Ruth Crass

Ruth Crass is a fictional character from the BBC children's soap opera, MineEnders, played by Katie Gordon. Her first appearance was on 11 March 2019. She has been the centre of many starring storylines such as her pregnancy with the daughter of Darren Targ (Carl Burns), feuds with former best friend Eva Gredderson (Ala Gajewska) and Vicki Tavernier (Scarlett Alice Johnson), struggling with family life and disapproving of relationships of her brother Jack (Anthony Cassidy) and sister Sonia (Georgia Gordon).

Storylines
Ruth is the eldest sibling in the Crass family and has been acting guardian to her younger siblings Jack and Sonia since their parents Nathaniel and Megan Crass were killed. In March 2019, she becomes owner of the local garage, The Vault. Ruth had returned from being a paratrooper in the Army involved in the Iraq War. She befriends Eva Gredderson (Ala Gajewska) when she returns from Ireland working in the police force. She also befriends Darren Targ (Carl Burns) who is dating Eva. Jealous, she kisses him on the night before New Year's Eve and they are caught by Eva, leaving her heartbroken and devastated. This created a long-running feud between her and Eva for a relationship with him. One night in August, Darren walks in the pub after closing and the two women see this as an opportunity to get him back. When it reaches boiling point, Ruth reveals she is pregnant with Darren's child, leaving Eva and Darren sunken and mortified. Darren finally states to Ruth and Eva that he doesn't want either of them. Furious, Ruth locks up Darren in his bedroom upon hearing this, whilst feeling heartbroken and down inside.

Fiercely protective of her siblings, she puts Eva in hospital after her sister Sonia (Georgia Gordon) seems to be opening her heart to her; she later becomes prime suspect for Gredderson's murder, but Darren eventually owns up to the crime in December. In the wake of this, Ruth decides to re-enlist in the army, but is rejected when she fails their psychiatric tests. In the meantime, Ruth is saddened to realise what Darren has done and how he was free on Blocktura's streets that night. The shock weakens her into early labour and her daughter Jessica is born in October 2020, assisted by Eddie Royle (Michael Melia) and Eibhlin Royle (Mary Conlon).

Ruth struggles with family life, and eventually enlists the help of new resident Vicki Tavernier (Scarlett Alice Johnson). They become frustrated with each other as they disagree on each other's views on parenting and begin a feud. With reassurance from her siblings, Ruth finally takes Vicki's advice and admits her foolishness and dismissiveness to her.