Original Vicki Fowler star looks totally different 21 years on from now re-cast EastEnders role
Vicki Fowler made a grand return to EastEnders this week – albeit with a new face, as Alice Haig took over the role from Scarlett Alice Johnson.
Vicki, who is the daughter of the legendary Michelle Fowler (Susan Tully) and Dirty Den Watts (Leslie Grantham), was born on screen in 1986.
One of the BBC soap’s biggest ever storylines was presented in a ‘whodunnit’ style, with viewers having to play armchair detective to work out who Vicki’s father was.
A number of locals were lined up to be the baby daddy, with it ultimately being revealed that Den had impregnated school girl Michelle – the best friend of his adoptive daughter Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean).
Child stars Emma Herry and Samantha Leigh Martin originated the role, before departing in 1995 to coincide with Michelle’s exit.
Eight years later, tearaway teen Vicki returned to Albert Square to live with her grandmother Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard), now portrayed by Scarlett.
She now looks worlds away from the character – having previously sported a short, dark brown pixie cut.
Recent pictures show that she has grown her hair longer, and is now a blonde.
At the time of her casting, then-producer Louise Berridge was on a mission to rebuild the Watts clan, and also introduced Nigel Harman as Den’s son Dennis.
She also brought the former landlord back from the dead, after he was supposedly shot and killed in 1989.
Scarlett’s Vicki spoke with a somewhat distinctive American accent, but viewers were quick to criticise her twang and after six months, it was dropped.
Speaking to BBC Beds, Herts and Bucks in 2004, she said: ‘The producers knew that I had to have an American accent when I came into the show because my character had been living in America but it’s not the kind of accent that you’d want to have for a long time on a show like EastEnders.
‘It’s not something that’s going to fit in for a long period of time.
‘What would have been perfect would have been to have it gradually fade out, but as you film eight episodes at a time, this would be nigh on impossible.
‘The decision was made that in the story Vicki was coming to terms with the fact that she wanted to live in London so therefore she was going to make a conscious effort to fit in with everyone around her and blend in with London life.’
After leaving the programme on Christmas Day in 2004, Scarlett has went on to star in a number of other TV shows and films.
She portrayed Lexi in the 2008 British teen crime drama film Adulthood, and PJ in E4 comedy drama Beaver Falls alongside Coronation Street alumni Sam Robertson, who plays Adam Barlow.
In 2012 she was cast in the lead role of Laura Derbyshire in BBC Three comedy Pramface, where she acted alongside Sean Michael Verey.
The two married in 2017, and went on to be Principal and Vice Principal of the Bethnal Green branch of the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts.
Following parts in Call the Midwife and The Good Karma Hospital, she was last on our screens in an episode of Casualty three years ago.
She was approached to reprise her role as Vicki, but gave her blessing for the recast.
A representative for the actress told Metro: ‘Scarlett was approached, and was flattered to be asked to return, but the timing wasn’t right for her to step back into the role.
‘She wishes Alice Haig and the show all the very best.’
