Christine Hewitt

**Christine Hewitt** (more commonly known as **Mrs. Hewitt**) was a customer who used Arthur Fowler's gardening services for a renovation on her garden, which subsequently led to them having an affair.

In February 1992, Christine innocently contacted Arthur asking him to renovate her garden. Arthur and his son, Mark Fowler, worked together on Christine's garden and rebuilt their fractured relationship in the process. After the renovation was complete, Christine told Arthur she would miss him and to visit in the summer to see how it was doing.

Then, when Arthur started interviewing for a gardener's assistant in April 1992, Christine was quick to turn up at Albert Square and ask him to give the job to her lazy son, Jonathan Hewitt. Arthur agreed and Jonathan was given a chance, but he did not last long, as just under a month later, he quit.

Arthur's wife, Pauline Fowler, flew out to New Zealand in June 1992 to look after her brother, Kenny Beale, who had been involved in a serious car accident. In Pauline's absence, Christine made regular appearances on the Square, getting ever closer to Arthur. Arthur was oblivious to Christine's intentions at first, but his brother-in-law, Pete Beale, saw straight through her and diverted her attention to him. It worked at first, and the pair went on a few date, but in August 1992 Christine confessed her love for Arthur. Arthur rejected her and she left, but later sent him a letter and photograph of her explaining her feelings. By December 1992 Arthur had fallen for Christine, and on Christmas Day, they slept together.

Their affair continued throughout 1993 and Christine bagged a job at Kathy Beale's bistro as a chef. Arthur continued to juggle Christine and Pauline in his life, until he was given an ultimatum in August by Christine: leave Pauline to be with her or have the affair exposed. Arthur told Pauline everything in September 1993 which resulted in her kicking him out of their family home. Desperate to make amends with his wife and children, Arthur decided not to have anything more to do with Christine, leaving her heartbroken. She left in October 1993 when Arthur left the Square indefinitely and her husband, Greg Hewitt, intended to take everything from her.

## Biography

### 1992-1993: An affair to remember

In February 1992, Christine contacted local Albert Square resident Arthur Fowler, who ran a gardening service, asking him to renovate her garden. Arthur delightfully agreed and headed on over with his son, Mark Fowler. Christine ensured that Arthur was well-fed whilst working for her, and her innocently flirtatious attitude resulted in a strong friendship developing between the pair. After her garden renovation was finished, Christine was saddened that she would not see Arthur again, and so invited him back in the summer of 1992 to see how it was looking then. Arthur agreed and proceeded to lose contact with her until April 1992, when she heard that he was employing a gardener's assistant and wanted her son, Jonathan Hewitt, to work for him. Arthur agreed to take Jonathan on, but he was lazy, and in May 1992 decided he would not be returning. It was down to Christine to break the news to Arthur, and so she agreed to step in and help him where she could.

In June 1992, Arthur's wife, Pauline Fowler, flew over to New Zealand to be with her brother, Kenny Beale, who had been involved in a serious car crash. Pauline's distance resulted in Christine making more frequent appearances on the Square, where her flirtatiousness towards Arthur increased. However, Arthur was oblivious to Christine's intentions at first, thinking she was just being overly friendly. Brother-in-law Pete Beale saw straight through Christine though, and diverted her attention over to him. The pair went on a few dates together, but nothing ever developed from it.

Christine was later left worried when, whilst working for Arthur, she accidentally undercharged a customer by £300. She made him a spaghetti bolognese to make up for the mistake, but Arthur did not mind, as he was able to correct the customer's invoice and receive the money anyway. Arthur's understanding attitude resulted in Christine kissing him on the Square garden benches. The kiss was innocently recorded by Jules Tavernier, who was trying out a camcorder Frank Butcher was flogging, and later played back in front of several residents. Arthur defended his and Christine's actions, insisting it was just a friendly kiss.

Christine admitted to Arthur in August 1992 that she had developed feelings for him and wanted to make a go of things, but when Arthur rejected her because of his loyalty to Pauline, she left heartbroken, and sent him a letter with a photograph of her explaining how she felt. Pauline later returned to the Square in September 1992 and got wind of the gossip about Christine's presence in her absence. She decided to confront both Arthur and Christine over the rumours, but was tricked into believing they were only ever friends.

Pauline's constant nagging and moodiness eventually drove Arthur completely into Christine's arms, and in December 1992, they ended up having sex. From there, Arthur's feelings for Christine overwhelmed him and he realised it was her he wanted. Christine got a job at Kathy Beale's new bistro as a chef in February 1993, which allowed her to be closer to Arthur. However, towards mid-1993, when she felt that Arthur was beginning to lose interest in her, she became manipulative. She faked a burglary in the middle of the night in order to get him over to hers, and would often phone him after a few drinks if he cancelled their plans together. Kathy later deciphered Arthur and Christine's affair and was left conflicted over whether she should tell Pauline or not. She ultimately chose not to say anything, but quickly became uncomfortable having the pair around her.

By August 1993, Christine grew tired of Arthur having to divide his loyalties and gave him an ultimatum at his 50th birthday party: run away with her and start a new life or have their affair exposed. Arthur planned to tell Pauline everything, but could not when their youngest son, Martin Fowler, fell ill and was rushed to hospital. Martin was released from hospital a few days' later so Christine gave Arthur one last chance to tell Pauline, or else she would. Arthur wrote a note for Pauline, but could not bring himself to complete it. He scrunched the note up but forgot to throw it away. Pauline later noticed the rumpled paper and, upon asking Arthur if she could throw it away, he confessed his affair. Pauline was mortified and hit Arthur with a frying pan before throwing him out of No.45 altogether.

Christine was thrilled Arthur was finally hers, but her happiness did not last long at all, as Arthur rapidly realised he could not throw away 28 years of marriage to Pauline and a family he had created just to be with a woman he had met a year earlier. By the end of September 1993, Arthur decided to leave the Square indefinitely because of the heartbreak he had caused. Christine was in disbelief when she learnt that Arthur had gone without saying goodbye to her, and was delivered one final blow by her husband, Greg Hewitt, who was suing her for a divorce and taking the house he promised she could have when they first split up. She left the Square herself, lonely and heartbroken, in October 1993.

## Other information

* Christine was often referred to in the show as "Mrs. Hewitt". This was also how character was always credited on-screen.
* Actress Elizabeth Power was initially only contracted to appear in five episodes, but then-producer Leonard Lewis phoned Elizabeth after her initial stint and asked her to reprise the role for a longer duration, without specifying that she would be a main player in Arthur and Pauline Fowler's affair storyline.
* The affair between Arthur Fowler and Christine Hewitt was dubbed 'Bonk of the Year' by several media outlets.

## First and last lines

"I was gonna sell, but..." (First line, to Arthur Fowler)

"I shall tell your father how you've spoken to me." (Final line, to Mark Fowler)