List of East Enders Characters (1992) - Andonis Papadopolous

Andonis Papadopolous, played by Lee Warner and known commonly as Mr. Papadopolous, is the owner of the launderette on Bridge Street. In a long-running joke, employee Dot Branning (June Brown) has difficulty pronouncing his surname, and for much of the show's history he has been referred to as Mr. Oppodopolus, Oppydoppy, Olopolopous or varying other mispronunciations; some of which are used by other characters, including Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter) who calls him Mr. P. Andonis. He is not the original owner of the launderette. From the show's inception until May 1992 the property is owned by his father, until he dies while holidaying in his native Athens. The character is of Greek descent, but the Papadopouloses are apparently based in Walthamstow, East London. Andonis makes his first appearance in May 1992, when he comes to Walford to assess the business following his father's death. Dot notices him taking a keen interest in the launderette and fears he is a murderer. She spends several days in a terrified state until Andonis makes a formal introduction the following episode, revealing his first name. He makes several alterations to the way the business is managed, much to Dot's dismay.

Over the next two years he shows up in Walford occasionally. He is featured in the programme's 1,000th episode on 12 July 1994, where he discovers that his employee, Carol Jackson (Lindsey Coulson), is faking an illness in order to get out of work. Carol is actually attending the wedding of Nigel (Paul Bradley) and Debbie Bates (Nicola Duffett), which Andonis witnesses. The following day he fires Carol as well as long-time employee, Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard), who had been covering up for her. He employs a relative to work in their place, but the launderette falls into chaos, so both are eventually offered their jobs back. Pauline makes him grovel before accepting and manages to get a 75 pence per hour payrise. This is Mr. Papadopolous' last credited appearance to date, though he is still mentioned often in the programme. He returns on 10 August 2009, although his face is not seen on screen, he does not speak and he is not named in the credits. He arrives at the launderette looking for Dot, and later finds her at her house, giving her a parcel. In 2012, Mr. Papadopolous' nephew, Nico Papadopoulos (Aykut Hilmi), makes an appearance as the manager of a local fast food restaurant.