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EastEnders' Cleo Refuses Joel, Forces Ross Marriage Choice

7/15/2026

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Summary

Story summary

EastEnders will introduce the character Cleo, played by Mazz Murray, on 15 July.
Cleo tells Ross Marshall and Vicki Fowler that she will not look after their son Joel.
Ross, who married Vicki on their honeymoon, must now decide whether to keep Joel or preserve his marriage.
Mazz Murray previously appeared as Miranda in 2004 and Julie in 2017.
Joel returns after being released from a young offender’s institute.

History

Historical Context

When the BBC debuted EastEnders on 19 February 1985, Julia Smith and Tony Holland’s new soap drew about 17 million viewers and quickly became Britain’s top drama, establishing a model of gritty, family-focused storytelling. Decades of high ratings and frequent recasting—now seen in 2024 with Mazz Murray joining as Cleo—have kept the series a benchmark for UK soaps.

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Story summary

EastEnders will introduce the character Cleo, played by Mazz Murray, on 15 July.
Cleo tells Ross Marshall and Vicki Fowler that she will not look after their son Joel.
Ross, who married Vicki on their honeymoon, must now decide whether to keep Joel or preserve his marriage.
Mazz Murray previously appeared as Miranda in 2004 and Julie in 2017.
Joel returns after being released from a young offender’s institute.

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