The Firm (EastEnders)

The Firm is a fictional gangland organisation in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, probably inspired by the notorious real-life criminal gang run by the Krays.

Related Topics:
BBC - Soap opera - EastEnders - Krays

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The Firm, aka "Walford Investments", was first introduced to the show in 1988, and was represented by the sharp-suited Gregory Mantel, the lackeys Brad and Joanne, and the elusive boss Mr. Vinnicombe.

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The Firm owned Strokes wine bar, a front for illegal gambling, which was reluctantly managed by Den Watts. It was thought by Mantel that Den, a well-known local publican, would not attract any suspicion to the illegal goings-on at the bar.

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The Firm was also responsible for a protection racket involving the bar's rival, The Dagmar, which they then financially ruined.

Related Topics:
Protection racket - The Dagmar

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When Den wanted revenge on The Dagmar's owner for personal reasons, he persuaded The Firm's Brad Williams to burn the place to the ground. This enraged The Firm's bosses, as it drew attention to the gambling going on at Strokes.

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Den was forced to take the blame for the Dagmar fire, and was remanded in custody, awaiting trial. The Firm wanted Den out of the way permanently, and so they captured him on the way to his trial with the intention of killing him. Den, with Brad's help, managed to escape, but was tracked down to the Walford canal. The Firm shot Den with a gun hidden in a bunch of Daffodils, however he survived and went on the run to Spain.

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The Firm later discovered this, and Vinnicombe was killed and his body was dumped in the canal. This body was later recovered, then wrongly identified and buried as Den.

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The Firm was reintroduced in 2003, and was represented by Andy Hunter, Dennis Rickman, and the boss, Jack Dalton, who was said to have usurped control of The Firm from Vinnicombe. It was Dalton who had then had Vinnicombe killed for failing to kill Den.

Related Topics:
Andy Hunter - Dennis Rickman - Jack Dalton

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Dalton was later killed by Dennis, allowing Den Watts to return from his 14-year exile, and Andy to assume control of The Firm. This was until Andy lost his position for being a "soft touch", and was thrown out of a moving car onto the doorstep of the Queen Vic. Andy was subsequently killed by Johnny Allen when Andy tried to double-cross him on a deal.

Related Topics:
Queen Vic - Johnny Allen

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