In July 2023, it was announced that Stanley had been axed from the soap by executive producer Chris Clenshaw, with her departure being depicted in episode 6816, which aired on 8 December 2023. Karen briefly returns for a short stint between 5 and 8 February 2024, and for two episodes broadcast on 13 and 17 June 2024.
This was the third role Stanley had portrayed on EastEnders, having played Mo Harris in the 2004 spin-off special EastEnders: Pat & Mo and pub landlady Thelma Bragg in 2016.[2] Stanley's portrayal of Karen has received a positive response from audience and critics, with Stanley winning Best Newcomer at the British Soap Awards in 2018.[3]
Storylines
Karen arrives in Walford with her children Keanu (Danny Walters), Bernadette (Clair Norris) Riley (Tom Jacobs) and Chatham (Alfie Jacobs), joining her son Keegan Baker (Zack Morris). Karen introduces herself to some of the neighbours, who are appalled by the family's rowdy behaviour. The family move in above Ted (Christopher Timothy) and Joyce Murray (Maggie Steed), who are especially unhappy to discover the Taylors are living above them, as Karen caused their friend to suffer a nervous breakdown when they were previously neighbours in Walford Towers. Denise Fox (Diane Parish) tries to make peace with Karen over her altercation with Keegan a few months previously, but Karen threatens violence against her if it happens again.
Bernadette complains of being ill and is revealed to be pregnant. Karen pleads with Dr. Natasha Black (Rachel Bavidge) not to inform social services, and tells Bernadette that keeping the baby it is her own choice, but worries about how the family will afford to raise another child. Keanu later finds out that the father is in Bernadette's year at school, to Karen's relief. Bernadette goes onto suffer a miscarriage after being caught in a gas explosion, to the devistation of herself, Karen, and Keanu. At a memorial speaking for the baby, its father Callum (Shaun Aylward) arrives and reveals they would have named the baby Belle. When Riley and Chatham return home, they ask questions about the baby, and Shirley Carter (Linda Henry) comforts Karen when she breaks down.
Karen's financial struggles prevail, so, desperate for cash, decides to pawn a wedding ring that she has kept. Keanu tries to convince her not to, as it had belonged to his grandmother. The Taylors' belongings are removed by bailiffs due to Karen failing to repay loans, but they can get them back the next day if they can raise £1000, so Karen and Bernadette go to visit Karen's sister, Kandice Taylor (Hannah Spearritt). Kandice agrees to loan them the money, but when Karen begins arguing with her, Kandice changes her mind. Bernadette meets up with Kandice and emotionally pleads with Kandice to help, but she apologetically refuses to and when the bailiffs are due to visit, Kandice turns up with the money. After bickering again and Karen throwing the money back, Karen and Kandice make up.
In 2018, Karen's ex-boyfriend and the father of Keegan, Mitch Baker (Roger Griffiths), arrives on Albert Square, and he is warned away from the family by Keanu, but he later returns and he shouts for Karen and Keegan at the flat, but Keanu punches him. Mitch flirts with Karen at the launderette whilst she is working and when Karen brings Mitch home, Keegan, Keanu and Bernadette do not want Mitch's presence, but Karen later sneaks him into the flat. Keanu is disgusted with Karen for letting Mitch stay the night and Mitch brings up Keanu's father. Karen attempts to reluctantly talk to Keanu about his father, but she fails and talks to Mitch about her being stabbed by Keanu's father in the past. Karen considers re-conciliating with Mitch, but she discovers that he has a pregnant girlfriend. Karen breaks up with Mitch and he leaves Walford.
Mitch returns to Walford with his daughter Bailey Baker (Kara-Leah Fernandes), wanting Bailey to live with the Taylors as her terminally ill mother, Dinah Wilson (Anjela Lauren Smith), is due to die from multiple sclerosis. Karen cannot let Bailey live with her due to little space, but agrees to help Bailey and her mother. However, she agrees to let Bailey live with her when her mother dies. Louise's father, Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), sends Keanu to Spain to help him look after his business, but Karen worries after not speaking to Keanu for several weeks and blackmails Sharon to tell Phil to bring Keanu back to Walford, otherwise she will expose their affair. Meanwhile, Keegan's drug addiction is exposed when he almost overdoses, and Karen calls the police on his supplier, Tiffany Butcher (Maisie Smith) but drops the charges when she discovers that Mitch knew about Keegan's addiction.
Karen and Mitch's daughter Chantelle Atkins (Jessica Plummer), joined by her husband Gray (Toby-Alexander Smith) and two children Mia (Mahalia Malcolm) and Mackenzie (Isaac Lemonius), arrives in Walford to work as a hairdresser. During celebratory drinks in The Queen Victoriapublic house, Chantelle bumps into Mitch, who she has not seen for a long time. Chantelle later meets Karen and reconnects with her family after moving into 1 Albert Square. After it transpires that Gray had been abusing Chantelle and murdered her in September 2020, Karen is distraught as she had only reconnected with her the year prior. She maintains an on-off relationship with Mitch during 2020 and 2021, and they often step in to look after their grandchildren and Chantelle's kids before they discover Gray was responsible for Chantelle's murder in March 2022, with Karen helping the police incarcerate him.
After a disagreement on the future of their son Albie Watts (Arthur Gentleman), Keanu kidnaps Albie from Sharon, but decides he cannot go through with it and calls Karen. Keanu tells Karen to hide Albie at her Kandice's house. Keanu claims to Sharon that Albie was abducted when he turned his back. In order to cover his tracks, Keanu posts a ransom note through Sharon's door demanding £50,000 in exchange for Albie to be returned. Phil lends Sharon the money for Albie, and Keanu convinces Sharon to arrange for Karen to drop off the ransom money to the false abductors, to which Sharon agrees. Karen then retrieves Albie. Two weeks later, Keanu tries to get the money from Karen but both are caught by Mitch and they admit to Albie's kidnap, leaving Mitch disgusted. When the scheme is exposed, Sharon slaps Karen and Phil vows revenge on the Taylors for taking his money. Karen then flees Walford for Spain in December 2023 with the money, Mitch, Bailey, Mia, and Mackenzie.
Karen returns in February 2024, claiming to have not heard from Keanu in months. She aggressively interrogates the residents for answers, to no avail, despite some acting suspiciously. She is convinced to leave by Bernadette. After hearing that Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo) had been arrested for Keanu's murder, Karen returns in June 2024 for Keanu's funeral. Karen is unaware that Keanu was in fact murdered by Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), with Sharon, Kathy Cotton (Gillian Taylforth), Denise Fox (Diane Parish), Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), and Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal) all assisting in covering up his murder.
Development
Introduction and characterisation
Karen and the Taylors were created by writer Daran Little, and their arrival was announced in May 2017.[1] They were introduced as a "noisy" family which would have "explosive" storylines that would make "quite an entrance".[4][5] Executive producer Sean O'Connor was excited to introduce the family, describing them as "noisy, brash and not to be messed with".[4][6] He described Karen in particular as a "twenty-a-day lioness, bringing up her kids with no support, no money and a very loud mouth", although noted that while she comes across as a "fierce woman who won't hear a bad word said about her family", those close to her learn that she can also be "kind-hearted and loyal".[4][5][6] Stanley later went on to admit that the idea for their introduction was to make them seem like nightmarish neighbours, and for viewers to warm up to them later, commenting that "Karen would do anything for her family" and suggesting that she was the show's best mother.[7] When talking about joining EastEnders, Stanley commented: "I'm chuffed to be cast in such an iconic show that I've grown up watching. Working with my new family is really quite special, and I'm proud to play their mum".[4][8]
"I think she’s a friendly, loving person, but she’s got a mouth on her and if people don’t like her, then they don’t like her. But she’s a people person and she really tries to get to know her neighbours. She stands outside her door, having a fag and comments on what’s going on. Introducing herself to all the people that pass by, so I think she’s friendly and outgoing, but whether people like her or not is a different matter!"
—Lorraine Stanley, portrayer of Karen, discussing her character.[9][10]
Karen is the third role Stanley has portrayed on EastEnders, as she portrayed a younger Mo Harris in the 2004 spin-off EastEnders: Pat and Mo and pub landlady Thelma Bragg in 2016.[5][11][12] Despite initial doubts, Stanley believed her previous time on EastEnders helped her gain the role of Karen, as she had formed a friendship with casting director Julia Crampsie.[10][11] She was called in to audition for Karen after success playing Thelma, and was given brief details on the character, but knew she would be the head of a new family.[11] Stanley described the auditioning process positively, saying "I had a really good audition and I love the show's casting director, Julia Crampsie, because she's always had my back".[10] On her casting, Stanley said "I thought it would be weird for me to play another character, but the character was perfect for me".[11]Emma Barton was a mentor for Stanley on-set.[10] When asked about Karen's type in men, Stanley responded that her character "likes a bad boy".[7]
Stanley explained that a backstory for the Taylor family is that they lived on an estate that was being knocked down, so moved into social housing in Albert Square.[10] Karen, alongside her children Keanu (Danny Walters), Bernadette (Clair Norris), Riley (Tom Jacobs) and Chatham (Alfie Jacobs) made their first appearances on 15 June 2017.[13]
Departure
In July 2023, a decision to axe Karen was reached by producers, as they decided the character had reached the end of the road. A source told The Sun: "It's always a tough call for bosses when deciding which characters will leave the soap, but it has to be done to keep storylines fresh and create new arcs for characters. Lorraine had a great run on the soap and was a real scene stealer with her comic timing and she has certainly made her mark with fans".[2] She was set to depart in dramatic fashion in late 2023.[2]
When talking about Karen's departure, Chris Clenshaw said "You know, we're currently staying quite tight-lipped on the exact circumstances leading to Karen's exit. The Taylors have been a fantastic addition to the show since their introduction, which I think was about six years ago now, but what I can say is that, yeah, Karen's exit will be full of drama, in true EastEnders fashion, and yeah, there will be some twists and turns that I don't think viewers will expect".[14] When talking about her departure, Stanley said "Thank you to [writer] Daran Little for creating the Taylors and to the BBC for giving me the opportunity to play such a fabulous character".[15] Karen left the show alongside Mitch Baker (Roger Griffiths), Bailey Baker (Kara-Leah Fernandes), Mia Atkins (Mahalia Malcolm) and Mackenzie Atkins (Isaac Lemonius), of these characters, Karen's exit was the only one that was announced beforehand.[1]
Guest stints
In January 2024, it was announced that Karen would briefly return to the show after Keanu's death, only a few weeks after her exit, returning in February 2024.[15] Details later included Karen attempting to solve where Keanu had disappeared to and aggressively interrogating the locals.[16] In April 2024 it was announced that Stanley would return for another guest stint after Keanu's body was uncovered.[17][18]
Reception
Stanley received the Best Newcomer award at the 2018 British Soap Awards for her portrayal of Karen.[19] That year, she was also nominated at the Inside Soap Awards for Funniest Female.[20] She earned her second Funniest Female nomination and was nominated in the Best Actress category at the 2019 Inside Soap Awards, winning the former.[21][22] Stanley also received a Best Actress nomination at the British Soap Awards and Best Soap Actress nomination at the TV Choice Awards, both in 2019.[23] In 2019, Gary Gillatt of Inside Soap labelled Karen's character a "bullseye", describing it as "wonderful" how Karen had become, in his words, "the absolute heart of EastEnders" and "the axis about which the show revolves", adding that the show's creators Julia Smith and Tony Holland "would have approved".[24] Gillatt later opined that "no one pulls focus on a scene like Karen Taylor".[25] Daran Little said that, on her exit, Lorraine Stanley "put the flesh on her bones and made her brilliantly whole. Was very sad to write her exit but wow, does Lorraine deliver!! A five star heart wrenching performance".[1] In 2023, Lewis Knight of Radio Times called the character a "staple" in Walford since her arrival.[2] Following her character's exit, Stanley said she felt "overwhelmed" by positive messages from fans.[26]
Sharon Watts is a fictional character from the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, played by Letitia Dean. Sharon was one of EastEnders' original characters conceptualised by creators Tony Holland and Julia Smith. She first appeared in the first episode broadcast on 19 February 1985 as the teenage adopted daughter of pub landlords Den and Angie Watts. Dean originally quit the role in 1995 after ten years, with Sharon departing following the breakdown of her marriage. In May 2001, Sharon was reintroduced by producer John Yorke, before departing in January 2006. Dean's return was announced in February 2012, and she later made her on-screen return on 13 August 2012 in a special week of episodes. Dean took a temporary break from the show and departed on 9 January 2024, and Sharon returned on 1 April 2024.
The Queen Victoria is the Victorian public house in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders. It has the fictional address of 46 Albert Square, Walford, London E20.
Melanie "Mel" Owen is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Tamzin Outhwaite. Mel was introduced by executive producer Matthew Robinson and made her first appearance on 19 October 1998. Outhwaite made her departure on 12 April 2002. Outhwaite's return to the series was announced in October 2017 and she returned on 9 January 2018. The actress chose to leave the soap again in July 2019 and her final episode aired on 14 November 2019 when Mel was killed-off. Outhwaite proved popular in the role, winning multiple awards and critical acclaim for her portrayal of Mel as the character became prominent in the show.
Denise Fox is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Diane Parish. She made her first appearance on 11 May 2006 and temporarily left EastEnders in early 2008 to give birth to her second child. Her leave-taking had coincided with the departures of Matt Di Angelo, Phil Daniels and Kellie Shirley. She returned to Walford on 6 June 2008. This is Parish's second role in EastEnders, as she previously played singer Lola Christie in 1998.
Chelsea Fox is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Tiana Benjamin from 2006 to 2010, and then Zaraah Abrahams from 2020 onwards. Benjamin was cast in the role and she left her role in the Harry Potter film series to appear in the soap; she made her first appearance as Chelsea in episode 3147, broadcast on 5 May 2006, when she is introduced as part of the all-female Fox family alongside her mother, Denise Fox, and half-sister, Libby Fox. Benjamin announced her departure from the show in April 2010, and she left in episode 4047, broadcast on 5 August 2010. In October 2020, the character's return was announced alongside Abrahams' casting. Chelsea returns in episode 6188/6189, broadcast on 25 December 2020.
Shirley Carter is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Linda Henry. She first appeared on 7 December 2006, during episodes set in Dorset. This is Henry's second role in EastEnders, as she previously played prostitute Lorraine Salter (1991–1992). Henry took a break from the show on 7 September 2012, before returning on 3 December 2012. On 29 December 2022, Henry took an extended break from the show, with Shirley hoped to return at some point in the future. However, there is currently no confirmed date for her return.
Tiffany Butcher-Baker is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Maisie Smith. Tiffany is the daughter of established characters Bianca Jackson and Ricky Butcher, though originally she was believed to be Bianca's daughter with a man named Nathan Dean. Tiffany's surname was changed in the show's credits from Dean to Butcher, which has also been referenced in the show. Tiffany departed, alongside her half-brother Morgan Butcher and their mother Bianca, in September 2014. Tiffany made an unannounced brief return on 3 November 2016 when she and Morgan returned to Walford for Whitney Dean and Lee Carter's wedding.
Lorraine Marie Stanley is an English actress, known for playing Kelly in the 2006 film London to Brighton and Karen Taylor in the BBC soap opera EastEnders (2017–2024).
Louise Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, who has been played by four different actors since her on-screen birth on 6 November 2001. Louise has been played by Rachel Cox between 2001 and 2003, Danni Bennatar in 2008, Brittany Papple in 2010, and Tilly Keeper from 2016 to 2020. Keeper's casting was announced on 16 December 2015, and she made her first appearance as Louise on 15 January 2016. The character's departure was announced in December 2019 after Keeper quit the role, with Louise making her last appearance on 24 January 2020.
Keanu Taylor is a fictional character in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Danny Walters. He was introduced in episode 5511, broadcast on 15 June 2017, as a member of the Taylor family. Keanu is the son of Karen Taylor and half-brother of Chantelle Atkins, Keegan Baker, Bernadette Taylor, Riley Taylor, and Chatham Taylor. He is described as a charming, hardworking, and happy-go-lucky man of morals. In his original stint, his storylines focused on being the breadwinner of his family, an affair with Sharon Mitchell, a relationship with Sharon’s stepdaughter Louise, a feud with Louise’s half-brother Ben and her father Phil. In November 2019, it was announced that Walters "bowed out" of the soap for the development of his storyline with Sharon, with his initial departure being depicted in episode 6084, which aired on 21 February 2020.
Gray Atkins is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Toby-Alexander Smith. He was introduced by executive producer Kate Oates in episode 5893, broadcast on 29 March 2019, as the patriarch of the Atkins family, which included Gray, his wife Chantelle, and children Mia and Mackenzie. Before his introduction and during the beginning of his time on the show, Gray was depicted as a charming and confident businessman, as well as a loving husband and committed father, before Gray and Chantelle became the focus of a storyline about domestic abuse. The show worked with charities such as Refuge and Women's Aid to depict the storyline in an accurate and sensitive manner. In September 2020, EastEnders announced that the storyline would end with Gray killing Chantelle to reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic violence, which included a sharp increase in spousal murders.
Chantelle Atkins is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Jessica Plummer. She first appears in episode 5991, originally broadcast in the United Kingdom on 26 March 2019. Chantelle is introduced as the eldest daughter of Karen Taylor and had been referenced on-screen since the family's arrival in 2017. The character was created with a family unit consisting of Chantelle, husband Gray Atkins and two children Mia Atkins and Mackenzie Atkins. Chantelle is characterised as a loving and vivacious hairdresser with the same fiery attitude as her family. Her backstory states that after marrying Gray, she established a perfect life for herself away from her family. The character's early stories focus on her relationships with her parents, Karen and Mitch Baker, and a feud with Kim Fox after moving into her former home.
"Episode 5949" is an episode of the British television soap opera EastEnders, broadcast on BBC One on 5 July 2019. It was written by Pete Lawson, directed by Laurence Wilson, and produced by Kate Oates. The episode takes place on the day Walford is holding its first pride parade and primarily focuses on the show's LGBT characters, mainly Callum Highway, Ben Mitchell, and Bernadette Taylor. The episode was announced on 1 May 2019 and was set to air one day before the 2019 Pride in London festival. Since her time as executive producer, Oates aimed increase and celebrate diversity on the show, with the episode being pitched as part of Oates's goal. The episode received generally positive critical acclaim and was included in the EastEnders: Iconic Episodes collection in 2021.
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