Played by Linda Davidson, Mary was largely known as Mary ‘The Punk’ during her first stint on EastEnders from 1985 to 1988. She arrived in Walford with her baby daughter Annie, and viewers learned that she had been touring with a punk group when she got pregnant and moved to London, wanting to avoid her judgmental family who disapproved of Mary’s lifestyle.

As a single mother, Mary struggled to bring up her daughter. She was inexperienced and had no money, and made mistakes when she refused to take on advice from various locals. When illiterate Mary accidentally gave Annie the wrong dosage of medication, the young girl was nearly put in harm’s way. Almost everyone on the Square took a turn in looking after Annie, and Dot formed an unlikely friendship with Mary. She often babysat while Mary went out to party or try and earn cash, and became one of the few people that Mary would listen to.

Strapped for cash, a friend convinced Mary to take a job as a stripper. But when Annie was put at risk by an irresponsible babysitter, Mary cut ties and took reading lessons from nurse Andy O’Brien (Ross Davidson). But when she fell for Andy, changing her punk image and trying to kiss him, he let her down and Mary angrily ditched his lessons. Nick Cotton (John Altman) tried to persuade Mary to make money via prostitution, and Mary was tempted. But Andy found her a job in a hospital canteen instead, which helped her situation until she was promoted and scared that she would have to admit she couldn’t read.

Penniless once more, Mary chose prostitution after being encouraged by Pat Wicks (Pam St Clement). The residents were concerned as she threw herself into the job, but Pat had a change of heart and refused to give Mary any more contacts. Heading out to poach clients alone, Mary was beaten by fellow sex workers who wanted to prevent her from getting work. But, leaving Annie alone while she worked, the child almost died in a fire and she was reported for neglect.

Dot could no longer stand by and do nothing, so she called Mary’s parents who took Annie home with them. Mary began a romance with Rod Norman (Christopher McHallem), who helped her turn her back on sex work and plan to regain custody of Annie. But Mary’s mother now wanted custody too, so social services were involved. She was eventually reunited with Annie, but Mary began a drug habit and neglected her again. When her family attempted to intervene, Mary took Annie and hopped on a bus out of Walford, sticking two fingers up as she went!

When was Mary last in EastEnders?