Kathy Beale

Kathy Beale

Kathy Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Played by Gillian Taylforth, she appeared in the first episode of the serial on 19 February 1985. She was killed off-screen in 2006 to facilitate Ben’s reintroduction to the serial. In 2014, the character made a surprise return – despite being presumed dead. She returned on 17 August 2015 and appeared in a guest appearance on 19 May 2015.

About Kathy Beale in brief

Summary Kathy BealeKathy Beale is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Played by Gillian Taylforth, she appeared in the first episode of the serial on 19 February 1985. She was killed off-screen in 2006 to facilitate Ben’s reintroduction to the serial. In 2014, the character made a surprise return to the show – despite being presumed dead. She returned on 17 August 2015 and appeared in a guest appearance on 19 May 2015. She has had a number of high-profile storylines, including her rape at the hands of James Willmott-Brown and the discovery of a long-lost daughter, Donna Ludlow. She also had an affair with Buster Briggs and feuds with Max Branning and Rainie Cross over the custody of her deceased grandson Steven Beale’s daughter with ex-lover Abi Branning – Abi Jr. The character’s marriage with her husband Pete ended with the latter’s departure from the square in 1993. Kathy developed a romance with Phil Mitchell and they later had a son – Ben, who caused Kathy turmoil when he contracted a rare form of meningitis. The relationship between alcohol abuse and domestic violence was explored through Kathy and Phil in 1997, which led to their separation. She opted to leave the serial in 1997 and Kathy departed on 10 April 1998 after deciding to move to South Africa with Ben. In 1999, she returned for two separate guest stints in 1999, making her departure on 6 January 2000. She reprised the role for a charity special in 2014.

It was confirmed that the character would be making a permanent return, and – after a guest appearances on 19May 2015 – Kathy returned on 19 August 2015. Kathy’s husband, Gavin Sullivan, was also introduced following her return and their turbulent marriage was explored. She had a brief relationship with Masood Ahmed and feuded with bothMax Branning andRainie Cross over the Custody of Steven’s deceased adoptive grandson, Abi, and his daughter with Abi’s daughter, Steven Jr. Kathy gave a child, the product of rape when Kathy was 14, up for adoption. In the aftermath, Kathy becomes depressed and isolated from Pete, who believes she is blameless. She later starts a knitting business, but is conned when Mehmet Osman asks Kathy to knit a batch of jumpers for him. Kathy learns that Donna, now an adult, wants to meet her but she refuses. Donna stays and causes various problems for Kathy. Finally Kathy tells Donna that she is actually theProduct of rape at birth and Kathy gave her up and does nothing with her now. She spends the rest of the year in a downward spiral of anger and the angering angering Pete, and the rift worsens when it becomes clear that James is romantically interested in Kathy. James is arrested and formally charged with rape. James stands trial but Kathy tries to withdraw her statement but he refuses to let her leave Walford. Kathy finds out from Ali Osman that she was conned by Mehmet.