Donna Ludlow



Donna first arrived in Albert Square in August 1987, when she came in search of her mother, Kathy Beale. Kathy had fallen pregnant with Donna following her rape when she was only fourteen, and unable to cope with a child born from such horrific circumstances, she gave the baby up for adoption.

Earlier in the year Kathy had received a visit from Donna's godmother, June Watkins, who brought news that Donna wanted to meet her. Kathy refused and told June that she wanted nothing to do with her illegitimate daughter (although she neglected to inform her about the circumstances of Donna's conception). Undeterred, Donna moved to the square to be near her mother, and for the first year she kept her identity a secret.

Upon arriving Donna secured herself a job working at the 'First til Last' for Naima Jeffrey and was soon approached by Den Watts, who offered her a job as barmaid at The Queen Vic.

Donna spent the next few months trying to get close to Kathy and her family, which only succeeded in irritating Kathy and left her wondering why Donna was so interested in her. Donna compulsively lied to substantiate her fake persona and she soon began to buckle under the pressure of hiding her real identity. It wasn't long before her lies began to get spotted by the residents of Albert Square, who quickly began to turn against her.