Mo Harris (also known as "Big Mo") is a fictional character from the BBCsoap operaEastEnders, who made her first appearance on 18 September 2000, played by Laila Morse. Mo was also played by Lorraine Stanley in the 2004 soap "bubble" Pat and Mo, delving into her past with Pat Butcher (Pam St Clement/Emma Cooke). Mo is a highly comical character and her tendency for dodgy deals bring much of the show's light entertainment. In July 2012, Morse's contract was not renewed, but she was not immediately written out of the series and continued to make occasional appearances until 21 January 2016. Mo's reintroduction was announced in December 2017 and she returned full-time on 16 March 2018. On 6 February 2021, it was announced that Morse would be leaving the role once again and she departed on 3 June 2021. On 28 June 2022, it was announced that Mo would return for a short stint later in the year. Mo returned on 10 August 2022 and departed on 14 September 2022. On 28 February 2024, it was confirmed that Mo would be making a permanent return to EastEnders alongside her great-grandson Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier); their return was broadcast on 20 May 2024.
Mo sees Charlie's partner, Brenda Boyle (Carmel Cryan), embracing another man at the tube station, but the man is Brenda's brother, Clive Robinson (Col Farrel). Brenda reveals to Mo that she is moving to Madeira with her family and Mo convinces Charlie not to let her go. However, Brenda and Charlie leave together, leaving Mo devastated. She begins drinking heavily and protests against the sale of Charlie's taxi. Charlie returns to Walford with a woman called Orlenda (Mary Tamm), but Mo does not trust her. Orlenda leaves, after admitting she was scamming Charlie but returns his money. Mo takes charge of a children's nativity play but fails to keep the children under control. In a raffle, she wins Max Branning's (Jake Wood) car, but sells it, to Max's dismay. When Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb) is murdered (see Who Killed Archie?), Mo starts a betting circle on who killed him. She runs when she sees a police officer, but later, another officer appears behind her and she asks him if he wants to place a bet. She goes on holiday to Spain with Fat Elvis and when she returns, she is surprised to discover that Bradley is dead. Mo attempts to sell Lucas Johnson's (Don Gilet) bibles to the public, as gruesome souvenirs of the killer. Her insensitivity gets her thrown out of The Queen Victoriapublic house. Mo receives a phone call from Kat, who wants Zoe's birth certificate. Mo meets Kat at a café and gives her the certificate. Kat admits to Mo that she conned a man and needs a new identity. Kat also lies to Mo, claiming that her husband, Alfie Moon (Shane Ritchie), is dead. Mo persuades Kat to come home and Kat reluctantly agrees, but when they get home, men are waiting for Kat and her money. However, Alfie sends them away. Mo is shocked to learn that Kat is pregnant and Alfie is not the father. When Kat goes into labour, Mo delivers her son, Tommy Moon, on the floor of The Queen Vic's barrel store. On the same day, Ronnie Branning (Samantha Womack) gives birth to a baby boy, James Branning. On New Year's Eve, Ronnie finds that James has died and she swaps him with Tommy. Alfie and the family find the deceased baby and believe it is Tommy.
After Kat blames Charlie for Tommy's death, Charlie decides to go and live with Lynne, despite Mo begging him not to go. Left living alone, Mo asks Kat if she can move into The Queen Vic and let No. 23. Kat refuses initially but later agrees when Mo reminds her that she never complained about living with Kat's bad habits. Mo continues with her dodgy deals while staying at the pub, including persuading Stacey's mother, Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) to serve "turkey" for pub lunches, which turns out to be swan meat. When a benefit fraud officer declares that Jean has been illegally claiming benefits while working at the pub, Mo admits to Jean and Kat that she has been claiming benefits in Jean's name. Jean agrees to take the blame, as Mo has previous convictions. When Mo learns that her old enemy, Pat, is terminally ill, she visits her in hospital and they end their long-standing feud. When Pat later dies, Mo returns Pat's Miss Butlin's sash, that she stole years ago, out of jealousy. When Mo learns that Charlie has suffered a stroke, she leaves Walford to look after him. Several months later, Jean visits them and Mo returns to The Queen Vic when she believes that Jean is hiding something from her. Her suspicions are confirmed, when she discovers that Alfie is allowing Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons) to stay in The Queen Vic. Mo continues to disapprove of Roxy's presence in The Queen Vic, after Kat and Alfie split up. It is later revealed that Mo has rented a villa in Devon, owned by "a mate".
Mo returns to collect rent from Kat, Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd) and Alice Branning (Jasmyn Banks). She demands Alice pays by the end of the day, or she will evict her. Kat later convinces Mo to give up her keys to the house. Three months later, Jean discovers that Mo is stealing vegetables from the Walford allotments and Mo convinces Jean's new partner, Ollie Walters (Tony O'Callaghan), a police officer whom Mo knows, not to report her, as she is Jean's family. At Christmas, Mo and Charlie visit Walford, where it is revealed that Kat is pregnant with twins. Two months later, Alfie calls Mo, after dealing with some serious family issues, raised by the re-appearance of Stacey after a four-year absence, to which Mo plans to spend more time in Walford to support her family. Mo is delighted when Kat and Alfie's twins, Bert and Ernie Moon (Freddie and Stanley Beale), are born, but the family's joy is cut short when a fire starts at their house and when it reaches a supply of knock-off hairspray, which Mo had intended to sell, a huge explosion destroys everything that they own. Kat is badly injured and Mo is wracked with guilt, briefly moving in with Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra), before taking an extended holiday in Lanzarote with Charlie.
Mo returns to Albert Square and is shocked to discover that Alfie and Kat have, once again, separated and that her family are financially struggling. Mo reveals to a destitute Kat that she inherited money from her deceased uncle, Harry Slater (Michael Elphick), who had raped her as a child, impregnating her with Zoe. Kat turns the money down, so Mo secretly has the money transferred to her own account, pretending to be Kat. When Kat discovers this, she is livid and burns the money in the street. Kat and Alfie reconcile and after winning the jackpot on a scratch card, plan to move to Tenerife. At their leaving party, Mo shows a stunned Kat an engagement ring, revealing that she has accepted a marriage proposal from her long-time business associate and romantic interest, Fat Elvis. Shortly after Kat and Alfie's departure, Mo and Fat Elvis leave for Greece. When Mo returns alongside Charlie, she reveals that Fat Elvis has left her. When Kat learns she had also given birth to a boy along with Zoe, she realises that Mo knew about the secret, so angrily demands the truth from her. During the argument with Mo that ensues, Charlie suffers a heart attack in front of Mo, Stacey and Kat. After suffering from a cardiac arrest, Charlie dies, which devastates the family. After attending Charlie's funeral, Mo moves to Kent to live with her other granddaughter, Belinda Peacock (Carli Norris), as Kat cannot forgive her for having her son adopted. When Belinda moves to Walford after her marriage ends, Mo's whereabouts are not mentioned.
Mo returns to Walford, telling Stacey that Kat has died. They raise funds for Kat's funeral, while Mo avoids answering her phone or the door. A coffin is donated and Mo calls Fat Elvis saying she has a coffin for sale. Jean later arrives, saying that Kat is very much alive. Stacey demands the truth from Mo and threatens to call Lynne or Little Mo to clarify if Kat is dead at all. It then emerges that Mo lied to raise money as she has financial troubles following a dispute with a mob. Kat suddenly returns to Walford in a cab and is confused that The Queen Vic is holding a benefit night in memory of her and she is annoyed with Mo when she learns the truth, but is forced to hide in a cupboard when Ian visits with the raised money. Annie Pritchard (Martha Howe-Douglas), the daughter of Terry, who Mo conned, arrives on the Slaters doorstep demanding her father's money back, but the family fool her into believing Mo has died and they offer to pay the money. Kat, Stacey and Mo arrive at The Queen Vic and attempt to maintain that Mo made a mistake; Mo then fakes a heart attack, the residents think the Slaters are conwomen and a bar fight soon starts. The family find out that Mo took £300 of the money and when they go to return it to Mick Carter (Danny Dyer), Mo sneaks off and encounters Annie, who injures Mo. Jean repays the money back in full, and Stacey tells Mo she must stay in Walford until she pays Jean back. Mo claims to have psychic abilities as a trick to make money but in reality, she is listening into people's conversations with recording devices. Kat starts a cleaning business with Jean and Stacey, and Mo is forced to join them, but she does not work hard and steals from the employers.
Mo leaves the square again in June 2021 after Fat Elvis invites her to join him on a cruise. She returns briefly a year later when Stacey and Martin visit Mo and Jean at her campsite in Essex and for Kat's wedding to Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden). In May 2024, Mo follows her great-grandson Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier) to Walford and moves in with Kat. Mo flirts with Stevie Mitchell (Alan Ford) and they begin a brief relationship which ends when Stevie leaves Walford, upsetting Mo.
Other appearances
The character of Mo appears in two spin-offs of EastEnders. She features in the 2004 'soap bubble' EastEnders: Pat and Mo, which explores her past with Pat through flashbacks, in which she is played by Lorraine Stanley. The episode was broadcast to give the viewer "and understanding of, and history to [the] characters".[1] The episode is partly set in the 1950s and explains Pat and Mo's dislike for each other. A show source said, "When the Slaters arrived in the square three years ago, Pat was horrified. Now the time has come for them to bury the hatchet—or at least try to."[2] Mo also appears in the straight-to-video spin-off EastEnders: Slaters in Detention in 2003,[3] and in the 2010 internet spin-off EastEnders: E20.
The character of Mo and the rest of the Slater family were created during workshops with Tony Jordan and John Yorke. London actors were invited to improvise in groups, and the characters were created during these improvisations.[5] According to the BBC's head of drama series, Mal Young, the family was brought in as the serial did not "have enough solid families in the soap, there were a lot of fractured families and people who were alone."[4] Laila Morse was cast as Mo, and made her first on-screen appearance on 18 September 2000. She was named "Arrival of the Year" by TV critic Ian Hyland in 2000.[6]
Characterisation
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Mo has been described as "a very strong person [who] loves the family [and] wouldn't have anything said about them" by Morse. She has been said to "hold the family together ... [acting] as a surrogate mum to her granddaughters".[7] Her criminal activity has led to her being described as a "female Fagin or Del Boy"and the "queen of knock-off".[8] Mo has also been described as a "tough cookie" and a "fighter".[9] Another writer from The People said that Mo is "tough-talking".[10]
She's come a cropper with the coppers over tax evasion but she shows no inclination to go straight. Mo loves a gossip, she's always up for a knees-up and never one to turn down a drink at the Vic... especially if someone else is paying. As the elder stateswoman of the Slater family, she's had her fair share of battles and she'll fight to the death to defend her girls. She's hard as nails and doesn't suffer fools gladly. Unless they cross her palm with silver – or any form of currency really.
—A description of Mo Harris from the BBC (2012)[11]
Feud with Pat Evans
Mo's main link to the square is her former sister-in-law Pat Evans (Pam St Clement). There is animosity between the two as Pat believes that Mo cheated on her late brother, Jimmy (Alex King) and still holds a grudge. On Mo's return to the square, she stokes the flames on her long-running argument with Pat, which began three decades earlier.[4] Their backstory was further elaborated on in the spin off Soap "Bubble" Pat and Mo,[12] set in the 1960s featuring a teenage Pat and Mo, played by Emma Cooke and Lorraine Stanley, respectively.[13]
Departure and guest appearances (2012–2016)
Morse's contract was not renewed in July 2012, but she was not immediately written out of the series and continued to make occasional appearances.[14] Mo made her final appearance on 21 January 2016, but Morse said in June 2017 that she had never officially left the cast, saying, "All of a sudden my character disappeared and I wasn't in it any more, but I've never officially left the show—I've never had a leaving party or a present. I hope Big Mo comes back. I like all the cast, they're lovely people, so it would be good to film with them again."[15]
Reintroduction (2018)
On 20 December 2017, it was announced that Morse would reprise the role in early 2018. Mo's reintroduction was announced alongside that of Kat Slater (Wallace) and Jean Slater (Wright). Morse expressed her joy at returning and stated that fans would regularly ask about Mo. She commented, "I can't wait to see everyone and get stuck back into life in Walford."[16] Yorke, who returned as the show's executive consultant in 2017, called the Slater family "one of the all-time great families in EastEnders" and opined that the show is very different without them.[16] On their reintroduction, Yorke commented, "It has been a real joy to find a way to bring them back together and we're incredibly excited about where we are taking them next."[16] Yorke also revealed that new Slater family members would be introduced too.[16]
On 6 February 2021, it was announced that Morse would be departing from the role of Mo again. Her departure was aired on 3 June 2021.[17]
Guest Appearances (2022) and second reintroduction (2024)
On 28 June 2022, it was announced that Mo would return for a short stint later in the summer. Mo returned on 10 August 2022 and departed on 14 September 2022, when she returned home to Essex.[18] It was announced on 28 February 2024 that Mo would return full time to the soap in the Spring alongside her great-grandson Freddie.
Mo has been described by Ian Hyland from the Sunday Mirror as a "battleaxe" and a woman "with a face like a bulldog chewing a whole nest of wasps and a mouth like a foghorn in the Grand Canyon, she's the only woman I've ever seen who makes Fat Pat look demure."[21] He added that "This time they've bought finest East End. Every time Mo, the granny, opens her mouth I think jellied eels are going to fly out."[21] Another writer for the Sunday Mirror, Paul Scott said: "As Big Mo Slater she is the battleaxe from Hell whose tongue-lashings have even the hardest of Walford's hard cases running for cover."[22] Charlie Catchpole from the Daily Mirror said of Mo's arrival: "I'm sure, that no sooner does a Romanian weightlifter go missing from the Olympics than Mighty Mo Harris arrives in Albert Square."[23] John Russell from The People called Mo a "motormouth".[24] In 2020, Sara Wallis and Ian Hyland from The Daily Mirror placed Mo 39th on their ranked list of the Best EastEnders characters of all time, calling her a "salt-of-the-earth Cockney chancer" who can "always be relied on for a laugh, involving an anecdote about her lover Fat Elvis".[25]
Charlie Slater is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Derek Martin. Charlie's first appearance is in the episode first broadcast in the United Kingdom on 4 September 2000. He was played by Jason McGregor in flashbacks broadcast in 2001 and Richie Daysh in a 2018 flashback. He also makes a cameo appearance in the second series of the spin-off EastEnders: E20.
Maureen "Little Mo" Slater is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Kacey Ainsworth from 18 September 2000 to 26 May 2006.
Alfie Moon is a fictional character from the BBC drama EastEnders, played by Shane Richie. He made his first appearance on 21 November 2002, and left on 25 December 2005. He returned on 21 September 2010, following the return of his on-screen wife, Kat Slater, two episodes previously, and they continued to feature until 22 May 2015. Alfie appeared in a guest stint between 26 December 2015 and 25 January 2016, before starring in the six-part drama spin-off series Kat & Alfie: Redwater in 2017. Richie returned for two short stints in 2018, concluding with his exit on 22 January 2019. Richie then made a virtual cameo appearance on 12 July 2022, followed by a permanent return from 12 September 2022.
Kathleen "Kat" Slater is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Jessie Wallace. She was also played by Kate Peck in a flashback in 2001 and Sumar-Elise Sandford in a flashback in 2018. Kat is the second eldest Slater family sister and first appeared on 18 September 2000. Kat's usual dress is very short skirts and leopard-print tops, with much make-up and heavy fake tan. Her initial stint saw her involved in many storylines, most significantly in a plot twist that sees her supposedly sister Zoe Slater, revealed to be her daughter after she was raped by her uncle Harry Slater as a child. Kat and Zoe's relationship is tested several times, and a feud forms when they compete against each other for the affection of Anthony Trueman. Another key aspect to the character's storylines is her marriage to Alfie Moon, prior to which she became briefly engaged to Andy Hunter ; after Kat jilted Andy on their wedding day, he blackmailed her into sleeping with him in his revenge bid against Alfie and Kat. Kat was absent between November 2004 and May 2005 following Wallace's maternity leave, but returned early to tie in with Zoe’s exit storyline. Kat later left the soap on 25 December 2005.
Maureen L. Bass, better known by her stage name Laila Morse, is an English actress. After making her acting debut as Janet in the drama film Nil by Mouth (1997), she went on to join the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Mo Harris, a role she has played periodically since 2000.
Zoe Slater is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Michelle Ryan. She made her first appearance on 18 September 2000. Zoe arrives in Walford along with her father, Charlie, sisters Kat, Lynne, Little Mo, and grandmother Big Mo.
Janine Carter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, introduced in 1989. The character was played by Rebecca Michael from 1989 to 1993, Alexia Demetriou from 1993 to 1996, and Charlie Brooks from 1999 to 2022. Brooks initially departed on 7 May 2004. She returned for a three episode guest stint in April 2008 before returning permanently on 18 December of that year. Brooks later took a break from September 2012 until April 2013, then departed again on 20 March 2014. In April 2021, it was announced that Brooks would reprise the role once again and return later in the year. She returned on 6 September 2021. It was announced on 24 September 2022 that Brooks had only agreed to reprise the role for 12 months and would depart again at the conclusion of her storyline, with her final scenes airing on 26 December 2022.
Dean Wicks is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders played by Matt Di Angelo. He made his first appearance on 2 January 2006. It was announced on 18 August 2007 that the characters of Deano and his sister Carly Wicks were being axed by executive producer Diederick Santer. Deano made his final appearance on 7 February 2008. On 15 January 2014, it was announced that Deano, now called Dean, would be returning and he first reappeared on 11 April of that year. Di Angelo took a three-month break from the soap from January to April 2015, with a one-off appearance in February to tie in with the show's 30th anniversary celebrations. In October 2015, it was announced that Di Angelo would leave the show in early 2016. The character is arrested for attempted rape with his final scenes set in court airing on 4 and 5 February 2016. On 19 August 2016, Dean is acquitted of attempted rape after standing trial off-screen. On 30 October 2023, Di Angelo made an unannounced return as Dean. On 15 July 2024, it was announced Di Angelo had finished filming with the show and Dean departed on 4 September 2024.
Stacey Slater is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, portrayed by Lacey Turner. She first appears in episode 2826, originally broadcast on 1 November 2004. The character is introduced as a feisty and troublesome teenager and extension to the already established Slater family. She was created by scriptwriter Tony Jordan with Turner in mind. Producers explored the character's backstory with the introduction of her mother, Jean Slater, who has bipolar disorder. They then paired Stacey with Bradley Branning and writers developed a series of problems for their marriage, including an abortion and Stacey's scandalous affair with Bradley's father, Max Branning. In 2009, the character was placed in an issue-led storyline when she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder; the show worked with various charities to develop the story. Writers also incorporated Stacey in the "Who Killed Archie?" plot and revealed her as his killer in a live episode, which was followed by a two-hander episode between Stacey and Max. Stacey became pregnant by Ryan Malloy and gave birth to their daughter Lily. This led to a feud between Stacey, and Ryan's wife Janine Malloy, and culminated in Stacey fleeing Walford on the episode broadcast on 25 December 2010, to avoid imprisonment after Janine stabbed herself and framed Stacey for attempted murder. Turner's return was announced on 19 December 2013, and Stacey reappears in the episode originally broadcast on 7 February 2014 before departing again on 24 March 2014. She made a permanent return on 1 September 2014.
Jean Slater is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Gillian Wright. Her first appearance is in the episode first broadcast in the United Kingdom on 16 December 2004. Having only been introduced for one episode, Wright was reintroduced for four more episodes the following year and became more of a regular character in the following two years. The character is introduced as the mother of Stacey Slater who suffers with bipolar disorder. Her disorder strains her relationship with her children, Stacey and Sean Slater. Wright researched the disorder to prepare for the role. In April 2010, it was announced that Jean would be written out of the series, however, Wright was awarded a reprieve in late 2010. Jean departed on 13 January 2011 and returned on 29 March 2011. Wright announced her intentions to leave the series in July 2013, and Jean departed on 17 September 2013. Following her departure, Wright reprised the role for 15 episodes between 2014 and 2017. In December 2017, it was announced that Jean would be reintroduced as a regular character, along with Kat Slater and Mo Harris. She returned on 20 March 2018. On 11 December 2023, Wright appeared in her 1,000th episode as Jean.
Lynne Slater is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, portrayed by Elaine Lordan. She appears in the series between 18 September 2000 and 2 July 2004. Lynne is known for her strong opinions on right and wrong, although she often struggle to adhere to her own moral standards. She has a turbulent relationship with husband Garry Hobbs. Despite frequently criticizing Garry, it is Lynne's infidelity that jeopardizes their relationship well before Garry is unfaithful.
The Mitchell family is a fictional family in the UK soap opera EastEnders. They were first introduced in February 1990, when brothers Phil and Grant Mitchell bought the local garage, the Arches. Their sister Sam was introduced later in 1990, and their mother Peggy shortly after in 1991, before being reintroduced as a regular character in 1994, with the role recast to Barbara Windsor. Since then, the family has been significantly expanded to include both the immediate and extended families. Phil has been the longest running Mitchell on the show, and the family has expanded significantly in the years since, remaining a large presence on the square.
Lily Slater is a fictional character in the BBC soap opera EastEnders and is portrayed by Lillia Turner. Lily's first appearance in the serial is in episode 4023, originally broadcast on 23 June 2010, in which her birth is depicted. Lily is the daughter of Stacey Slater and Ryan Malloy. Stacey and Lily both departed on 25 December 2010 at the conclusion of the Who Killed Archie? storyline. On 6 December 2013, it was announced that Lacey Turner would return to the soap to reprise her role as Stacey, and would begin filming in January 2014 – thus meaning Lily would be re-introduced into the serial. Lily temporarily departed the serial on 2 August 2019 once again after Stacey attacks Phil Mitchell in a panic to save Martin Fowler. Lily along with her family returns in episode 6133, originally broadcast on 21 September 2020, two weeks after the soap's return to transmission – this time with Turner in the role. Lily's most recent high profile storyline was in 2023 when she became pregnant at just 12 years old after sleeping with her close friend and neighbour, Ricky Mitchell. She gave birth in the episode broadcast on 5 September 2023 to their daughter, Charli Slater.
The Slater family are a fictional family from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, that have appeared since Episode 1,997, first broadcast in September 2000. The family are introduced as a central family unit, originally consisting of father Charlie Slater, grandmother Mo Harris, Charlie's daughters, Kat Slater, Lynne Slater, Little Mo Morgan and Kat's teenage daughter Zoe Slater, and Lynne's partner Garry Hobbs. A fifth sister, Belinda Peacock, was introduced one year later. The family were the eighth to be introduced in the soap's history, replacing the di Marco family who departed during the previous month. The Slaters were created by Tony Jordan and introduced by John Yorke. The Slater sisters were cast in an improvisation session. In their first years on the show, the family were involved in storylines about child sexual abuse and domestic violence.
Freddie Slater is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by twins Alex and Tom Kilby from 2004 to 2006 and Bobby Brazier since 2022. Freddie is introduced as the son of Little Mo Mitchell, conceived after she is raped by Graham Foster, and makes his first appearance in episode 2826, broadcast on 1 November 2004. He departs with Little Mo in episode 3159, broadcast on 26 May 2006. Freddie's reintroduction was announced in July 2022, with Bobby Brazier taking over the role. Freddie returned in episode 6551, broadcast on 6 September 2022. The character departed on 5 October 2023, so Brazier could participate in the twenty-first series of Strictly Come Dancing. Freddie starred alongside his great-grandmother Mo Harris in a spin-off social media series named The Point of Mo Return before both characters returned to the main show on 20 May 2024.
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