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Mo Harris
Mo Harris (also Porter, also known as Big Mo), is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, who made her first appearance on 18 September 2000, played by Laila Morse. Mo was also played by Lorraine Stanley in the 2004 spin-off, Pat and Mo, delving into her past with Pat Butcher (Pam St Clement/Emma Cooke).
Mo is a highly comical character and her tendency for dodgy deals bring much of the show's light entertainment. In July 2012, Morse's contract was not renewed, but she was not immediately written out of the series and continued to make occasional appearances until 21 January 2016. Mo's reintroduction was announced in December 2017 and she returned full-time on 16 March 2018. On 6 February 2021, it was announced that Morse would be leaving the role once again and she departed on 3 June 2021. On 28 June 2022, it was announced that Mo would return for a short stint later in the year. Mo returned on 10 August 2022 and departed on 14 September 2022. On 28 February 2024, it was confirmed that Mo would be making a permanent return to EastEnders alongside her great-grandson Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier); their return was broadcast on 20 May 2024.
In 2000, EastEnders' executive producer John Yorke decided to introduce the "classic" Slater family. He felt the show needed to go back to its roots and bring back some traditional values. BBC's head of drama, Mal Young commented, "We do not have enough solid families in the soap, there were a lot of fractured families and people who were alone." The family were created as a replacement for the di Marco family, who were axed by Yorke. The family consisted of, grandmother Mo (Laila Morse), father Charlie Slater (Derek Martin), his four children, Lynne Slater (Elaine Lordan), Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace), Little Mo Morgan (Kacey Ainsworth), Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan), as well as Lynne's boyfriend Garry Hobbs (Ricky Groves).
The character of Mo and the rest of the Slater family were created during workshops with Tony Jordan and John Yorke. London actors were invited to improvise in groups, and the characters were created during these improvisations. According to the BBC's head of drama series, Mal Young, the family was brought in as the serial did not "have enough solid families in the soap, there were a lot of fractured families and people who were alone." Laila Morse was cast as Mo, and made her first on-screen appearance on 18 September 2000. She was named "Arrival of the Year" by TV critic Ian Hyland in 2000.
Mo has been described as "a very strong person [who] loves the family [and] wouldn't have anything said about them" by Morse. She has been said to "hold the family together ... [acting] as a surrogate mum to her granddaughters". Her criminal activity has led to her being described as a "female Fagin or Del Boy"and the "queen of knock-off". Mo has also been described as a "tough cookie" and a "fighter". Another writer from The People said that Mo is "tough-talking".
She's come a cropper with the coppers over tax evasion but she shows no inclination to go straight. Mo loves a gossip, she's always up for a knees-up and never one to turn down a drink at the Vic... especially if someone else is paying. As the elder stateswoman of the Slater family, she's had her fair share of battles and she'll fight to the death to defend her girls. She's hard as nails and doesn't suffer fools gladly. Unless they cross her palm with silver – or any form of currency really.
— A description of Mo Harris from the BBC (2012)
Mo's main link to Albert Square, before her arrival, was her former sister-in-law Pat Butcher (Pam St Clement). There is animosity between the two as Pat believes that Mo cheated on her late brother, Jimmy Harris (Alex King) and still holds a grudge. On Mo's return to the square, she stokes the flames on her long-running argument with Pat, which began three decades earlier. Their backstory was further elaborated on in the spin off Soap "Bubble" Pat and Mo, set in the 1960s featuring a teenage Pat and Mo, played by Emma Cooke and Lorraine Stanley, respectively.
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Mo Harris
Mo Harris (also Porter, also known as Big Mo), is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, who made her first appearance on 18 September 2000, played by Laila Morse. Mo was also played by Lorraine Stanley in the 2004 spin-off, Pat and Mo, delving into her past with Pat Butcher (Pam St Clement/Emma Cooke).
Mo is a highly comical character and her tendency for dodgy deals bring much of the show's light entertainment. In July 2012, Morse's contract was not renewed, but she was not immediately written out of the series and continued to make occasional appearances until 21 January 2016. Mo's reintroduction was announced in December 2017 and she returned full-time on 16 March 2018. On 6 February 2021, it was announced that Morse would be leaving the role once again and she departed on 3 June 2021. On 28 June 2022, it was announced that Mo would return for a short stint later in the year. Mo returned on 10 August 2022 and departed on 14 September 2022. On 28 February 2024, it was confirmed that Mo would be making a permanent return to EastEnders alongside her great-grandson Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier); their return was broadcast on 20 May 2024.
In 2000, EastEnders' executive producer John Yorke decided to introduce the "classic" Slater family. He felt the show needed to go back to its roots and bring back some traditional values. BBC's head of drama, Mal Young commented, "We do not have enough solid families in the soap, there were a lot of fractured families and people who were alone." The family were created as a replacement for the di Marco family, who were axed by Yorke. The family consisted of, grandmother Mo (Laila Morse), father Charlie Slater (Derek Martin), his four children, Lynne Slater (Elaine Lordan), Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace), Little Mo Morgan (Kacey Ainsworth), Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan), as well as Lynne's boyfriend Garry Hobbs (Ricky Groves).
The character of Mo and the rest of the Slater family were created during workshops with Tony Jordan and John Yorke. London actors were invited to improvise in groups, and the characters were created during these improvisations. According to the BBC's head of drama series, Mal Young, the family was brought in as the serial did not "have enough solid families in the soap, there were a lot of fractured families and people who were alone." Laila Morse was cast as Mo, and made her first on-screen appearance on 18 September 2000. She was named "Arrival of the Year" by TV critic Ian Hyland in 2000.
Mo has been described as "a very strong person [who] loves the family [and] wouldn't have anything said about them" by Morse. She has been said to "hold the family together ... [acting] as a surrogate mum to her granddaughters". Her criminal activity has led to her being described as a "female Fagin or Del Boy"and the "queen of knock-off". Mo has also been described as a "tough cookie" and a "fighter". Another writer from The People said that Mo is "tough-talking".
She's come a cropper with the coppers over tax evasion but she shows no inclination to go straight. Mo loves a gossip, she's always up for a knees-up and never one to turn down a drink at the Vic... especially if someone else is paying. As the elder stateswoman of the Slater family, she's had her fair share of battles and she'll fight to the death to defend her girls. She's hard as nails and doesn't suffer fools gladly. Unless they cross her palm with silver – or any form of currency really.
— A description of Mo Harris from the BBC (2012)
Mo's main link to Albert Square, before her arrival, was her former sister-in-law Pat Butcher (Pam St Clement). There is animosity between the two as Pat believes that Mo cheated on her late brother, Jimmy Harris (Alex King) and still holds a grudge. On Mo's return to the square, she stokes the flames on her long-running argument with Pat, which began three decades earlier. Their backstory was further elaborated on in the spin off Soap "Bubble" Pat and Mo, set in the 1960s featuring a teenage Pat and Mo, played by Emma Cooke and Lorraine Stanley, respectively.