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Gracie Braden

Played by Ruth Gemmell

GRACIE BRADEN: born 1906 in Islington, the illegitimate daughter of a factory owner, whose wife she worked for as a char. Despite this she is a trusting soul who would do anything for her family. No matter what they may have done, she'd be there for them just because they were family. She's torn over the conflicts within her family, especially her son Jack's discord with Billy Hill. But Billy is just as much family to her and she can see no wrong in him. He bought her the house she was renting as a bit of security for when she gets old.

All my kids are good-looking.
Gracie Braden

Gracie has no notion of her deceased husband having abused her two daughters, nor thatCath did him in, or that Billy sometimes carries on with Cath. Gracie wants everything to be well with her family and is distressed when the army claim Jack and he ends up in the Colchester 'glasshouse' with no word from him. This sees the start of her decline in health, which isn't helped by Cath and Joey constantly scrabbling after money.