Ricky Butcher

Amongst London's most iconic sounds are the chime of Bow Bells... and the sound of Bianca screaming "RICCKKKAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!" at her hapless, downtrodden husband.

After failing all his GCSEs he became a mechanic, taking stick from bullying boss Phil at The Arches by day, and coming home for more of the same with on-again-off-again girlfriend/wife Bianca by night.

However, Sam Mitchell was his first love. They tied the knot in Gretna Green but like all Mitchell - Butcher romances (his dad Frank was married to, and cheated on her mum Peggy) their marriage was fraught with family feuds and betrayals.

They got together, split up, got together again, and though their chemistry always remained, it was always Bianca that he went back to.

Life with Bianca left him hen pecked but that didn't stop him from maturing into a responsible father of Liam and Tiffany, and indeed, all of Bianca's brood. However, when Bianca discovered that he'd fathered Mandy Salter's child (who tragically died), she kicked him out for the last time. Or so she says.

Played by Sid Owen