EastEnders created the Beale and Fowler family, drawing on his own background. His mother, Ethel Holland, was one of four sisters raised in Walthamstow. Her eldest sister, Lou, had married a man named Albert Beale and had two children, named Peter and Pauline. These family members were the basis for Lou Beale, Pete Beale and Pauline Fowler. Holland also created Pauline's unemployed husband Arthur Fowler, their children Mark Fowler and Michelle Fowler, Pete's wife Kathy Beale and their son Ian Beale. Smith used her personal memories of East End residents she met when researching Victorian squares. Ethel Skinner was based on
Mary Flaherty (EastEnders) on holiday in Norfolk and then gets involved with Matthew Rose (Joe Absolom) and Robbie Jackson (Dean Gaffney), before leaving Walford with her father, Conor, and his pregnant lover, Mark's wife Ruth Fowler (Caroline Paterson). They now live in Scotland. It was announced in July 1997 that Pauline Fowler's (Wendy Richard) long lost family were to be introduced into "EastEnders". Melanie Clark Pullen secured the role and made her first appearance on 22 September 1997. There were hints that the character would move to Albert Square in the future, which is what ultimately happened. Richie Taylor of the "Daily Mirror"