Viewers had to grab a box of tissues when Albert Square gave an honourable send-off to the original EastEnd geezer.

Mike Reid's death forever ended the hope that he would one day return to Walford as Frank Butcher. However, the show paid tribute via the on-screen death of the car dealer.

The cockney rogue was a schemer and in Peggy Mitchell's eyes a big fake. But he always had a deep love for Pat Butcher. His best moment had to be when he opened the door naked to Pat while on holiday in Spain, wearing nothing but a spinning bow tie.