(née '''Lewis''') was a
Fictional Character in the
British Soap Opera ''
EastEnders ''. She was played by the late
Gretchen Franklin .
Ethel was an EastEnder original and in the early years she could always be found wandering the square with her adored pug Willy. She and Dot Cotton were life long friends and although they wound each other up no end, they were completely dependent on each other. In fact Ethel trusted Dot so much that she even asked her to help her die in 2000, after she was diagnosed with inoperable cancer.
Ethel Skinner was one of the original characters that appeared in the first episode of EastEnders in
1985 and her early history has been dipicted in EastEnders spin-off 'Civvy Steet'.
Ethel lived in
Albert Square for most of her life, remaining there through the
Second World War , and even witnessing the death of her entire family, who were wiped out by a
Doodlebug . This tragic event had sent a young Ethel into shock and had subsequently turned her slightly loopy. She began dressing outrageously , wearing garish make-up, flirting with anyone in trousers, and knocking back
Gin - traits that lasted well into her old-age.
Ethel was a
Widow , her husband William Skinner had died and she never really recovered from it - she even named her
Pug dog after him, 'Willy', or 'Ethel's Little Willy' as she would often call him. Ethel had never had children, a fact that she regretted in her old-age and so Willy had become her surrogate child, and she loved him dearly. Willy went everywhere that Ethel went and so she was devestated when he fell ill and had to be 'put down' in
1992 .
Ethel had been life-long friends with
Lou Beale and
Dot Cotton and the trio had remained close in their old-age. They could often be found reminiscing or gossiping in
The Queen Vic , where Ethel would also regularly thrill the punters with her repartee, her version of the cancan, or her plain sense of fun. Out of the three Ethel was the most light-hearted and she was never frightened to stand up to the over-bearing Lou and interfering Dot. She had her run-ins with both over the years, and yet their friendship endured right to the last.
Ethel lived above
Doctor Legg 's surgery and worked as the cleaner in the
Queen Vic . She was somewhat of a troublemaker and would often spread the most insane rumours about and get her words mixed up with hilarious consequences. She was famous for her questionable ability to read-palms and tea-leaves, once even earning a living from it.
After Lou's death in 1988 Ethel and Dot became an insepreable double-act and although the two used to argue constantly, they actually depended on each other a great deal. Despite the fact that Ethel appeared totally barmey, she could be quite astute when she wanted and she was always the first to point out the malicious ways of Dot's villainous son,
Nick Cotton . Ethel was never afraid to stand up to Nick, even kneeing him in the groin once when he attempted to mug her. She also correctly figured out that Nick was trying to poison Dot to get at her money, and she refused to back down, despite Dot falling out with her because of her accusations.
Ethel had several romances with senior batchelors on Albert Square and even found true love again with a friend of Dr. Legg's,
Benny Bloom . The two got engaged but sadly Benny died before he could get her down the aisle. He did leave her £2000 in his will, however, whch Ethel used to pay for a holiday to
Clacton with her friends Dot,
Marge and
Mo .
In the mid 90's Ethel was seen less frequently around the square and it was eventually divulged that she'd left her residence above the surgury and moved into sheltered accommodation away from the square. She did turn up in Walford occasionally, however, usually when a big event was occurring or to celebrate
Christmas and New Year with her old pal Dot.
However, a very frail Ethel returned to Albert Square in
2000 , turning up unannounced at her old friend's
Pauline Fowler 's. Ethel had run away from her retirement village and had decided that she was going to come back to the square, to live in the place she loved with her old friends. Ethel was now restricted to a
Wheel-chair and it was left to Dot to cater for her every need, which often left her exhausted. Ethel appeared to have lost none of her zest for life, despite her considerable age, so it was a huge shock to Dot when Ethel revealed that she was dying and was not long left for this world.
Ethel had inoperable
Cancer and she had come home to the square to die. But instead of waiting to die in agony, she wanted to choose her final moments so she could die with dignity, and she wanted her old friend Dot to help her do this. Ethel had been storing her
Morphine tablets for many weeks and it was her plan to take an overdose before the pain became too unbearable, but because she was already so weak she could only do this with Dot's assistance. Dot was devestated and initially refused to help Ethel, as to help another take their own life went compeletely against her strict
Christian principles. Dot spent many agonising weeks wrestling with her conscience, but she eventually agreed to grant her old friend's final wish. On the the night of her 86th birthday, after a celebratory party at The Vic, Ethel decided that this was to be her last night. After blowing out the candles of her birthday cake and bidding Dot an emotional farewell, Ethel took her pills, aided by Dot, and died peacefully in her sleep. Ethel's last appearance was in September 2000.
