Eastenders' hero dogs and their heartbreaking deaths after being axed

As fans of EastEnders reminisce over more than four decades of drama in Albert Square, much attention has been given to the original 1985 cast. This group of actors played a crucial role in

launching what would become one of the UK's most iconic television programmes. The human stars of the show, many of whom are no longer part of the soap, grounded the programme in

gritty, working-class realism. Their storylines often revolved around intricate family struggles and societal tensions. However, amidst the soap's complex web of secrets, betrayals, and

familial disputes, two non-human characters played significant roles in the earliest episodes: Roly the poodle and Willy the pug, reports Surrey Live. HERE'S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO

KNOW ABOUT THESE ICONIC EASTENDERS DOGS: ROLY Roly wasn't initially intended to be part of the show. The producers were originally looking for a German Shepherd named Prince, but when

they couldn't find one that suited the set's lighting, a seven-month-old standard poodle was brought in. Roly quickly became the cherished pet of Den and Angie Watts. From the very

first episode in 1985, he was a familiar sight (or should that be tail?) darting around the Queen Vic. While Den and Angie often neglected their daughter Sharon, they found solace in Roly.

But Roly was more than just a background character - he was involved in key storylines and even saved lives. In 1987, Roly was the first to discover Pat Wicks after she was attacked by the

infamous Walford Ripper. A year on, he was instrumental in saving Eddie Royle, barking incessantly until someone found Eddie after he'd been stabbed and left for dead. Perhaps

Roly's most memorable moment was tied to the show's first major mystery - the identity of teenage Michelle Fowler's baby's father. After keeping it a secret for months,

Michelle arranged a private meeting with the unknown man by a canal. However, as she neared the car, Roly jumped out, revealing that the father was none other than Den Watts - the adoptive

dad of her best mate, Sharon. Roly stayed on EastEnders until 1993 when his character met an untimely end, being run over while chasing a cat. In reality, Roly was owned by EastEnders

co-creator Julia Smith and sadly passed away in 1995 following surgery to treat breathing problems caused by a heatwave. He had been retired for two years before his death. WILLY Willy, the

cheeky pug owned by Ethel Skinner, was cast just a week before filming started - much like Roly - and rapidly became one of the soap's most recognisable animal characters. Initially

named Phillip in early scripts, Willy was pampered, gluttonous, and often found himself in sticky situations. He once nicked the Fowler family's Christmas turkey and had a knack for

wrecking pavements, much to Dr. Legg's dismay. Nonetheless, Ethel cherished him - her affection for Willy was so strong that she rejected two marriage proposals from men who insisted

she choose between them and her beloved dog. In one plot twist, Willy escaped and was sold to a new owner by a pet shop, who renamed him Rasputin. It was only due to Lou Beale's

intervention that Willy was eventually returned to Ethel. Willy stayed in the series until 1992 when his character was put to sleep due to old age. In a twist of fate, the actual dog passed

away just two weeks later. Prior to his role in EastEnders, Willy had already established himself in the acting world, portraying William the pug in the 1984 BBC adaptation of Swallows and

Amazons Forever! based on the cherished books by Arthur Ransome.