Donna Yates is the foster daughter of Claudette Hubbard. She made her first appearance on 14 April 2014 and last on 20 July 2018. She was portrayed by Lisa Hammond.
Storylines[]
2014-2015: Market merger, moving to Albert Square and relationship with Arthur 'Fatboy' Chubb[]
Donna comes to Albert Square to assess her competition after it is decided to merge Spring Lane market with Bridge Street market and she later clashes with Kat Moon and Bianca Butcher as they also sell clothes. Donna causes controversy when she refuses to wear a black armband as a mark of respect for the recently murdered Lucy Beale as she does not want to put buyers off.
Donna fancies Terry Spraggan and dislikes his former wife, Nikki Spraggan. Donna causes more controversy when she is rude about Patrick Trueman's stroke and clashes with fellow stallholder Arthur 'Fatboy' Chubb. Donna is friends with flower stallholder Pam Coker - who used to be Donna's social worker and placed Donna with her foster family years ago. Pam helps Donna to see a brighter side to life, encouraging her to be friendly with Kat and getting her a Valentine's Day date. Donna and Fatboy clash again but she tries to patch things up between them. Donna later lies that she has to go to a salon appointment when she is actually going to the hospital. When she cannot get a taxi, Fatboy drives her, and she tells him that she regularly gets goes there for blood tests and painkiller injections to prolong the energy she has before undergoing joint replacement, and that she lied so that Pam does not worry about her.
At Donna's 30th birthday organised by Pam, Martin Fowler shows in an interest in her, but Fatboy punches him when it becomes clear that he is just trying to annoy his estranged wife Sonia Fowler. An upset Donna leaves the party, but she is happy when Fatboy gives her his hoodie as a gift and Pam reveals that she has invited Donna's foster mother Claudette Hubbard. Donna is shocked when she finds out that her foster brother Vincent Hubbard is married to her neighbour Kim Fox and they have a daughter together. Kim incorrectly assumes that Donna is Vincent's girlfriend when she sees them together but Donna corrects her. She ends up getting into a fight with Kim when she calls her sister Denise Fox a dog, so Kim stabs her wheelchair with a fork. Donna upsets Kim when she reveals Vincent's involvement with Ronnie Mitchell.
Donna and Fatboy end up flirting and then kiss and have sex. However, whilst Donna wants something more with him, Fatboy feels that the gossip is making their friendship awkward and he tells Donna this, who does not take it well. She goes to Claudette's house in tears and says that she wants a long-term relationship with someone who loves her the way she is. There, she finds Pam's husband Les Coker in his underwear and assumes that he is having an affair with Claudette, though they both deny it. Donna tells Pam what she saw, though it is later revealed that they are not involved romantically and Claudette was supporting Les with his cross-dressing. Vincent confronts Fatboy for his treatment of Donna and locks him in a staircase but, after taking Vincent's advice, Fatboy tells Donna that he will be showing his true self to her. However, the relationship does not last and Fatboy leaves Walford.
Donna is confused when Claudette disappears and Vincent lies that she left to stay with her sister. Donna reveals to Vincent that Claudette told her that he buried her in his basement after she fell down the stairs, so Vincent tells Donna that Claudette killed his father, Henry Hubbard, and indirectly had Fatboy killed too. Claudette, who has returned, claims that Henry's death was an accident and Donna accuses Claudette of only fostering her to ease her guilt. Donna continues seeing Claudette in secret and tries to get her to reconcile with Vincent, which is initially unsuccessful.
[]
Donna gets drunk and asks Kush Kazemi to father a child for her, but she regrets it the following day. Pam encourages Donna to apply to be the new market inspector. She tells Pam that she wants to start a family. Donna asks Vincent to be the father of her child and he eventually accepts to Kim's horror. Kim tries to get Claudette to stop it but she does not. Donna inseminates herself with Vincent's donated sperm but she does not get pregnant. Donna wants to try again but she then decides that she will not be able to raise a baby by herself and Kim tells her that she will find the right man.
In January 2017, Donna is injured when a bus crashes into the market but she is saved by Vincent, although her wheelchair is crushed.
Donna moves into a house share with Abi Branning, Ben Mitchell and Jay Brown and becomes close with them.
Donna clashes with the market enforcement officer Robbie Jackson but the pair eventually become friends and make a lot of jokes. Donna and Robbie develop feelings for each other but do not act on them, so Whitney Dean locks them in a room together and they confide in each other and almost kiss. Donna supports Robbie with some market issues and they eventually begin dating and even move in together.
Donna is upset when Abi dies and she develops a feud with Robbie's uncle and Abi's father Max Branning and his wife Rainie Cross, who are trying to get custody of Abi's daughter of the same name. After being convinced by Rainie's mother Cora Cross that Rainie is an unfit parent, Donna posts drugs through Rainie's letterbox to make it appear that she is using drugs again and is an unfit parent. When this is exposed, Rainie and Robbie are angry with Donna and Robbie contemplates their future. Donna apologises to Max and he convinces Robbie to give his relationship with Donna another chance; however, he discovers that she has left without saying goodbye, and Donna departs Walford in a taxi, devastating Robbie.