Ricky Butcher

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Ricky Butcher
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Sid Owen
Duration	1988–2000, 2002–2004, 2008–2012, 2022–2023
First appearance	Episode 341 12 May 1988 (1988-05-12)
Last appearance	Episode 6636 26 January 2023 (2023-01-26)
Classification	Former; regular
Introduced by	Tony Holland (1988) John Yorke (2002) Diederick Santer (2008) Bryan Kirkwood (2012) Chris Clenshaw (2022)
Spin-off appearances	Pudding Lane (1999) Ricky & Bianca (2002) Last Tango in Walford (2010) EastEnders E20 (2010–2011)
In-universe information Other names Richard Francis Butcher[1] Occupation Mechanic Taxi driver Barman Father Frank Butcher Mother June Butcher Stepmother Pat Butcher Peggy Mitchell Sisters Clare Butcher Diane Butcher Janine Butcher Half-brothers Danny Wife Sam Mitchell (1991–1996) Bianca Jackson (1997–2000, 2010–2012) Sons Liam Butcher Daughters Kira Salter[2] Tiffany Butcher Natasha Butcher Stepsons Morgan Butcher Grandfathers George Butcher Grandmothers Mo Butcher Lydia Simmonds Uncles Norman Simmonds Aunts Joan Garwood Nephews Jacques Butcher Nieces Scarlett Butcher

Ricky Butcher^[3] is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Sid Owen. Introduced as a school boy in 1988, Ricky is one of the longest-running male protagonists to feature in EastEnders. Owen originally left the role in 2000 to pursue a music career. However, he reprised the role in 2002 before being axed by producer Louise Berridge in 2004. In 2008, producer Diederick Santer introduced the character for a third time, along with his wife Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer). Ricky is portrayed as unintelligent, simplistic, easily led and bossed around by dominant personalities. On 26 February 2011, it was announced that Owen would take a temporary break from the show. The character exited on 19 July 2011, returning five months later on 13 December 2011. Ricky left EastEnders on 17 January 2012.^[4] Ricky returned to EastEnders on 20 June 2012 for the wedding of his sister, Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks), before departing for the final time on 29 June 2012.^[5] In April 2016 he had voiced his interest in returning to EastEnders during an appearance on Celebrity Juice.^[6] He reprised his role as Ricky for an eight-week stint from 1 December 2022 to 26 January 2023.^[7]