We love our Mo (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
EastEnders fans have been shocked to discover the true age of one of its most iconic characters.
Mo Harris, played by the brilliant Laila Morse, was introduced as the grandmother of the Slater clan back in 2000. She’s probably best known for her dodgy get-rich-quick schemes and cheeky jibes at family and friends.
She continued in the role until 2012, when her contract as a regular cast member wasn’t renewed, though made guest appearances for the next four years.
Since then, Mo’s made two returns for longer stints – the most of recent of these kicked off earlier in the year alongside great grandson Freddie (Bobby Brazier).
We later saw her form a relationship with Stevie Mitchell (Alan Ford), and briefly adopt herself into his family. Iconic.
She’s been in EastEnders for almost 25 years (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
More recently we saw her form a relationship with Stevie Mitchell (Picture: BBC/Calum McCarron)
However, there’s one thing puzzling soap viewers – and it’s the fact that Big Mo is pushing 90 years of age!
The character was born on 18th February 1936, though actress Laila is nine years her junior, having been born in 1945.
What fans may not realise is that she was aged-up to accommodate Derek Martin’s casting as her son-in-law Charlie. Derek was born in 1933, but it was decided to make him four years younger than Mo.
It also helped to cement her youth spent as Pat Butcher’s (Pam St. Clement) best mate in a 2004 spin-off. Years before her time spent as Karen Taylor, future star Lorraine Stanley played a younger version of Mo.
Fans couldn’t believe that Mo is 88, despite Laila only being 79 (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
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When someone pointed out the anomaly on forum site Reddit, fans were quick to flood in with their disbelief over her age.
‘I know right! She doesn’t look it at all! Also I love Mo, she’s so funny. I hope she doesn’t leave again’ said one.
Another added: ‘She plays 10 years older, and June Brown played 10 years younger, which meant Mo and Dot were supposed to be the same age’, with another reflecting: ‘Back around 2010 or so there was a scene where Dot and Mo reminisced about living through the blitz. Laila Morse wasn’t even born until just after the war was over.’
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It’s not a conversation about Laila Morse without someone mentioning her incredibly …read more
Source:: Metro
