Who Did Jo Bacon Play In Eastenders

Okay, so you’ve heard the name Jo Bacon floating around in EastEnders conversations and you’re thinking: “Wait, is that a new café owner? A secret Branning cousin? Or maybe a very ambitious sausage vendor?” I love it. You’re curious, and that’s the first step to becoming a true Walford historian.

Let’s cut to the chase: Jo Bacon played Shirley Carter’s sister. Yep, that Shirley—the fierce, leather-jacket-wearing, pint-throwing matriarch of the Carter clan. But here’s the kicker: she didn’t play just any sister. She was a secret sister. Classic EastEnders, right?

So, who exactly was this mystery woman? Her character’s name was Babe Smith, though everyone in Albert Square called her Aunt Babe. And let me tell you, she was not the type of aunt who brings you cookies and a warm hug. She was the aunt who brings you drama, a side of manipulation, and maybe a poisoned cuppa for good measure.

The Wicked Aunt of Walford

When Jo Bacon walked onto the Square in 2013, she didn’t just arrive—she descended like a storm cloud in a floral blouse. Aunt Babe instantly became the villain we loved to hate. She worked at the Queen Vic, and she treated the place like her personal throne.

Her main mission? Control everyone. She bossed around poor Tina Carter, manipulated Shirley, and made little Johnny Carter’s life a misery. Honestly, she made Walford’s usual schemers look like amateur toddlers fighting over a biscuit. She wasn’t just a sister; she was a queen of chaos in a pinny.

But here’s where it gets wild. Aunt Babe had this long-running feud with Shirley that went back decades. Why? Because Babe convinced their abusive mother to keep Shirley away from the family. Think about that—she literally played the role of “sister who ruined your life” with a smile. Yikes.

A Villain with Layers (and a Dastardly Handbag)

Now, you might think a villain who runs a pub kitchen and wears sensible shoes would be boring. No chance. Jo Bacon brought a special kind of spiteful energy to Aunt Babe. She could turn a simple sentence like “Would you like another cuppa?” into a threat that made your spine tingle. It was art.

Joanna Bacon, Actress Known for 'Love Actually' and 'EastEnders

Her biggest scheme? She tried to steal Mick Carter’s pub. Oh, and she also poisoned her own niece! Yeah, she wasn’t messing around. She gave poor Sylvie Carter, her own sister, a lace that caused a stroke. That’s not “bad aunt” behavior—that’s supervillain behavior with a side of Sunday roast.

Yet, somehow, Jo Bacon made it all fun. You couldn’t help but giggle at her dramatic exits and her ability to stir trouble like a master chef stirs soup. She was the kind of character you’d yell at through the telly, but secretly miss when she was gone. And gone she went, in 2017, when her scheming finally caught up with her. Poof—off to the “Aunt Babe Farm Upstate,” we assume.

So, Why Does Any of This Matter?

Because Jo Bacon showed us that you don’t need to be a headline-grabbing villain like Janine Butcher to make an impact. Sometimes, the best villains are the ones who serve you tea with a side of emotional sabotage. She was memorable, frustrating, and absolutely essential to the Carter family drama.

Plus, her name is Jo Bacon. Come on—that’s a name that sounds like she’s either a butcher’s apprentice or a rock star’s backup dancer. It’s impossible to forget. And in a show full of Mitchells and Beales, that’s a superpower.

EastEnders and Love Actually legend dies at the age of 72 following

What We Learned

If you ever meet a character named Aunt Babe in a soap opera, run. If you meet a character played by Jo Bacon, grab your popcorn. She delivered drama with a capital D, and she did it while looking like she just popped in from a village fête.

Also, we learned that family is complicated. Shirley and Babe’s story is a messy, heartbreaking, and occasionally hilarious reminder that people can be terrible—but also that we should never, ever trust an aunt who talks about “helping” while holding a kettle. Ever.

An Uplifting End (Because You Deserve It)

So, the next time someone brings up Jo Bacon, you can nod wisely and say, “Ah yes, the mastermind behind the Carter family’s tears.” And you’ll be right. She played the perfect soap villain—the kind you love to hate, and hate to love.

But here’s the good news: Jo Bacon herself is clearly a wonderful human being, because she played such a nasty character so brilliantly. She’s out there, probably laughing at us all while drinking a real cuppa, not a poisoned one. And honestly? That’s a happy ending.

So go on, share this fact with your mates at the pub. Be the hero who knows the secret of Aunt Babe. And remember: in the wild world of EastEnders, even the most villainous bacon can leave a tasty, smile-inducing memory. Cheers to that.