2011–2015
When Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick) and Julie Perkins (Cathy Murphy) decide to find the son that Julie put up for adoption as a baby, Dan Pearce, they discover he has died. However, they find that they have a granddaughter, Lola, who is in care. They visit Lola at the care home and witness a fight between Lola and another girl, believing Lola is the injured girl, but Lola turns out to be the perpetrator. She tells Billy and Julie that Dan hated them so Julie decides to leave. Billy hugs Lola before they go and Lola uses this as an excuse to steal his wallet.
The next day, she comes to Walford and returns Billy's wallet. She flirts with several locals, including Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) and Fatboy (Ricky Norwood). Fatboy allows her to clean cars for him but she takes one and crashes into it into Ian Beale's (Adam Woodyatt) chip shop. Billy sees this and tells her to run and Fatboy takes the blame. Lola visits Billy again and meets other members of his family. Julie tells Heather Trott (Cheryl Fergison) that she does not want Lola to live with them and Heather accidentally tells Lola. Julie feels that Lola is not their problem and Lola tells Julie that if Billy is forced to choose between them, she will win. Julie calls the police and has Lola returned to her care home, while Billy calls her "100% Mitchell". A week later, Julie finds Lola in the R&R nightclub and takes her home, after Julie apologises for reporting Lola to the police, and tries to get to know Lola properly.
Lola overhears Anthony Moon (Matt Lapinskas) and his brother Tyler Moon (Tony Discipline) insulting Billy, and in revenge, burns their father Eddie's (David Essex) stock. She gets a job at the café and admits to Liam Butcher (James Forde) that she started the fire. Lola starts stealing from the till at the café and short-changing the customers so Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) sacks her. She asks Phil for her job back and offers her mobile phone in payment for the money she took but he takes the phone and refuses to give Lola her job back. She takes revenge by smashing up his garage and destroying a car, unaware that Jay is under the car, and is badly injured. She gets Julie and when the ambulance arrives, Julie takes the blame. She is released without charge, while Lola returns to the care home but is persuaded to come back and Julie leaves Walford.
Weeks later, Ian oversleeps and Lola tells him that she has been waiting outside the chip shop. Mandy Salter (Nicola Stapleton) tells Ian to fire her, which he does but Lola soon persuades Ian to give her job back, by promising not to tell anyone about Mandy staying. She takes a liking to Jay's friend, Duncan Willis (Steven France) but later vandalises Grace Olubunmi's (Ellen Thomas) flowers. She decides to take up self-defence classes after Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald) is mugged. Lola steals towels from the Booty beauty salon and tries to sell them but is caught by Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons), who threatens to call the police. However, Lola convinces Roxy that she has shown ingenuity, and gains a job at the salon.
Lola asks her second cousin-once-removed, Ben Mitchell (Joshua Pascoe) how he knows he is gay if he is still a virgin. Subsequently, they kiss and Lola sleeps with Ben before confirming his sexuality; he is gay. Shortly after, Lola finds she is pregnant and tells Billy, who is angry. Lola refuses to name the father but tells Billy that she plans to keep the baby and wants him to bring it up with her. She later tells Ben that he is not the father. Billy takes Lola to see Pat Evans (Pam St Clement) about help, but Pat misunderstands and advises Lola to have an abortion, angering her. In December, Phil confronts Lola about a mystery file, thinking that she's been stalking him. Phil questions Lola, to the point where she steps backwards and falls down the steps to her basement flat. She is rushed to hospital and soon learns that she and the baby are fine. Lola receives a call to say Social Services want to visit, as there is a new social worker. Lola goes missing when the social worker, Harpreet (Danny Rahim) arrives, so Billy asks Abi to pretend to be Lola. Billy assumes Harpreet is there about the pregnancy, so tells Harpreet, who is impressed with Abi's speech about motherhood. However, Lola arrives as he is about to leave and tells him that she is Lola, so Harpreet says the trust has been lost and she may not be able to keep the child. After falling down the stairs, she realizes how much the baby means to her and later finds out the baby is a girl.
Lola begins working for Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) as a cleaner and continues working at the chip shop, until Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater), sacks her. Lola takes revenge on Lucy by stealing chip fat from the shop and pouring it over cars at the car lot, making Lucy a suspect. When Lucy learns Lola is responsible, she calls the police and Lola is arrested. The next day, on her 16th birthday, she receives community service and a curfew, and has to wear an electronic ankle tag. Lola and Jay break into The Queen Victoria public house and get locked in after hiding in the back room. There, Lola opens up to Jay saying she will be a bad mother. Lola gets home just in time for her curfew, then runs back out and shares an illicit kiss with Jay, who is actually still dating Abi. She angers Cora Cross (Ann Mitchell), after vandalising her stock at the charity shop and later prepares for Billy carrying the Olympic Torch but realises she is in labour in McClunkeys, where Cora delivers Lola's baby daughter whom she names Lexi Billie Pearce, after her friend, Alexa Smith (Saffron Coomber). Billy witnesses the birth after successfully carrying the torch. When it is revealed, that Jay helped to cover up Heather's murder, Lola is at first wary of him, although she eventually forgives him. However, Billy is unhappy about them spending time together especially when Jay is forced to hide when a social worker turns up. Lola appears heartbroken when Jay says they should stop seeing each other.
When Lola gets a new social worker, Trish Barnes (Tessa Churchard), she becomes increasingly agitated after Trish criticises her care of Lexi. She later bumps into Alexa and pretends to live a party lifestyle. Alexa and her gang spend time with Lola but when Alexa picks on Abi, Lola defends her and rejects her old friend. Lola later reveals she has a baby, named Lexi after Alexa, shocking her. Lola celebrates her tag being removed but is threatened by Alexa and her gang, who attack Abi and threaten Lexi, resulting in Lola punching Alexa. The police are informed and Lola is arrested while Trish takes Lexi into care. Lola begs Trish not to and asks Phil for help, telling him that he is Lexi's grandfather. Lexi is taken regardless and Trish tells her that Lexi could be away for up to eight weeks. Lola gets angry so Trish tells her she could lose Lexi for good if she does not control her temper. Phil tells Lola that he will get her back where she belongs. Lola is happy until she discovers that Phil wants custody but she eventually agrees to Phil's plan. Phil comes up with a plan for Lola to marry Ben and conspires with Billy, who is against the idea. Lola refuses to marry Ben and Phil plans to tell Ben the truth about Lexi, against Lola's wishes. Phil does not tell Ben but agrees to help Lola so asks Sharon Rickman (Letitia Dean) to pretend to be his partner to help get Lexi. She refuses initially but agrees until she finds out that Lola does not know about the plan, angering Lola until Phil explains his reasons to her. Alexa drops the assault charge but Lola is devastated to learn that she will not get Lexi back. Lola worries that Phil's plan will fail after he tells Social Services that he and Sharon are no longer engaged, but Phil does become Lexi's kinship foster carer. Lola is devastated to learn that she will still only have three access visits a week, and Phil starts being controlling, calling Lexi "his" baby and not allowing Lola to provide for her. Phil also tells Lola who she can be friends with, disapproving of her friendship with Dexter Hartman (Khali Best). Phil decides to take Lexi on holiday so Lola seeks legal advice but agrees that Lexi can go. Lola makes a request in court to increase her access visits with Lexi, and Trish states that Lola has made good progress but Phil's lawyer tells the court that Lola is often late, brings age-inappropriate toys and is unable to handle Lexi's tears. The judge rules that Lexi will stay with Phil as kinship foster carer. Billy goes to speak to Phil, while Lola listens and hears Phil say that he will never give Lexi back voluntarily so Lola snatches Lexi and leaves. Phil, Billy and Sharon spend the rest of the day looking for her, eventually finding her at a playground. Lola goes home and Phil asks her to meet him later at his house. Trish is there and asks them if their relationship has broken down but Phil tells her that he is responsible for recent events and agrees to work with Lola to make the transition for Lexi to return to living with Lola as easy as possible. When Trish leaves, Phil allows Lola to look after Lexi, and starts giving her increased access. Phil is impressed when Lola acts calmly when Lexi is taken ill with suspected meningitis, though she is fine.
Lola notices that Sharon is acting strangely and finds her passed out when she should be with Lexi. When Sharon regains consciousness, she admits that she is addicted to painkillers and tells Lola that if she tells Phil, Lexi will go back into care. Phil also later catches Sharon unconscious and when she comes round, he confronts her and throws her out. Just before the final hearing to decide if Lexi should be returned to Lola, Phil learns that Lola knew about Sharon's drug addiction and calls her a bad mother before leaving the court building. However, Billy convinces him to do the right thing, and Lola is successful in getting Lexi back.
Lola develops feelings for Peter Beale (Ben Hardy), but the feud between his family, the Beales, and her family, the Mitchells, make them anxious about being together. However, they eventually force Phil and Peter's father Ian to accept their relationship. Peter moves in with Lola, Lexi and Billy and pressures her to start a career in childcare when she loses her job at the local salon. Despite agreeing to do the course, Lola starts her own business doing the locals manicures and pedicures and loves it. She becomes closer to Jay and admits how Peter makes her feel that she is not good enough for him. After an argument with Peter, Lola turns to Jay for support and he tries to kiss her. Horrified, she goes to run off but as she steps out into the road she is accidentally run over by Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Womack). She is immediately rushed to hospital, where she is told she has concussion, but is discharged the following day.
Following the murder of Peter's twin sister Lucy (see Who Killed Lucy Beale?), Lola struggles to support him as he in turn is struggling to support Ian and the rest of his family. When Lucy's memory is tarnished in a Walford Gazette article, Lola approaches them and gives them an article of content of what she believes will paint Lucy in a much better light. However, her words are twisted and Peter believes that Lola did it just for the money. Peter ends his relationship with her, and moves home to Ian. After Lucy's funeral Peter moves back home with Lola and Lexi. Peter begins developing feelings for his ex-girlfriend, Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa), despite her relationship with Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo). Peter ends his relationship with Lola after admitting he kissed Lauren. Although Lola wants to make the relationship work, Peter still declines and begins a relationship with Lauren after she dumps Dean. In September 2014, Ben (now played by Harry Reid) returns to the square for Phil's wedding to Sharon. Billy and Jay hide Lola after Phil wants Ben to meet Lexi and tell Phil that she is visiting an ill friend. A few weeks later, Lola returns to see Phil; however, she comes face to face with Ben.
While Lola is in the pub with Jay, Ben and Abi walk in and Lola is confused as to why Abi is being so cold. Ben walks over to Lola insisting she is a good mother and he doesn't want to take Lexi away. When helping Johnny Carter (Sam Strike) at The Albert, Lola insists she has nothing to do with Abi and Jay's break up and begins making friends with her. Abi then tells her that she is in a relationship with Ben, causing Lola to be confused and worried, so Abi becomes defensive and think Lola is stealing Ben away. Jay invites Lola to The Queen Vic where Abi tells Lola that Jay only invited her to get back at her. After Jay reveals that Ben tried to kiss him, Lola walks out of The Queen Vic and Ben denies his accusations. Lola questions if Jay was using her to try to make Abi jealous, but Jay reveals to Lola that he still has feelings for her. When Jay tries to kiss Lola, she rejects him, telling him that she does not feel the same way about him. Lola is excited when her boss Dean asks her out to discuss her future at Blades hair salon and dresses nicely, but Dean's concerned mother, Shirley Carter (Linda Henry), sends her away, worrying about Dean's reputation.
Lola is frustrated when newcomer Paul Coker (Jonny Labey) accidentally knocks her over in the street, but they become colleagues. Dean sacks Lola for being absent but Phil gives Shirley a large amount of money to secure Lola's job. Following Ben's arrest on suspicion of murdering Lucy, Jay is worried he will be arrested as well after he reveals that Ben mugged Lucy on the night of her death. Lola comforts and reassures him and then they kiss, leading to sex. They then start a relationship. Jay tells Lola he wants to leave because Phil has given the police Lucy's incriminating purse and phone with fingerprints on it. She is upset but Jay suggests she goes with him, which she does, taking Lexi with them. Jay calls Billy and reveals that he, Lola and Lexi are moving to Newcastle with Dexter. She returns briefly with Jay to collect more belongings, but Billy tries to convince her to stay and let Jay go to Newcastle alone, but Lola refuses. Billy tells Lola he is going to collect his daughter Janet Mitchell (Grace) so that they can all share their goodbyes, but Billy reports Jay to the police and he is arrested for robbery. Lola realises that Billy reported Jay moments after Jay's arrest, so Lola leaves for the train station with Lexi. Billy attempts to convince Lola to stay in Walford, but she says she could have a better life somewhere else and that she wants him to be proud of her. Billy and Lola share an emotional farewell and Lola leaves for Newcastle, taking Lexi with her. Although Jay plans to join her eventually, Lola later ends the relationship because she is now dating Dexter.
On 17th November 2016, Lola gets mentioned by Shirley Carter
2019–2023
Lola returns to Walford in April 2019 along with Lexi and Ben. When the Mitchells have a celebratory drink in The Queen Vic, Jay and Lola have conversation in which Lola reveals she and Dexter are no longer together. It is revealed that Lola and Ben are only back to con Phil, and Ben promises to give both Lola and Lexi some of the money. Lola reunites with Jay and they almost start dating again; however, it is revealed that Lola is engaged to Ewan (Riley Jones). Jay rejects Lola and she decides to move back to Newcastle with Ewan, but Ben manipulates the situation and Ewan leaves Walford. Lola tries to get Billy back with Honey Mitchell (Emma Barton) and schemes to break up Honey and her boyfriend Adam Bateman (Stephen Rahman-Hughes), although she is unsuccessful. She starts working as an events manager with Jay's girlfriend Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton); however, they eventually clash. Lola becomes aware of Ben's scheming and warns him to end them, otherwise she will leave with Lexi. After Ben's plans to swindle Phil are exposed, Lola decides to remain in Walford and starts working as a hairdresser for Denise Fox (Diane Parish). During The Queen Vic siege where Hunter Owen (Charlie Winter) takes the residents hostage, Lola and Jay are locked in the bathroom together where they admit their feelings for each other and reconcile.
Lola is shocked when she falls pregnant with Jay's baby in March 2020. Jay is stunned when she insists for an abortion; proclaiming that it is too soon for them to have their first child together. Their relationship hits the rocks when Jay proposes to Lola and she assumes he is only proposing to convince her to keep the baby. After a bitter row, Lola secretly has sex with Peter (now played by Dayle Hudson), who has recently returned from New Zealand. She goes to her abortion appointment alone and is surprised afterwards by Jay, who tells her that he only wants her to be happy; this prompts them to reconcile. However, Jay notices tension between a flirtatious Peter and anxious Lola at Stuart (Ricky Champ) and Rainie Highway's (Tanya Franks) wedding in September 2020. During a confrontation, Lola confesses to her one-night stand with Peter the night before her abortion, resulting in Jay ending the relationship. Lola is later furious to learn that Jay and Honey have begun a relationship in January 2021, and forces them to tell Billy; he, however, refuses to speak to Lola after learning that she already knew about the relationship. In February 2021, Lola is set up on a date with Isaac Baptiste (Stevie Basaula) by Kim Fox (Tameka Empson), which is met with opposition from his mother, Sheree Trueman (Suzette Llewellyn). Initially believing Sheree's hostility is because she does not think she is good enough for her son, Lola is later stunned when Isaac reveals that the real reason is because he has schizophrenia. Lola is accepting of this, and supports Isaac. However, he later leaves the Square and Lola is angry when she discovers that he is dating someone else only days later.
After being attacked during a siege at Peggy's wine bar in September 2022, Lola and Jay reignite their relationship after Honey dumps Jay. In October, after experiencing headaches and dizziness, Lola suffers a seizure at the community centre during Lexi's dancing competition. She is taken to hospital where she is diagnosed with a highly aggressive Brain tumor, which is later confirmed to be terminal. Following surgery, Lola is told that a portion of the tumour is inoperable due to its location within the brain. At Christmas, Jay proposes to Lola but she initially refuses as she is concerned that Jay would not be able to take care of her, but both later agree to get married. In January 2023, Lola decides that she wants to reconcile with her mother before she dies, but dismisses the idea shortly afterwards. After having a brief health scare before her wedding, Lola is taken to the hospital by Kim but arrives at the registry office in time to marry Jay. Billy tracks down Lola's mother, Emma Harding (Patsy Kensit), in an attempt for her to attend Lola's wedding, and although she initially rules out playing a role in Lola's life, she starts to meet with Lola at the salon under the pseudonym Nicole. Following several visits to the salon, as well as posting a large sum of money through her letterbox, Lola realises that Nicole is actually Emma, her mother. After a tense confrontation, Lola forgives Emma for the past and they reconcile.
Lola is informed that she has six months to live. This prompts Emma to leave in grief and claims that she is being offered a job in America. Lola continues to work at the salon but as her condition worsens, she decides to quit. Lola then collapses following her leaving party at the salon, where later she is told that the cancer is advancing rapidly and she now has weeks to live. Lola asks Billy to assist in her suicide. Whilst Billy initially refuses, he later agrees to help her, although order Lola to tell Jay first. After Lola has a dream about being back in Margate, her childhood home, she pleads to Jay to take her there one last time. Jay breaks Lola out of hospital and they travel to Margate where they both reminisce about the past. Lola informs Jay about her plans to die on her own terms, but Jay objects and they argue. After hearing Lola's pleas, Jay accepts her decision, but tells her that he wishes to help her instead of Billy. After realising that she would be setting a bad example for Lexi, Lola decides to die naturally. In her final days, Lola's condition worsens after suffering seizures and losing consciousness and the ability to speak. Ben flies out to America to find a preliminary drug trial to help prolong Lola's life. Billy is arrested for vandalising the Minute Mart after Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) teases him over Lola's declining health; however, he is later released after Nish drops the charges. Lola's family and friends say their goodbyes, and Lola dies peacefully at dawn with Jay and Lexi at her bedside.
Following her death, Jay and Ben open Lola's memory box for Lexi, which Lola made before she died. Jay, Ben and Lexi watch a video from a tablet where Lola says one last goodbye to Lexi. Billy and Jay also visit Lola's body at the chapel of rest. At her funeral, she appears in a video created by Lexi which is shown to the mourners. After the funeral, Lexi gives Jay a USB stick, containing a video of Lola talking to Lexi about how special Jay is to her and how he is the love of her life. Jay breaks down as the video ends.
Lola would later appear through other videos she recorded before her death, including a message for Lexi on her first day at secondary school in September 2023 and then a couple of Christmas messages in December 2023. It later transpires that a devastated Ben committed credit card fraud in the United States to try and save Lola's life and he is later arrested, extradited, and sentenced to six years in prison.
