Clyde Tavernier is the son of Celestine and Etta Tavernier, brother of Lloyd and Hattie Tavernier, as well as being the father of Kofi Tavernier. He made his first appearance on 5 July 1990 and last on 22 July 1993. He was portrayed by Steven Woodcock.
Backstory[]
Clyde was the first-born son to Etta and Celestine Tavernier. After his birth in Trinidad in 1968, his family moved to the UK. Growing up in London, Clyde was subject to racism and police harassment, which made him angry and somewhat bitter. In adulthood, Clyde struggled to find direction. He lazed around, did odd jobs, and took up boxing. Clyde met a woman named Abigail Chadwick and they had a child together, a son named Kofi. Clyde and Abigail split up and Kofi was taken to Bristol by his mother to live with his grandparents. When Abigail was killed in a car crash, it was agreed that Kofi would remain living with his maternal grandparents.
Storylines[]
Clyde moves to Albert Square in July 1990 with his family. Clyde gets a job working in The Queen Victoria public house as a potman. Clyde becomes a prime suspect for a series of money thefts that were occurring in the pub. Clyde's boss, Eddie Royle, initially suspects Clyde is behind the missing money as the thefts started when he was hired on. Clyde, on the other hand, believes he is under suspicion due to the colour of his skin. However, Clyde is later cleared of any wrongdoing when it transpired that Ian Beale tried to frame barman Simon Wicks for the thefts due to an ongoing feud between them. Clyde desperately misses his son and when he discovers that Kofi's grandparents are planning to take his child and emigrate permanently to Jamaica, he tails them to the airport and tries to convince them to let him keep Kofi. Despite initial uncertainty from them, Clyde is given custody of his son and Kofi moves in with Clyde and his family.
In 1991, Clyde starts a friendship with Michelle Fowler, as they are both single parents and their kids play together frequently. Michelle fancies Clyde right from the off and constantly tries to attract his attention, but he does not reciprocate her feelings and considers her a good friend. He begins dating Karen, a lounge singer who is Rachel Kominski's lodger, much to the chagrin of a jealous Michelle. Karen ends up leaving the Square soon after for a paying gig in Manchester, upsetting Clyde. Michelle becomes Rachel's new lodger, and at her birthday party, she is determined to cajole Clyde into sleeping with her before the night is over. He reluctantly concedes to her wishes after his attempts to dissuade her are unsuccessful. The next morning, Clyde tries to creep out of the house and purposely ignores Michelle's attentions for several days. She tearfully realizes she made a selfish mistake and regrets seducing him, forcing the issue at the cost of their budding relationship. However, after several weeks of frostiness between them, they begin to repair their friendship.
Clyde resumes his boxing career, spurred on by Phil and Grant Mitchell, who hope to exploit him in the ring by pitting him against a superior fighter and betting against him. However, their plan backfires when an over faced Clyde manages to win the fight, despite the odds being severely stacked against him. Clyde sets to train for an upcoming match, but animosity between him and Eddie Royle resurfaces when Eddie, who is being blackmailed, attempts to entice Clyde to throw the fight in a betting scam perpetrated by his former police colleagues. Clyde refuses, but his altercations with Eddie come back to haunt him when he becomes the prime suspect in Eddie's murder soon after.
Clyde discovers Eddie's bloody body in the Albert Square and unwittingly picks up the knife that has been used to kill him. Panicking, Clyde runs from the scene and disposes of the murder weapon, but is seen by the real murderer, Nick Cotton, who proceeds to frame Clyde for the deed. With a clear motive and a key witness for the police, Clyde finds it difficult to convince anyone of his innocence and is paranoid of everyone around him. Clyde feels that he is the victim of racial bias and discrimination from the police and sensing his imminent arrest, he decides to go on the run and flee the country with his son, Kofi. After a few close calls with the police, Clyde panics and ends up at Rachel Kominski's house after an unsuccessful attempt to secretly fetch Kofi from his parents. Michelle, who believes in his innocence, convinces Rachel to let him stay and they harbour Clyde for two weeks while planning his getaway abroad. Clyde is anxious to flee the country quickly and constantly rows with Michelle over her lack of progress in planning his escape. After an injury to Clyde's arm during an escape attempt and the police closing in, Michelle decides to stick by him and she and her daughter Vicki secretly leave Walford with Clyde and Kofi, in the hopes of starting a new life together in Jamaica. After failing to secure passage on a Portsmouth ferry, tensions grow between them when Clyde calls on his former girlfriend, Karen, for help to cross the Channel by charter boat to France. Michelle feels excluded by Clyde, upset that he does not want her help to escape to France and they quarrel endlessly, but soon settle their differences after an insightful sit-down. Their bid for freedom comes to an end, however, as Clyde and Michelle are apprehended at Portsmouth Harbour before they can leave the country. Clyde is subsequently imprisoned and only secures a release a month later when a witness, Joe Wallace, comes forward and identifies Nick Cotton as Eddie Royle's real killer. Soon after, Clyde and Michelle mend their fractious relationship and become romantically involved by the year's end.
In 1992, Clyde and Michelle start the new year in good spirits and are enjoying each other's company, but they soon have to come to terms with the reality of their mixed relationship in the Square. Initially, Clyde wants to keep their relationship discreet and low-key for now, but Michelle believes they should be out in the open with nothing to hide. She angrily complains that they never go out together and thinks Clyde is too embarrassed to be seen with her out in public or at family gatherings. Clyde explains he is more of a private person and wants to take their relationship step-by-step, but she counters that he acts as if they are always doing something wrong, and they should call it quits if they cannot properly be seen together as a couple. After some soul-searching, Clyde agrees to take their relationship more seriously and to be less guarded around her, but he reminds Michelle some people she cares about will dislike their interracial pairing. She apologizes for her stroppy attitude towards him, explaining that she understands about racial bigotry having grown up in the East End and does not want the prejudice of others to interfere with their lives. To test his resolve, Michelle goads Clyde into kissing her in front of all the customers in The Vic which is met with a huge round of applause.
Clyde informs his surprised family that he and Michelle are in a sexual relationship, asking his parents and particularly his father if they have any problems with this news. Celestine contends his relationship with Michelle should be more of a business-like arrangement, angering Clyde. Celestine is throwing an engagement party for his relatives and does not want Clyde to invite Michelle because she is white, as this would likely offend some members of his family. Clyde refuses to attend unless Michelle is invited, causing more friction between them. Etta disagrees with Celestine's stance and speaks to Clyde privately about inviting Michelle. He shows up to the party with Michelle and introduces her to everyone as his girlfriend, causing awkwardness with some of the other guests and embarrassment for Celestine. Further embarrassment is caused when Hattie unexpectantly brings Ian Beale to the gathering. After leaving the party, Michelle suspects that she was never invited and is offended to learn of Celestine's reasons from Clyde. He explains that his father is not prejudiced against her but wanted to host a successful party without stirring up animosity with his family. The next day, Celestine calls on Clyde at The Vic to thank him and Michelle for coming to the party, finally referring to her as his girlfriend. Clyde relays his father's change of heart to a very pleased Michelle.
As Clyde and Michelle are enjoying their love life at 55 Victoria Road during the following months, their parents become increasingly concerned the pair are spending too much time together and neglecting their family responsibilities, while not being entirely convinced their relationship will succeed in the long run. Arthur tries to talk candidly to Michelle about her relationship with Clyde while Pauline insists Michelle show some decency about spending all her nights with him, but both get rebuffed and angrily told not to interfere. Etta and Celestine argue with Clyde about neglecting his son and family over Michelle. Etta does not believe Michelle is suitable for her son and starts giving her the cold shoulder, upsetting her. After some friendly advice from Sharon, the pair decide to go 'prim and proper' with their relationship for the sake of their parents until they have adjusted to their situation. However, unbeknownst to Clyde and Michelle, their parents plan a secret meeting later that evening to discuss the potential future of their interracial relationship. Arriving at Number 45 after work to break their good news, they are surprised to overhear their parents quarrelling about them. Incensed by their meddling, Michelle angrily storms off before returning to confront her parents, as Clyde, incredulous with this turn of events, defuses the situation by calming her before things get out of hand.
Clyde's relationship with Michelle abruptly ends when he catches her in bed with another man, Jack Woodman.
The Tavernier's are visited by Gidea Thompson, who is Jules' granddaughter from an adulterous affair he had in his 20s. Clyde and Gidea grow close, and even though they are aunt and nephew, they embark on a relationship together. Jules disapproves when he finds out, but Clyde ignores his protests, and in July 1993 he decides to leave Walford to start a new life with Gidea in Trinidad.