EastEnders news: Who was Mary the Punk? Which character did Sharon Mitchell reference?
EASTENDERS viewers had to double-take yesterday when Sharon Mitchell referenced a long-lost soap character from the eighties after Louise Mitchell started sporting a new style of make-up.
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Long time EastEnders fans witnessed a blast from the past yesterday.
The episode saw Louise (played by Tilly Keeper) trying out a darker-eyed look, and showing it off to Sharon (Letitia Dean).
“This is how the girls at school wear it,” she said. “I was just trying it out.”
Amused by this, Sharon made an off-handed comment saying that she looked like Mary the Punk.
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Although it may have seemed like a strange phrase to most, die-hard EastEnders fans were gobsmacked at the mention of the classic character.
One fan said: "Mary the Punk mention! Love it! #EastEnders.”
While another added: “Loving that reference to Mary the Punk tonight. Am I the only one who remembers her? #EastEnders."
Another wrote: “Slightly random call back to Mary the punk in #EastEnders tonight.”
EastEnders: Louise was told she looked like Mary the Punk
Mary the Punk mention! Love it! #EastEnders
Feeling nostalgic, another fan commented: “And a Mary the Punk mention from Sharon brought back Walford memories #Eastenders.”
Mary the Punk was Walford’s original rebel, and was played by Linda Davidson.
She appeared on the soap from 1985, to 1988.
The character was involved in prostitution, unemployment, drugs, and eventually a story which saw her child getting taken away by social services.
EastEnders: Sharon referenced the classic character, much to viewers pleasure
Canadian born Linda, 53, British actress has also appeared on other TV shows, including The Bill and Casualty.
Since her short stint in acting, Linda has focussed on digital media, and has been put in charge of the BBC’s drama websites, including the EastEnders site.
She also worked as the editor of E4 Interactive in the 2000s.
EastEnders continues tomorrow at 8pm on BBC One.