The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the BBC soap opera EastEnders in 1986, by order of first appearance. All characters were introduced by the show's co-creator Julia Smith. The first character to be introduced during the year is (Dave Dale), a drag queen hired for The Queen Victoria pub. (Jane How), the long-term mistress of Den Watts (Leslie Grantham), was introduced in January. March sees the first appearances of The Firm mobster (Jonathan Stratt), Dot Cotton's (June Brown) husband Charlie Cotton (Christopher Hancock) and new brewery area manager (William Boyde). The newborn daughter of Michelle Fowler (Susan Tully), (Emma Herry), was introduced in May. Judith Jacob and Pam St. Clement made their debuts as health visitor and Pat Butcher, the former wife of