Rainie Cross
Encyclopedia
Lorraine "Rainie" Cross is a fictional character
from the BBC One
soap opera
EastEnders
, played by Tanya Franks
. Rainie was introduced as the drug-addicted sister of Tanya Branning
(Jo Joyner
). After having three separate guest stints in 2007 (two episodes), 2008 (four episodes) and 2010 (seven episodes), she returned on 12 April 2011 as a regular character. She returns along with her mother, Cora (Ann Mitchell
) for Tanya's wedding to Greg Jessop (Stefan Booth
) and stays in Walford
after the wedding.
Described as "the slightly broken sister who's one step away from a vodka bottle", Rainie's storylines have often centred around her addictions to drugs
and alcohol
. During her seven episode guest stint in 2010, Rainie was involved in a highly criticised crack cocaine storyline with Phil Mitchell
(Steve McFadden
). The scenes showed Phil and Rainie taking crack. It was branded "inappropriate" and "horrid," the Daily Record
described the scenes as 'disturbing' and former EastEnders star, Natalie Cassidy
also criticised the scenes, saying she was 'shocked'. Franks defended the storyline, though she was not surprised that viewers had complained.
On her return in 2011, Rainie has tried to fix her fractured relationship with Tanya, as well as trying to make a friend in Phil much to the dismay of his girlfriend Shirley Carter (Linda Henry
). Rainie also has a one-night stand
with Jack Branning
(Scott Maslen
). Trying to get her life back on track, Rainie turns to religion, though she is frequently bullied by her mother, who dislikes it and finds employment at the R&R club. Kirkwood later said that he was 'delighted' at the expansion of Tanya's family.
(Jake Wood
). She gives Tanya back the £500 she took and says she is clean. Tanya temporarily allows Rainie to stay, but she tests positive for cannabis
so she is asked to leave.
Rainie returns to Walford in 2010 and tells Max she is clean and sober, and asks Max for Tanya's phone number. Tanya's daughter Abi Branning
(Lorna Fitzgerald
) is keen for Rainie to stay, and Max agrees. She steals money out of Max's sister Carol Jackson
's (Lindsey Coulson
) purse, which she uses to buy crack cocaine. Max catches her with the drugs and throws her out of the house. She starts to look for her drugs where a drunken Phil Mitchell
(Steve McFadden
) approaches, finds Rainie's crack cocaine and is tempted to try some with her after she says it helps her block out her memories. Phil and Rainie get high at Phil's home. Rainie goes to get more drugs when Phil steals money from The Queen Victoria
public house, but is mugged by a drug dealer. When Phil's girlfriend Shirley Carter (Linda Henry
) offers to help Phil get clean, she throws Rainie out of the house, calling her pathetic.
Rainie returns in 2011, turning up at Tanya's house, where their mother Cora Cross (Ann Mitchell
) is visiting. Rainie says she is now completely clean and is staying with Cora as her counsellor wants her to reconnect with her family. When Tanya and Greg (Stefan Booth
) go on honeymoon, Rainie looks after their house. Rainie goes to the R&R and sees Phil. She talks about their past though says he wants nothing to do with her and walks of. She then sits down with Jack Branning
(Scott Maslen
) where they get drunk together and later go to his flat and have sex. However, Jack rejects Rainie the following morning. Tanya and Greg arrive from their honeymoon and see how much trouble Rainie has made in the days they have been gone. Rainie later stirs up trouble with Shirley and is asked by Tanya to move out. Rainie persuades Tanya to let her stay, much to the disappointment of Greg. Rainie pays a visit to Ronnie Branning (Samantha Womack) to find her knickers she supposedly left in the flat and taunts Ronnie asking her to tell Jack to phone her. She is kicked out once again. She joins a support group to help her stay off drugs and alcohol, and Phil also attends. Rainie struggles and calls her drug dealer, but Phil later finds Rainie with drugs and takes them from her, destroying them. She then turns to drink, and turns up drunk at Tanya's salon. Tanya takes her home, but Greg throws her out after Tanya lies that Rainie tried to stab her. A few days later, Phil finds Rainie in the pub and Shirley catches Rainie talking to Phil and gets the wrong idea and finds out Phil has been sponsoring Rainie. After Shirley gains ownership of the café, she gives Rainie a job but the next day she decides to give it to Heather Trott (Cheryl Fergison
) instead.
Rainie disappears from Walford, but on her return she insists she is still clean. However, she faces several temptations by people offering her drugs. She eventually buys some from Ryan Malloy
(Neil McDermott
). When Phil finds out, he asks Ryan to not sell to Rainie again. Dot Branning
(June Brown
) takes pity on Rainie and helps her to clean herself up, telling her about Donna Ludlow
(Matilda Ziegler
) and giving her a Bible, which makes Rainie decide to change as she finds religion. Rainie apologises to Tanya for being rude to her earlier in the week, and Tanya agrees to let her stay with her and Greg. Rainie and Cora confide in one another when Rainie says Tanya treats her like a child. When it is revealed Tanya had an affair with Max, Rainie nearly turns to drink, but stops herself. She finds a job at the R&R club, but does not realise she only got it because her boss, Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks
) wanted to irritate Phil. The next week, Phil demands Janine to get rid of Rainie, to which she agrees and sacks Rainie. Rainie later applies for a job as an office worker with Janine's new property management business, but Janine makes her a cleaner. When Phil is sent photos relating to an incident from his past, Rainie stops him from turning to drink. Phil tells her about the incident and they start to kiss, but are interrupted by Pat Evans
(Pam St Clement). Rainie mentions the photos to Shirley, leading to Shirley believing that Rainie is sending them, so Shirley threatens Rainie, telling her to stop.
Rainie later discovers that Tanya has cervical cancer
. Max returns with brother Derek
(Jamie Foreman
) and Derek recognises Rainie from Max and Tanya's wedding and he is attracted to her, later mentioning that they had sex. Rainie demands to know why Tanya stopped her treatment, so she explains that it did not work for father and confesses she helped him die, which shatters both Rainie and Cora. Though Tanya and Cora reconcile, Rainie remains angry, telling Tanya she hopes the cancer kills her. She sleeps rough, but then meets Derek and starts a sexual relationship him. She then sees a large scar on his back.
In April 2011 it was reported by the The Sun that Rainie would have a one-night stand with Jack Branning on 6 May 2011 after he discovers his son is dead and she comforts him. In May 2011, it was announced that Cora would return to the series, and executive producer Bryan Kirkwood
said he was "keen to establish the Cross women—Rainie completes the mix as the slightly broken sister who's one step away from a vodka bottle."
Rainie has been described as "troublesome" and "troubled". On her official BBC
character profile she is described as sly, manipulative and ruthless, and that she "she spells trouble with a capital T!". It finishes saying, "But behind the wild partying, Rainie is a lost soul with a soft, vulnerable side that yearns to get her life back on track and impress her older sister Tanya."
. Discussing her return in 2010, she said she was pleased to be working closely with McFadden (Phil) as they had not worked together previously. Franks explained that after being thrown out of the house by Tanya's ex-husband Max Branning and moving in with Phil that "It gets quite dark and dirty, really. Phil and Rainie are two people who meet at a point in their lives where they both see something equivalent in each other. He offers her something that she wants, and that is a place to be, while she has something that he wants, and that's drugs—so it's a match at that time."
Franks was given advice from the charity DrugScope
on how to act the part and also undertook some of her own research, and she said she believed the scenes to be very realistic. She wanted the drugs storyline to help people, saying, "If there are people who have a drugs problem, or an addiction problem of any kind really, they might watch something like this and it could trigger something in their mind that is relevant to them, or someone that they know. Hopefully it could make people think twice about carrying on with that, and perhaps look into getting some help. The organisation that we worked with, DrugScope, gives a lot of help and advice for people with drug addictions. I think it can be hugely helpful when a show as popular as EastEnders does something like this." She also stated that "If EastEnders has saved one life by putting this story out it's been worth it. We shouldn't shy away from it. The whole point of soaps is to reflect a certain amount of everyday life. Some of it is going to be light entertainment, some isn't."
On her return to for Tanya's wedding, a spokeperson said, “Tanya soon softens towards Rainie and her mother but will the harmony last between all three women or will past problems cause the women to Cross swords once again?”. Franks has commented that she is excited about exploring the family dynamic between the Cross ladies in upcoming storylines and her future in EastEnders. Joyner said that Tanya would forgive Rainie for her past actions. In a interview with Digital Spy
, Kirkwood said that he was 'delighted' at the expansion of Tanya's family and that "The new characters are excellent additions to a cast that's already very strong."
asked some viewers about the scenes, including one who said, "I was shocked at the content of the episode. The graphic detail of the drug use with Phil and his friend was terrible and in view of the time that the episode was aired, entirely inappropriate. Viewers do not need to see this kind of storyline. Please, BBC, no more of these horrid storylines." Other viewers said, "They look like they're having a good time. They're in danger of making it look appealing." Finally, "It was a bit much. I've found EastEnders distressing over the last month." The Daily Record
described the scenes as 'disturbing'.
Former EastEnders star, Natalie Cassidy
also criticised the scenes, saying, "You can't swear or show two people making love before the watershed, yet you can show people smoking class A drugs? I was really shocked." Franks was not surprised that people complained, but defended the storyline, saying that "the good that comes from storylines like this far outweighs whatever concerns people might have".
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
, played by Tanya Franks
Tanya Franks
Tanya Christine Franks is an English-based actress, writer and producer, who is most known for starring roles on television in Family Affairs, The Bill, Pulling and the role of Rainie Cross in EastEnders. Franks is also the founder of Stock-pot Productions, a theatre and media production company...
. Rainie was introduced as the drug-addicted sister of Tanya Branning
Tanya Branning
Tanya Lauren Jessop is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Jo Joyner. She made her first appearance on 27 June 2006. She left the show temporarily on 25 December 2009 for maternity leave and returned for one episode on 23 June 2010. She made her full-time return on...
(Jo Joyner
Jo Joyner
Joanne Mary Joyner is an English actress who is best known for her role as Tanya Branning in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, in which she has appeared since June 2006.-Career:...
). After having three separate guest stints in 2007 (two episodes), 2008 (four episodes) and 2010 (seven episodes), she returned on 12 April 2011 as a regular character. She returns along with her mother, Cora (Ann Mitchell
Ann Mitchell
Ann Mitchell is one of Britain's leading stage and television actresses. In 2011, she was cast as Cora Cross in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, the mother of Tanya Jessop and Rainie Cross. She was only to appear originally for 4 episodes but returned on 28 July 2011 as a regular character...
) for Tanya's wedding to Greg Jessop (Stefan Booth
Stefan Booth
Stefan Booth is an English actor and singer currently starring in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Greg Jessop. He left the series in August 2011 and will return to the show.-Background:...
) and stays in Walford
Walford
Walford is a fictional borough of east London in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. The name Walford is both a street in Dalston where one of the series' creators, Tony Holland, lived and a blend of Walthamstow, where Holland was born, and Stratford. The suffix 'ford' is also found throughout East...
after the wedding.
Described as "the slightly broken sister who's one step away from a vodka bottle", Rainie's storylines have often centred around her addictions to drugs
DRUGS
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows are an American post-hardcore band formed in 2010. They released their debut self-titled album on February 22, 2011.- Formation :...
and alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
. During her seven episode guest stint in 2010, Rainie was involved in a highly criticised crack cocaine storyline with Phil Mitchell
Phil Mitchell
Philip James "Phil" Mitchell is a long-running fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Steve McFadden.Phil first arrived in Albert Square on 20 February 1990, and was soon joined by his brother, Grant, sister Sam and mother Peggy...
(Steve McFadden
Steve McFadden
Steve McFadden is an English actor, known for his role as Phil Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, which he has played since1990.-Early life:...
). The scenes showed Phil and Rainie taking crack. It was branded "inappropriate" and "horrid," the Daily Record
Daily Record (Scotland)
The Daily Record is a Scottish tabloid newspaper based in Glasgow. It had been the best-selling daily paper in Scotland for many years with a paid circulation in August 2011 of 307,794 . It is now outsold by its arch-rival the Scottish Sun which in September 2010 had a circulation of 339,586 in...
described the scenes as 'disturbing' and former EastEnders star, Natalie Cassidy
Natalie Cassidy
Natalie Ann Cassidy is a British actress, most commonly known for appearing in the television soap EastEnders where she played Sonia Jackson for many years. She has also appeared in the BBC Two sitcom Psychoville and was a contestant on the seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing.-Career:As a...
also criticised the scenes, saying she was 'shocked'. Franks defended the storyline, though she was not surprised that viewers had complained.
On her return in 2011, Rainie has tried to fix her fractured relationship with Tanya, as well as trying to make a friend in Phil much to the dismay of his girlfriend Shirley Carter (Linda Henry
Linda Henry
Linda Henry is an English actress, best known for her roles as Yvonne Atkins in the ITV television drama Bad Girls and Shirley Carter in the BBC's soap opera EastEnders.- Early life :...
). Rainie also has a one-night stand
One-night stand
Originally, a one-night stand was a single theatre performance, usually by a guest performer on tour, as opposed to an ongoing engagement. Today, however, the term is more commonly defined as a single sexual encounter, in which neither participant has any intention or expectation of a relationship...
with Jack Branning
Jack Branning
Jack Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Scott Maslen. He made his first appearance on 29 October 2007. He is the youngest child of Jim and Reenie Branning and the brother of April Branning, Carol Jackson, Derek Branning, Suzy Branning and Max Branning...
(Scott Maslen
Scott Maslen
Scott Alexander Maslen is an English actor and model, best known for his portrayal as DS Phil Hunter in ITV's The Bill and now Jack Branning on the BBC's flagship soap EastEnders.-Early and personal life:...
). Trying to get her life back on track, Rainie turns to religion, though she is frequently bullied by her mother, who dislikes it and finds employment at the R&R club. Kirkwood later said that he was 'delighted' at the expansion of Tanya's family.
Storylines
Rainie first appears at Tanya's house claiming that she is clean from drugs. However, Tanya catches her attempting to inject heroin and gives her a choice—to take £500 and never see Tanya or her children again, or to stay the night and get help with her problems first thing in the morning. Rainie leaves with the money without Tanya noticing. Ignoring Tanya's ultimatum, Rainie returns the following year. Tanya is in an emotional state, having recently split from her husband Max BranningMax Branning
Max Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Jake Wood. He made his first appearance on 27 June 2006.-Backstory:Max is the fifth child and second son of Jim and Reenie Branning...
(Jake Wood
Jake Wood
Jake Dylan Wood is an English actor, best known in his homeland for playing Max Branning on "EastEnders" and in the United States as the current voice of the GEICO gecko.-Biography:...
). She gives Tanya back the £500 she took and says she is clean. Tanya temporarily allows Rainie to stay, but she tests positive for cannabis
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
so she is asked to leave.
Rainie returns to Walford in 2010 and tells Max she is clean and sober, and asks Max for Tanya's phone number. Tanya's daughter Abi Branning
Abi Branning
Abigail "Abi" Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Lorna Fitzgerald. She first appeared in the show on 3 July 2006.- Storylines :...
(Lorna Fitzgerald
Lorna Fitzgerald
Lorna Katie Fitzgerald is a British actress from Northampton. She lives in Hunsbury. Her most notable role to date is that of Abi Branning in the British soap opera EastEnders.- Personal life :...
) is keen for Rainie to stay, and Max agrees. She steals money out of Max's sister Carol Jackson
Carol Jackson
Carol Ann Jackson is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Lindsey Coulson. The character was introduced in 1993 as part of a new problem family. Coulson decided to quit the role in 1997, but she returned temporarily in 1999 as part of a storyline that marked Carol's...
's (Lindsey Coulson
Lindsey Coulson
Lindsey Coulson is an English actress, best known for her role as Carol Jackson in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.- Career :...
) purse, which she uses to buy crack cocaine. Max catches her with the drugs and throws her out of the house. She starts to look for her drugs where a drunken Phil Mitchell
Phil Mitchell
Philip James "Phil" Mitchell is a long-running fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Steve McFadden.Phil first arrived in Albert Square on 20 February 1990, and was soon joined by his brother, Grant, sister Sam and mother Peggy...
(Steve McFadden
Steve McFadden
Steve McFadden is an English actor, known for his role as Phil Mitchell in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, which he has played since1990.-Early life:...
) approaches, finds Rainie's crack cocaine and is tempted to try some with her after she says it helps her block out her memories. Phil and Rainie get high at Phil's home. Rainie goes to get more drugs when Phil steals money from The Queen Victoria
The Queen Victoria
The Queen Victoria is a fictional Victorian public house in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders. It has the fictional address of 46 Albert Square, Walford, London E20.-Appearance and development:...
public house, but is mugged by a drug dealer. When Phil's girlfriend Shirley Carter (Linda Henry
Linda Henry
Linda Henry is an English actress, best known for her roles as Yvonne Atkins in the ITV television drama Bad Girls and Shirley Carter in the BBC's soap opera EastEnders.- Early life :...
) offers to help Phil get clean, she throws Rainie out of the house, calling her pathetic.
Rainie returns in 2011, turning up at Tanya's house, where their mother Cora Cross (Ann Mitchell
Ann Mitchell
Ann Mitchell is one of Britain's leading stage and television actresses. In 2011, she was cast as Cora Cross in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, the mother of Tanya Jessop and Rainie Cross. She was only to appear originally for 4 episodes but returned on 28 July 2011 as a regular character...
) is visiting. Rainie says she is now completely clean and is staying with Cora as her counsellor wants her to reconnect with her family. When Tanya and Greg (Stefan Booth
Stefan Booth
Stefan Booth is an English actor and singer currently starring in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Greg Jessop. He left the series in August 2011 and will return to the show.-Background:...
) go on honeymoon, Rainie looks after their house. Rainie goes to the R&R and sees Phil. She talks about their past though says he wants nothing to do with her and walks of. She then sits down with Jack Branning
Jack Branning
Jack Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Scott Maslen. He made his first appearance on 29 October 2007. He is the youngest child of Jim and Reenie Branning and the brother of April Branning, Carol Jackson, Derek Branning, Suzy Branning and Max Branning...
(Scott Maslen
Scott Maslen
Scott Alexander Maslen is an English actor and model, best known for his portrayal as DS Phil Hunter in ITV's The Bill and now Jack Branning on the BBC's flagship soap EastEnders.-Early and personal life:...
) where they get drunk together and later go to his flat and have sex. However, Jack rejects Rainie the following morning. Tanya and Greg arrive from their honeymoon and see how much trouble Rainie has made in the days they have been gone. Rainie later stirs up trouble with Shirley and is asked by Tanya to move out. Rainie persuades Tanya to let her stay, much to the disappointment of Greg. Rainie pays a visit to Ronnie Branning (Samantha Womack) to find her knickers she supposedly left in the flat and taunts Ronnie asking her to tell Jack to phone her. She is kicked out once again. She joins a support group to help her stay off drugs and alcohol, and Phil also attends. Rainie struggles and calls her drug dealer, but Phil later finds Rainie with drugs and takes them from her, destroying them. She then turns to drink, and turns up drunk at Tanya's salon. Tanya takes her home, but Greg throws her out after Tanya lies that Rainie tried to stab her. A few days later, Phil finds Rainie in the pub and Shirley catches Rainie talking to Phil and gets the wrong idea and finds out Phil has been sponsoring Rainie. After Shirley gains ownership of the café, she gives Rainie a job but the next day she decides to give it to Heather Trott (Cheryl Fergison
Cheryl Fergison
Cheryl Fergison is a British actress most notable for playing Heather Trott in the long running BBC soap opera EastEnders.-Career:...
) instead.
Rainie disappears from Walford, but on her return she insists she is still clean. However, she faces several temptations by people offering her drugs. She eventually buys some from Ryan Malloy
Ryan Malloy
Ryan Malloy is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Neil McDermott. From his arrival on 28 April 2009, the character remained a mystery in the show for a number of months until he was revealed as the half brother of established character Whitney Dean...
(Neil McDermott
Neil McDermott
Neil McDermott is a British stage and television actor who is best known for portraying Ryan Malloy in the BBC television soap opera EastEnders from April 2009 until 2011.-Career:...
). When Phil finds out, he asks Ryan to not sell to Rainie again. Dot Branning
Dot Branning
Dorothy "Dot" Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera, EastEnders, played by June Brown since 1985. In a special episode entitled EastEnders: Dot's Story a young Dot was played by Tallulah Pitt-Brown in flashbacks. Dot first appeared in EastEnders in July 1985 as the mother of...
(June Brown
June Brown
June Muriel Brown, MBE is a British actress, best known for her role as the busy-body, chain-smoking gossip Dot Cotton in the long-running British soap opera EastEnders and for making other high profile television appearances on shows such as Doctor Who, Coronation Street, Minder, The Bill and...
) takes pity on Rainie and helps her to clean herself up, telling her about Donna Ludlow
Donna Ludlow
Donna Ludlow is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Matilda Ziegler between 1987-1989. Donna was scripted as a troubled individual, desperate for attention, but shunned by almost all who encountered her...
(Matilda Ziegler
Matilda Ziegler
Matilda Ziegler is a British television, stage and film actress best known for her roles as Irma Gobb in Mr. Bean and as Donna Ludlow in the long-running BBC1 serial EastEnders and Ruth in the BBC Three sitcom Swiss Toni.-Television career:Matilda Ziegler's first screen role remains her most...
) and giving her a Bible, which makes Rainie decide to change as she finds religion. Rainie apologises to Tanya for being rude to her earlier in the week, and Tanya agrees to let her stay with her and Greg. Rainie and Cora confide in one another when Rainie says Tanya treats her like a child. When it is revealed Tanya had an affair with Max, Rainie nearly turns to drink, but stops herself. She finds a job at the R&R club, but does not realise she only got it because her boss, Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks
Charlie Brooks
Charlene "Charlie" Brooks is a Welsh actress, best known for playing Janine Butcher on the BBC soap opera EastEnders.-Acting career:...
) wanted to irritate Phil. The next week, Phil demands Janine to get rid of Rainie, to which she agrees and sacks Rainie. Rainie later applies for a job as an office worker with Janine's new property management business, but Janine makes her a cleaner. When Phil is sent photos relating to an incident from his past, Rainie stops him from turning to drink. Phil tells her about the incident and they start to kiss, but are interrupted by Pat Evans
Pat Evans
Patricia Louise "Pat" Evans is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders. She has been played by Pam St. Clement since 12 June 1986, just over a year after the show first aired...
(Pam St Clement). Rainie mentions the photos to Shirley, leading to Shirley believing that Rainie is sending them, so Shirley threatens Rainie, telling her to stop.
Rainie later discovers that Tanya has cervical cancer
Cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri or cervical area. One of the most common symptoms is abnormal vaginal bleeding, but in some cases there may be no obvious symptoms until the cancer is in its advanced stages...
. Max returns with brother Derek
Derek Branning
Derek Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Terence Beesley in 1996 and then Jamie Foreman from 2011 onwards. Derek is the eldest child of Jim and Reenie Branning . He made his first appearance on 29 April 1996 and departed not long after...
(Jamie Foreman
Jamie Foreman
Jamie Foreman is an English actor best known for his roles as Duke in Layer Cake and Bill Sikes in Roman Polanski's Oliver Twist . He played opposite Ray Winstone and Kathy Burke in Gary Oldman's Nil by Mouth and also featured in Elizabeth , Gangster No. 1 and Sleepy Hollow...
) and Derek recognises Rainie from Max and Tanya's wedding and he is attracted to her, later mentioning that they had sex. Rainie demands to know why Tanya stopped her treatment, so she explains that it did not work for father and confesses she helped him die, which shatters both Rainie and Cora. Though Tanya and Cora reconcile, Rainie remains angry, telling Tanya she hopes the cancer kills her. She sleeps rough, but then meets Derek and starts a sexual relationship him. She then sees a large scar on his back.
Creation and characterisation
The character originally appeared for two episodes on 2 and 3 August 2007, and then returned for four episodes between 7 and 11 January 2008. Franks was asked to return again later in 2008 but could not make it, so Franks thought Rainie would not be seen again. She returned for the longer stint in 2010, starting on 3 August. Franks did not expect to be asked to return in 2010, and said the call came as a surprise. She said it was "ideal" because it fitted in with another acting job she was undertaking at the time. She commented that Rainie would be "unlikely to return without stirring up a bit of trouble". Rainie returned again on 12 April 2011 as a regular character, for Tanya's wedding to Greg Jessop, along with Tanya and Rainie's mother Cora Cross, where Cora tries to build bridges between the sisters.In April 2011 it was reported by the The Sun that Rainie would have a one-night stand with Jack Branning on 6 May 2011 after he discovers his son is dead and she comforts him. In May 2011, it was announced that Cora would return to the series, and executive producer Bryan Kirkwood
Bryan Kirkwood (producer)
Bryan Kirkwood is a Scottish-born British television producer. He was the producer of teen Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks from 2006 until 2009 and has been the executive producer of the BBC soap EastEnders since 2010.- Personal life :...
said he was "keen to establish the Cross women—Rainie completes the mix as the slightly broken sister who's one step away from a vodka bottle."
Rainie has been described as "troublesome" and "troubled". On her official BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
character profile she is described as sly, manipulative and ruthless, and that she "she spells trouble with a capital T!". It finishes saying, "But behind the wild partying, Rainie is a lost soul with a soft, vulnerable side that yearns to get her life back on track and impress her older sister Tanya."
Phil Mitchell
Rainie's relationship with Phil was first explored during her stint in 2010. Rainie and Phil were to be involved in a storyline involving the taking of crack cocaineCrack cocaine
Crack cocaine is the freebase form of cocaine that can be smoked. It may also be termed rock, hard, iron, cavvy, base, or just crack; it is the most addictive form of cocaine. Crack rocks offer a short but intense high to smokers...
. Discussing her return in 2010, she said she was pleased to be working closely with McFadden (Phil) as they had not worked together previously. Franks explained that after being thrown out of the house by Tanya's ex-husband Max Branning and moving in with Phil that "It gets quite dark and dirty, really. Phil and Rainie are two people who meet at a point in their lives where they both see something equivalent in each other. He offers her something that she wants, and that is a place to be, while she has something that he wants, and that's drugs—so it's a match at that time."
Franks was given advice from the charity DrugScope
DrugScope
DrugScope is a UK based charity. It is the main UK membership organisation for those working in the drugs field and its aim is to inform the public about drugs, inform policy development and reduce drug-related harms...
on how to act the part and also undertook some of her own research, and she said she believed the scenes to be very realistic. She wanted the drugs storyline to help people, saying, "If there are people who have a drugs problem, or an addiction problem of any kind really, they might watch something like this and it could trigger something in their mind that is relevant to them, or someone that they know. Hopefully it could make people think twice about carrying on with that, and perhaps look into getting some help. The organisation that we worked with, DrugScope, gives a lot of help and advice for people with drug addictions. I think it can be hugely helpful when a show as popular as EastEnders does something like this." She also stated that "If EastEnders has saved one life by putting this story out it's been worth it. We shouldn't shy away from it. The whole point of soaps is to reflect a certain amount of everyday life. Some of it is going to be light entertainment, some isn't."
Tanya
Rainie's relationship with Tanya has always been fractured, though Tanya trys to resolve the tension with Rainie during her return as a regular in 2011. When Rainie was first announced on 13 July 2007, it was said Rainie was said to "[drag] up a past which Tanya would rather forget". Rainie has tested Tanya in her time in Walford. She commonly persuades Tanya to let her stay and forgive her and then going back on the promise, which leads Rainie to be kicked out. When Franks returned in 2010 she said "she was disappointed not to be working with Joyner this time."On her return to for Tanya's wedding, a spokeperson said, “Tanya soon softens towards Rainie and her mother but will the harmony last between all three women or will past problems cause the women to Cross swords once again?”. Franks has commented that she is excited about exploring the family dynamic between the Cross ladies in upcoming storylines and her future in EastEnders. Joyner said that Tanya would forgive Rainie for her past actions. In a interview with Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....
, Kirkwood said that he was 'delighted' at the expansion of Tanya's family and that "The new characters are excellent additions to a cast that's already very strong."
Reception
Franks said that after her stint in 2008, many people recognised her in the street and asked if she would return. Scenes showing Phil and Rainie taking the drug crack cocaine in 2010 prompted over 200 complaints from viewers who felt the scenes were inappropriate. The BBC responded by saying "EastEnders in no way—and at no point—glamorises or condones the use of drugs, and furthermore we took great care to avoid any demonstration on how to prepare or take drugs. [...] We took care to signal the nature of the episode's content to viewers in advance through programme publicity and billings, and the BBC Action Line was trailed following the episode for anyone affected by the issue. In addition to this, our website includes links to organisations who can offer help and advice on this issue. [...] We worked closely with drug and alcohol charities, including Addaction and DrugScope, throughout the editorial process to ensure that we handled the storyline accurately and sensitively." The Daily MailDaily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
asked some viewers about the scenes, including one who said, "I was shocked at the content of the episode. The graphic detail of the drug use with Phil and his friend was terrible and in view of the time that the episode was aired, entirely inappropriate. Viewers do not need to see this kind of storyline. Please, BBC, no more of these horrid storylines." Other viewers said, "They look like they're having a good time. They're in danger of making it look appealing." Finally, "It was a bit much. I've found EastEnders distressing over the last month." The Daily Record
Daily Record (Scotland)
The Daily Record is a Scottish tabloid newspaper based in Glasgow. It had been the best-selling daily paper in Scotland for many years with a paid circulation in August 2011 of 307,794 . It is now outsold by its arch-rival the Scottish Sun which in September 2010 had a circulation of 339,586 in...
described the scenes as 'disturbing'.
Former EastEnders star, Natalie Cassidy
Natalie Cassidy
Natalie Ann Cassidy is a British actress, most commonly known for appearing in the television soap EastEnders where she played Sonia Jackson for many years. She has also appeared in the BBC Two sitcom Psychoville and was a contestant on the seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing.-Career:As a...
also criticised the scenes, saying, "You can't swear or show two people making love before the watershed, yet you can show people smoking class A drugs? I was really shocked." Franks was not surprised that people complained, but defended the storyline, saying that "the good that comes from storylines like this far outweighs whatever concerns people might have".