Poppy Meadow

Poppy Meadow
EastEnders character
Portrayed byRachel Bright
Duration2011–2014
First appearanceEpisode 4142
11 January 2011 (2011-01-11)
Last appearanceEpisode 4795
30 January 2014 (2014-01-30)
ClassificationFormer; regular
Introduced byBryan Kirkwood
Spin-off
appearances		"All I Want for Christmas" (2012)[1]
In-universe information
OccupationBeautician
Barmaid
SistersTansy Meadow[2]

Poppy Meadow is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Rachel Bright. She was introduced by executive producer Bryan Kirkwood on 11 January 2011 as the best friend of established character Jodie Gold (Kylie Babbington) in scenes filling in for those cut from a controversial baby-swap storyline. Poppy returned to the series in June 2011 as a supporting character and comedy element, in a move that was generally welcomed by the tabloid press; her storylines focused on her friendship with Jodie and their intertwined love lives. Both Jodie and Poppy left the series on 14 November 2011, but the possibility was left open for Poppy to return in the future. In June 2012 Bright reprised her role as Poppy, moving into Walford and resuming her employment at the local beauty salon, this time as a regular character. Poppy's storylines became more prominent, including a romantic relationship with Fatboy (Ricky Norwood). The character was axed in September 2013 by new executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins, and Poppy departed on 30 January 2014.

Poppy was introduced into the series in what critics described as "bizarre and utterly irrelevant" and "pointless" scenes, which substituted for cut scenes of the dead baby's parents at the graveside.[3] The Guardian critic Stuart Heritage considered Poppy to be "perhaps the greatest television bit-part character of the modern age" and several Daily Mirror writers gave Poppy positive reviews upon both of her returns.[4][5][6]

  1. ^ "All I Want For Christmas: Red Button Special". EastEnders. BBC Online. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  2. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (24 October 2012). "'EastEnders' Poppy Meadow to stay in Walford". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference pointless was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Poppy Stuart Heritage was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference glasgow2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference june was invoked but never defined (see the help page).