in 12/12 episodes thus far. Nice to see Dot back on the count.
Kirsty still isn't on the cast lists but she's in Tuesday & Thursday's spoilers so I've added her for them.

Who's the favourite to come top this year?

Sharon, phil, max,

Phil, despite taking a panto break coming up?

I would guess Alfie to come 1st.

b
Mmm; he takes panto breaks most years.

Max will be the dominant branning so he's in with a chance,

Sharon is supposed to be the dominant character in the summer and I imagine through to the end of the year and she has always been the dominant female since the 00s.

Phil because I imagine he will be connected with a lot of Sharon's stuff and I can see the writers attempting to inject new life into and and reinvigorate his character given the lucklustre character he has been since about 2008.

Janine is coming back so I believe she would be thrown in the lion den, she could make in the top 5. Michael and Janine could dominate for a few months.

Disagree; will be awar for much too long and unlike phil she does not get used on the periphery of story lines that do not concern her; hence she does not have the propensity tomake up for her absence the same way phil does.

Two of the top three names no suprise but Abi top is

This is slightly incorrect. I posted updates at the end of 2012 and this is what it looks like...

This is the updated list for the top 20 appearances from January 2010 - December 2012 (Current characters only)

1) Phil 342
2) Max 329
3) Roxy 323
4) Shirley 296
5) Ian 287
6) Jack 285
7) Alfie 283
8) Whitney 276
9) Zainab 260
10) Janine 250
Billy 250
12) Fatboy 238
Kat 238
14) Denise 234
15) Lauren 233
16) Carol 231
Tanya 231
18) Masood 226
Jean 226
20) Jay 222

I've always said mine is only on credited appearances. It also doesn't include the e20 spin off - but does include the red button specials. Bound to be some differences across all of us. I may even have made the odd mistake here and there.

I calculated from the last three years previous character count threads without any red button special or spin off.

Walford Web isn't always correct. I got the first half of 2011 from there so it mightn't be 100% correct.
2012 is though

I did double check a few characters episodes in 2010 against their IMDb but I thought that would take ages ha. The overall count from January 2010-December 2012 is similar though only a few episodes out here and there.

Looking at Radio Times for next week Lauren, Abi, Max, Tanya all in again so they will be pulling miles ahead at this rate