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Bernadette Rihanna "Bernie" Taylor is the daughter of Karen Taylor, sister of Chantelle and Keegan Baker, Keanu, Chatham and Riley Taylor. The family also have had two pets, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier dog named Bronson and a Bearded lizard named Rooney.

Backstory[]

Bernadette is the daughter of Karen Taylor. When Karen was young, she met a man named Mitch Baker and together they had a daughter, Chantelle but the pair soon split up and Karen went on to have two other children, Keanu and Bernadette, not fathered by Mitch. Karen and Mitch decided to rekindle their romance a few years later and soon Karen became pregnant with their son, Keegan. After the pair split up once again, Karen met another man and together they had two sons, Riley and Chatham, with Mitch going on to have a daughter, Bailey with another woman.

Storylines[]

2017-2020: Arrival, miscarriage and family problems[]

Bernadette moved to The Square in June 2017 with her mother Karen Taylor and siblings Keanu Taylor, Keegan Baker, Chatham Taylor and Riley Taylor. Bernadette began a relationship with fellow student Callum, which made her fall pregnant with his daughter, whom the pair decided to name Belle. Bernadette started to have a craving for cheese, and onion crisps and Karen noticed this and confronted Bernadette about how many months pregnant she was. Karen and Bernadette went out shopping to find clothes for the baby, and the whole family was excited. Still, a couple of weeks after, Bernadette began to have pains in her stomach - this led to her giving birth to a stillborn baby girl, and she was heartbroken that her baby wasn't moving or breathing at all and was so tiny. Bernadette's mother had organised for the baby to be cremated.

A couple of days later, Bernadette had a ceremony at the Allotment to remember her baby alongside Callum, Karen, and her brothers Keanu and Keegan. Keegan then went to punch Callum, but Keanu stopped him, and Keegan cried and said he could've helped the baby. Callum and Bernadette then revealed that they had already picked out a name for the baby, which was Belle and everyone remembered the baby as "Belle Taylor". At school, Keegan gets mad when everyone thinks he won't do well in his test, so he throws a brick through a teachers car - Bernadette takes the blame for him so he can do his test. Due to her doing this, she got suspended from school.

On Halloween, Louise Mitchell and Bex Fowler are forced to include Bernadette in their plans for a Halloween party - which they are not happy about but went along with it because she is Keegan's sister. Keegan freaks Louise out by using a scar covered mask and Louise's boyfriend Travis Law-Hughes goes mad. Bernadette then began to play chess with Ted Murray. Keegan teased Bernadette about this over and over again - especially when she started a chess club at school, which no one attended. Bernadette began to win many tournaments, and it became a hobby, but Karen thinks Ted is "touching" Bernadette. However, she later apologises. She then befriends Tiffany Butcher who tells Bernadette that her 'cousin' (actually aunt) Abi Branning has just died (life support was withdrawn). Bernadette tells Tiffany that she had a baby who died.

When Karen tells Sharon Mitchell that she thinks Ted is "touching" Bernadette, she invites Bex and Tiffany round to take her out the house for a bit to get her mind off chess, but she refers to them as "the ginger one and the one with the annoying mother". When Bex leaves the room, Tiffany then tells Bernadette that she doesn't talk much and Bernadette replies " it's hard to get a word in over you two". Tiffany then tells Bernadette that Bex is her cousin and she's forced to like her - which makes Bernadette laugh. Louise then arrives and brings a doll so Bernadette can "point" to where Ted has touched her. Bex and Tiffany look at each other, and Bernadette leaves the room. When Louise asks Bernadette where she is going, she replies to the toilet, or do I have to ask your permission to go there an all. In April 2018, Tiffany's sister Whitney Dean wanted to send Tiffany back home to live with her mother Bianca Jackson as she is too much to handle. Still, Bernadette manages to talk Whitney round into letting Tiffany stay, and the pair say nothing can get in between them even though Bernadette's brother Keegan and Tiffany fancy each other.

In May 2018, Bernadette's friend Shakil Kazemi died- following a knife attack. Keegan was also stabbed but survived. Flowers and cards are placed on a bench near where Shakil was found in the memory of him were Keegan, Bex, Louise, Tiffany, Bernadette and Louise's boyfriend Hunter gather round and remember Shakil. Keegan becomes upset, but Bernadette tells him it wasn't his fault. Keegan tells the group that Shakil wouldn't have wanted flowers or cards - he would have liked a good party. Hunter tells them he has spare keys to E20 which his mum runs and teens get drunk and play truth or dare. They spin a bottle, and it lands Tiffany kissing Bernadette. Tiffany tells the group that she isn't kissing Bernadette, but Hunter dares her to do it. So Tiffany kisses Bernadette, leaving everyone gobsmacked and she replies " hash tag, never dare a Butcher". Keegan then grabs the bottle and spins it around, hoping it will land on him so he can kiss Tiffany. It lands on Keegan, and he leans in to kiss Tiffany, the pair snog and smile at each other, but Bernadette doesn't like the thought of her best friend and her brother kissing. Louise also appears to be jealous even though she is going out with Hunter. After that, everyone makes a toast to Shakil. The next morning, Tiffany thinks that she is ill, but Bernadette replies "it's called a hangover".

2020-2022: Taking diet pills and surrogacy[]

In 2020, Bernadette agrees to be a surrogate for Stuart and Rainie Highway. The two later back out due to Bernadette's age, but in 2021, they agree due to Bernadette needing the money. During this, Bernadette is in a relationship with Molly Ellis, but the two split up after Molly disagrees with the surrogacy, but the two remain in good terms. Bernadette later begins taking diet pills and exercising so she can prove that she will be healthy enough to carry the baby, and she later begins carrying the baby. Bernadette later leaves Walford temporarily as she is stressed over Rainie using drugs again, but she is wrong.

Bernadette returns in March 2022, and gives birth to the baby, Roland Highway. Bernadette gives him to Rainie and Stuart, but struggled to cope. Bernadette reunites with Molly in April, and the two stage a strike at KJP Pest Control due to unfair circumstances. However, Bernadette gives up. Months later, Stuart forces Bernadette to take Roland back when he begins suffering from postnatal depression, but Rainie later splits from Stuart and leaves with Roland. Bernadette also develops a friendship with Dotty Cotton during this time.

In June, Bernadette meets her cousins Finlay and Felix Baker and quickly bonds with them. She also attends their father, Avery Baker's funeral.

In August, Stuart locks Bernadette in the newly opened Panesar House Surgery and demands an appointment, but later let's everyone go after Bernadette texts Karen and Karen convinces Rainie to come and talk Stuart round. In October 2022, Bernadette finishes her shift at the call centre, however the recently released Nishandeep Panesar tells her she has to stay another hour. Kheerat arrives and tells Nish this is when she finishes and says she can leave. In December, Dotty leaves the square, and Bernadette is the only person Dotty leaves on good terms with.

2023 to present: Working for Kathy and antics in the cafe[]

In 2023, Bernadette is fired by Nish Panesar. Felix and her both compete to become a barmaid at the Prince Albert, but Kim takes Felix on. Feeling guilty, Felix helps Bernadette find a job and gets her a trial shift at the Cafe. Bernadette tries to ask Kathy is she's staying in multiple times, but is ignored. Kathy later reveals that she ignored Bernadette as she was waiting for her personalised apron to arrive before telling her she'd be staying on permanently. Bernadette then starts working at the cafe full time with Kathy and Marie Evans. Bernadette gossips many times while working in the cafe, sometimes putting her foot in when getting caught and sometimes getting angry reactions from other residents. When Keanu is beat up by Ravi Gulati to stop him going to the police about his drug dealing, Karen attempts to defend Keanu when rumours begin spreading around the Square that Keanu is involved in drug dealing. Bernadette however tells Karen that they can't always blindly defend Keanu and pretend like nothing is wrong as that was how Chantelle died.

On 23 May 2023, Bernadette overhears people discussing Stacey Slater's Secret Cam account. She takes down the name in the cafe and later has an argument in the Vic with Eve Unwin, where Eve says she sold her baby to provide for her family, and Stacey is just doing what she needs to do.

On 31 May 2023, Bernadette is present when Linda hosts a lock in at the Vic to remember Lola. The next day, she talks about Lola's passing in the cafe. When Ben asks if Bernadette has seen Lexi, Bernadette tells him she saw her about ten minutes ago and Ben gets angry that she didn't do anything, but George Knight defends her. Lexi then comes into the cafe.

On 5 June 2023, Bernadette talks to Suki about George, saying that Karen kissed someone pretending to be him back in the nineties. Bernadette is later called to the Vic by Sharon Watts, who announces she has brought the Arches for Keanu. The next day, Bernadette attends the opening party where she recalls Keanu got a grade E in GCSE maths.

On 12 June 2023, Bernadette is present in the cafe to hear Elaine Peacock talk to Freddie Slater is a way that implies she wants to have sex with him, leaving her and Freddie gobsmacked. After this, she speak with Mitch, asking him what's in his mind, but he tells her it's nothing. Bernadette and Mitch later welcome Suki Panesar back home from the hospital after her fall down the stairs. The best day, Bernadette is present in the cafe when Mitch tells Chelsea Fox that the letter he received was from Gray Atkins wanting to see his kids. They all agree not to let him.

On 26 June 2023, Bernadette is at work when Shrimpy comes in to alert Finlay to his stall being trashed. Bernadette rushes out with him, and says he should call the police, but Finlay shouts at her tells her not to. The next day, she attends Lola's funeral where she meets Allie, who tells her and her family that Lola saved her life as she had the same symptoms as her and they caught the tumour. The following day, She sees Finlay baker off as he moves to Dublin after being forced to by Suki and Ravi, although she does not know this. The day after this, she attends the pride month event at Albert, with Karen jokingly telling her to talk to someone.

On 4 July 2023, Bernadette talks to Elaine and Kathy about wedding dresses, mentioning that Kathy was stressed about the wedding. On 10 July 2023, Bernadette talks with Felix about their horoscopes and later serves Howie some donuts for Kim's release from prison. Felix later convinces Bernadette to attend Kim's welcome home party.

On 20 July 2023, Bernadette and Karen play with her niece, Peggy Mitchell Jr, who is visiting with her grandmother Lisa Fowler. Keanu reveals he's trying to keep Peggy with them, filling the two with joy, however Lisa later leaves with Peggy before Keanu can do anything. During this, Peggy says her grandmother's catchphrase, "Get outta my pub." In the cafe Bernadette ask Sonia if Reiss Colwell's wife Debbie Colwell is ever going to wake up from her coma, Bernadette is later asked by Kim to describe her life as a lesbian for her 'Kimfluencer' followers. A nervous Bernadette attempts to decline but eventually asks for £40 to talk about it but Kim offers her £25, Bernie ultimately declines to talk.

On Bernadette’s twenty-first birthday, Anna Knight, Bobby and Freddie plan a surprise birthday party for her at the Albert with them, Mackenzie, Mia Bailey, Karen and Mitch attending. At the party, Karen appoints herself as Bernadette’s wingman, and encourages her to go speak to the girl at the bar. She does so, and the two hit it off and share a kiss, much to everyone’s amusement. The following week, Bernadette serves Yolande Trueman some cake for Patrick when her ex, Anton arrives. Bernadette watched as Patrick and Anton fight, but Yolande drags them out before it can get physical. Bernadette is later left angry when she receives abusive messages from Stacey and confronts Stacey about it, however Bernadette later finds out that Theo Hawthorne is pretending to be Stacey on social media. Bernadette later attends a meeting organised by Stacey to inform everyone that Theo has been stalking her and Bernadette later reveals to Whitney and Zack that she finds Stacey attractive. When it's revealed that Freddie attacked Theo Bernadette mentions that the Slater's have got form and mention Stacey killing Archie Mitchell, however Whitney defends the Slater's and reminds Bernadette that she killed Leo King and tells Bernadette she doesn't know what it's like to be stalked by someone. When Tom Cotton starts a fire at the café Bernadette is unable to work. After the fire, Elaine Peacock decides to start serving breakfast at the Vic, and hires Bernadette to cook it.

On 6 December 2023 Phil confonts the Taylor's and accuses them of staging Albie's kidnap and taking Phil's money. Karen admits to being behind the kidnap and takes the blame for it to protect Keanu, Sharon slaps Karen and threatens to call the police on her. However, Keanu begs her not to insisting that despite what she's done she's still his mother, Phil angrily confonts Keanu and demands to know if he was involved in the kidnap and Keanu swears that he wasn't. Phil then storms over to the Taylor's and smashes their door down, Phil demands his money back from Karen. Karen grabs a baseball bat and they tell Phil that their kids are here. Phil then tells them kids or no kids he will be coming back for his money, Keanu goes to the Taylors t say sorry but they are all disgusted that Keanu let Karen to take the blame, particularly Bernadette, Karen later tells Mitch she's going to take Phil's money and leave Walford, Karen asks Mitch to leave with her. Mitch is initially hesitant to go but after Tom Cotton and Harvey Monroe make Mitch realise that he still loves Karen, Mitch goes back to the house and kisses Karen. Karen, Mitch, Bailey, Mackenzie and Mia all leave Walford, however Bernadette decides to stay and tells Keanu that he is dead to her.

Bernadette asks Keanu to move in with him and Sharon after she looses the flat due to the family leaving, Keanu tells Bernadette to leave him alone and not to come to his and Sharon's wedding. As revenge Bernadette tells Phil that Keanu was behind Albie's kidnap, Phil interrupts the wedding and tells Sharon about Keanu being behind Albie's kidnap. Sharon then punches Keanu and tells him that Albie is Phil's son leaving both men shocked. Later at the Vic Sharon, Denise, Stacey, Suki, Linda and Kathy nearly kill Nish and kill Keanu after both men attack them. The six women then hide Keanu's body in the café and call an ambulance for Nish, the women blame Nish's attack on Keanu and news soon spreads around Walford. Several residents stare at Bernadette which upsets her, Felix later cheers Bernadette up and asks her to move in with him. The police later interview Bernadette about Nish's attack and Keanu's whereabouts and she tells them that Sharon told Keanu at their wedding that Albie was not his son. Bernadette is hired back at that café by Nish when she's puts him in contact with plummets who fix a leak in the café, during the reopening Bernadette receives and old voicemail by Keanu as Karen returns to find Keanu.

Employment history[]

Occupation Years Active
Student at Walford High School 2013-2018
Phone operator at KJP Pest Control 2021, 2022-2023
Waitress and Cashier at Kathy's Café 2023
Breakfast chef at The Queen Victoria 2023-2024
Waitress and Cashier at Nish's Café 2024 to present

Residence[]

Address Years
Walford Towers Prior to 2017-2017
23B Albert Square 2017-2021, 2022-2023
1 Albert Square 2024 -


Quotes[]


See also[]

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