EastEnders Wiki

NOTE: Please do not add content from the BBC iPlayer's early episodes until it has been aired on television, as it is intrusive to our readers who may not have seen the episode on iPlayer. Repeated intentional offences of this rule could lead to a ban, Many thanks the EastEnders Wiki admin team.

READ MORE

EastEnders Wiki
Register
Advertisement
EastEnders Wiki

Karen Taylor is the mother of Chantelle, Keanu, Keegan, Bernadette, Chatham and Riley, and the mother figure to Bailey Baker. She is also the grandmother of Mackenzie, Mia, Belle and Peggy. She made her first appearance on 15 June 2017 and her last on 8 February 2024. She is portrayed by Lorraine Stanley.

Backstory

When Karen was younger, she had an on and off relationship with Mitch Baker and the pair had a daughter together, Chantelle but they soon split up and Karen went on to meet Shane in 1997, although their relationship was never proper. Karen went on to give birth to their son, Keanu in 1999. Shane was abusive towards Karen and a very lousy father, not caring for his infant son. Karen finally had enough and ended her relationship with Shane, when Keanu was very young. Shane didn't like this and attacked Karen with a kitchen knife, stabbing her multiple times, attempting to kill her. Luckily, Karen managed to get to safety and survived, spending many weeks in intensive care. Shane was arrested and pleaded guilty, later getting sentenced to twelve years. After he was released, Shane committed another crime and was sent back to prison. During this time, Karen met another man and gave birth to a daughter, Bernadette. Karen and Mitch decided to rekindle their romance soon after and 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.

Karen recalls having postnatal depression. On 28 July 2022, she tells Callum Highway she believes her mum had it as she threatened to throw Karen off the balcony multiple times.

Storylines

2017-2019: Arrival, Bernie's baby loss, constant money struggles, and reuniting with Mitch

Karen, Keanu and Bernadette arrive on Albert Square and Karen introduces herself to some of the neighbours, who are horrified by their rowdy behaviour. Louise Mitchell is horrified to discover that Keegan Baker, who claims to have had sex with Louise, is Karen's son and is moving in. Ted and Joyce Murray are also horrified to discover the Taylors are living above them, as Karen caused their friend to suffer a nervous breakdown when they were previously neighbours in Walford Towers. Karen is revealed to be on benefits. She is annoyed when the Murrays' friend, Joan Murfield visits, as Joan was Karen's former neighbours and regularly called the police about the Taylors. Denise Fox tries to make peace with Karen over her altercation with Keegan a few months previously, but Karen threatens violence against her if it happens again. When Louise tells her stepmother, Sharon Mitchell, that Keegan raped her, Sharon confronts Karen, so Karen punches Sharon in the face. Keegan, despite saying he made the rumour up because he likes Louise, is arrested on suspicion of rape and Karen is arrested for assault. Karen threatens Sharon with further violence. Keegan is not charged but Karen tells him she is ashamed that he lied. The family's dog, Bronson, ends up in the park's pond when he gets hold of Denise's handbag and Kush Kazemi pulls him off. Karen tries to get money out of Denise and Kush, but she backs down when Denise points out Bronson was off his lead.

Karen looks for work and after befriending Jane Beale, Jane convinces her husband, Ian, to employ her as a cleaner at their restaurant. Bernadette complains of being ill and Karen realises she could be pregnant so takes her to Dr. Natasha Black, who confirms she is pregnant. Karen asks Dr Black not to inform social services, and is against Bernadette keeping the baby. However, she later tells Bernadette is it her own choice, but Karen worries about how the family will afford to raise another child. Karen tells her sons about Bernadette's pregnancy when they argue that she is not really ill. Karen starts work for Ian but her constant talking annoys him and he sacks her after she takes burgers that she assumes are being thrown out. Karen pressures Keanu into talking to Bernadette about the father of her baby and then overhears Bernadette talking to Keanu, who Karen thinks may be the baby's father. Karen confronts Keanu, asking if he is the father, and Keanu is hurt that Karen thinks that, but admits the father is in Bernadette's year.

Karen and Bernadette clean the house for a social services visit and get some second-hand baby clothes. Bernadette steals some baby clothes from pregnant Stacey Fowler's and Karen scolds Bernadette's action. Karen ignores the bailiffs when they visit. Following a gas explosion, Bernadette suffers a miscarriage, devastating Bernadette, Karen and Keanu. Bernadette goes to see her daughter at the hospital and returns home with a box containing her daughter's footprints and is further angry with Karen for allowing the hospital to cremate her. Karen decides to do a memorial after speaking to Shirley Carter. Keegan punches Callum when he realises he is the father, but Callum joins the family for the memorial and Bernadette reveals they were going to name their daughter Belle. After Keegan's initial hostility, he admits to Karen that he blames himself for Bernadette's miscarriage as he was not there for her. When Riley and Chatham return home, they ask questions about the baby and Shirley comforts Karen when she breaks down.

After Keanu begins showing a romantic interest in Ingrid Solberg, Keanu agrees for Karen to meet her. When Ingrid is due to come round, Karen accidentally lets the bailiffs in. When Janet Mitchell is knocked over accidentally by Tina Carter, Janet's father Billy Mitchell wants to get Janet a dog. Karen agrees that Billy can have Bronson for a few nights for Janet. Karen panics when Riley and Chatham have been collected from school by a loan shark called Lloyd that she has borrowed money from. He allows her time to get the cash within 24 hours and she manages to get money by selling Riley and Chatham's games console. However Lloyd claims she is still overdue from the first repayment; he orders bailiffs to remove her television set which upsets Karen. Desperate for the cash, Karen reluctantly decides to pawn a wedding ring that she has kept. However Keanu tries to convince her not to as it had belonged to his grandmother. When Karen decorates the flat for Christmas, she finds Stacey's phone that was taken and hidden by Riley and Chatham. Karen finds out that it was Riley and Chatham when she confronts her children and Karen later takes on the role of the angel in the Nativity. When the Taylors belongings are removed by bailiffs due to Karen failing to repay loans and they can get them back the next day if they can raise £1000, Karen and Bernadette go to visit Karen's sister, Kandice Taylor. Kandice agrees to loan them the money, but when Karen begins arguing with her, Kandice changes her mind. Bernadette meets up with Kandice and emotionally pleads with Kandice to help, but she apologetically refuses to and when the bailiffs are due to visit, Kandice turns up with the money. After bickering again and Karen throwing the money back, Karen and Kandice make up.

When Karen sees Apostolos Papadopolous in the launderette, she accuses him of being an asylum seeker, without realising he is the owner, and he ejects her when she asks for a job interview. However, she calls him and puts on a posh accent to secure an interview. When she attends it, he is angry but she manages to convince him that she is the right person for the job and he offers it to her. However, she is confused when she takes down the job advert and it reappears. She is furious when she learns Masood Ahmed has been offered the job, so Apostolos says he will offer the job to whoever does the cleaning of the launderette the best, however, they argue and spill bleach, but later Masood says he was to blame so Apostolos offers Karen the job but only because an employment agency failed to send anyone. Karen then offers a personal ironing service to the customers in a bid to make more cash, but receives complaints when she mixes up people's clothes. Karen's ex-boyfriend and the father of Keegan and Chantelle, Mitch, arrives on Albert Square and he is warned away from the family by Keanu, but he later returns and he shouts for Karen and Keegan at the flat, but Keanu punches him. Mitch flirts with Karen at the launderette whilst she is working and when Karen brings Mitch home, Keegan, Keanu and Bernadette do not want Mitch's presence, but Karen later sneaks him into the flat. Keanu is disgusted with Karen for letting Mitch stay the night and Mitch brings up Keanu's father. Karen attempts to reluctantly talk to Keanu about his father, but she fails and talks to Mitch about her being stabbed by Keanu's father. Karen considers re-conciliating with Mitch, however she discovers that he has a girlfriend and that his girlfriend is pregnant. Karen breaks up with Mitch and he leaves Walford.

Karen helps to contribute money to raise for Kat Moon's funeral and Karen is angry to discover that Kat is alive and her grandmother Mo Harris was behind Kat's "death". Karen tries to attack Mo, but Kat confronts her, causing a fight between the pair, which then leads to a bar fight. Karen and Kat continue their feud and when Kat advertises her cleaning business in the laundrette, another fight between the pair occur. However, both Karen and Kat make up and become friends. Karen is devastated to discover that Keegan has been stabbed. Keegan survives the attack but his friend Shakil Kazemi dies from his injuries. This causes Karen to remember when Keanu's dad tried to attack her with a knife whilst she was pregnant. Karen supports Keegan, who plans revenge against the boys behind the attack. Without Karen's knowledge, Keegan confronts some of the boys behind the attack and accidentally stabs one of them. Carmel Kazemi discovers the boy and lies to Keegan that he has killed him. Keegan discovers Carmel's lie and this leads to a confrontation between Karen and Carmel, but Karen understands Carmel's reasons behind the lie and forces Keegan to apologize to Carmel. Karen discovers that her son Keanu is having an affair with her married rival Sharon. She forces them to end the affair, but she learns that Keanu and Sharon are still sleeping together so she confronts Sharon. Keanu reveals to Karen that someone is blackmailing them and they discover that it is Louise Mitchell and Karen threatens Louise.

Mitch returns to Walford with his daughter Bailey Baker and he lies to Karen that Bailey is his friend's daughter. Karen later discovers that Bailey is his own biological daughter. Mitch wants Bailey to live with the Taylors as her mother Dinah Wilson is due to die from multiple sclerosis. Karen cannot let Bailey live with her because she has no space, but agrees to help Bailey and her mother. However, she agrees to let Bailey live with her when her mother dies. Louise's father Phil Mitchell sends Keanu to Spain to help him look after his business, but Karen is worried that she has not spoken to Keanu for several weeks and blackmails Sharon to tell Phil to bring Keanu back to Walford; otherwise she will expose their affair. Karen sees a photo of Keanu being beaten up in Spain and Phil goes back to Spain to bring him back. Meanwhile, Keegan's drug addiction is exposed when he almost overdoses and Karen has a fight with Whitney Dean, about her sister Tiffany supplying Keegan with drugs. Karen calls the police on Tiffany who is arrested and questioned. However, Karen agrees to drop the charges when she discovers that Mitch knew about Keegan's drug addiction and that it has been going on for a while.

Karen and Mitch's daughter Chantelle Atkins arrives in Walford as a hairdresser, who Kim Fox contacts to work as a new hairdresser in her and her sister Denise Fox's new salon, Fox & Hair. During celebratory drinks in The Queen Victoria, Chantelle bumps into Mitch, who she has not seen for a long time. Chantelle later meets Karen and reconnects with her family after moving into 1 Albert Square with her husband, Gray Atkins and her kids, Mia and Mackenzie Atkins.

2020-2023: Chantelle's death, Gray's arrest, meeting the Baker brothers and exit

After Chantelle is brutally murdered by her abusive husband Gray in September 2020, Karen is distraught as she had only reconnected with her the year prior. She maintains an on-off relationship with Mitch during 2020 and 2021, and they often step in to look after their grandchildren and Chantelle's kids, Mia and Mackenzie.

In March 2022, nearly two years after Chantelle was killed, it was finally revealed to Karen and her family that Gray killed Chantelle, as well as Tina Carter and Kush Kazemi, when Gray's new wife, Chelsea Atkins calls the police on him. Gray flees his house to find his kids. He gets to Karen's flat and demands she wakes up the children as he is going to take them with him. Karen is hesitant at first, and ends up stopping Gray from taking the children. She demands to know why the Police are after him, and Gray tells her the truth about Chantelle's death, also telling her that he abused her too. Karen finds it hard to believe as she thought Gray was a good man. Karen and Gray have a small altercation before Karen smashes her window and tells the police about Gray's whereabouts. Gray is forced to leave the flat as the kids hug Karen for protection. Keegan later leaves Walford to live in Germany with his wife Tiffany.

In July 2022, the brother of Mitch, Avery Baker, arrives in Walford knowing he hasn't got long left due to his terminal cancer and wanting to spend time with Mitch and his family. Mitch is reluctant at first as he believes Avery is still doing dodgy deals like he used to and is still annoyed that Avery didn't support him when his daughter Chantelle passed away. However, when Avery passes out at 23B Albert Square, Karen and Mitch take him to the hospital and call his sons Felix and Finlay Baker. When the boys arrive, they tell Mitch that Avery has cancer and it's terminal. After this, Avery moves in with Mitch and the Taylors at Albert square. Unfortunately Avery is bed bound but Mitch is determined to make Avery's last wish of going to a jerk chicken restaurant they went to when they were kids come true, so with the help of Karen and Patrick Trueman, Mitch decorates the Laundrette and has a Caribbean party. He takes Avery there, where he spends his last few hours surrounded by his family, Mitch, Karen Felix, Finlay, Bailey, Mia and Mackenzie, as well as Bernadette. Avery passes away due to his cancer in Mitch's arms, his dying wish being for Mitch to look out for Felix and Finlay.

Keanu returns in December 2022 to see his family, in particular his son Albie Watts. In 2023, 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. Karen is among the residents at the Queen Vic that judge Zack Hudson when he reveals he is HIV positive, although Karen later apologises to Zack after she is told off by Felix. On 13 June 2023 Gray writes a letter to Mitch demanding to see his kids, Mitch tells Chelsea about the letter while in the Cafe and tells Chelsea he is going to tell Karen about the letter. Mitch asks if Chelsea she is going to let Gray see Jordan, Chelsea tells Mitch that she isn't letting "that psychopath" anywhere near Jordan. Karen later leaves Sonia and Reiss Colwell angry when she makes a joke about Reiss' infertility and later argues with Sharon about seeing Albie but is told by Phil to "do one".

Sharon later talks to Keanu and tells him she wants to get a solicitor to arrange a parenting plan for her and Keanu, Keanu is on-board with the idea and later meets Sharon and her solicitor at The Boxing Den with Karen. Keanu and Karen read the paper work but Keanu notices a section that says Sharon will have the right to decide Albie's future. Sharon then reveals to Keanu that she has a job coming up in Abu Dhabi and she will be taking Albie for a year, Keanu is furious and doesn't agree to Sharon's conditions but due to Keanu not being on Albie's birth certificate the solicitor tells Keanu he doesn't have any rights over Albie. Karen later gets into a furious argument with Sharon and a humiliated Karen later suggested to Keanu that he should marry Sharon so he can get rights to Albie and take everything from Sharon, Keanu is reluctant but eventually agrees and sets out to seduce Sharon. Keanu wins Sharon around by revealing to her and Phil that Dorian Gates has been match fixing the boxing matches at the Boxing Den, later on Keanu successfully seduces Sharon.Keanu later kidnaps Albie but when Albie keeps calling out for Sharon Keanu can't go through with it and calls Karen, Keanu tells Karen to take Albie to Kandice Taylor's. Keanu then goes to see Sharon and Zack who have both called the police, Sharon and Zack both grab Keanu and in a panic Keanu claims that he took Albie to the park and he turned his back to get an ice cream for Albie and someone took him. Sharon is devastated and the police interview Sharon and Keanu, Keanu suggests it could be Dorian but Dorian is found by the police in Birmingham and has an alibi, ruling him out of being a suspect. In order to cover his tracks Keanu posts a ransom note through Sharon's door demanding £50,000 in exchange for Albie to be returned.

Keanu later kidnaps Albie but when Albie keeps calling out for Sharon Keanu can't go through with it and calls Karen, Keanu tells Karen to take Albie to Kandice's. Keanu then goes to see Sharon and Zack who have both called the police, Sharon and Zack both grab Keanu and in a panic Keanu claims that he took Albie to the park and he turned his back to get an ice cream for Albie and someone took him. Sharon is devastated and the police interview Sharon and Keanu, Keanu suggests it could be Dorian but Dorian is found by the police in Birmingham and has an alibi, ruling him out of being a suspect. In order to cover his tracks Keanu posts a ransom note through Sharon's door demanding £50,000 in exchange for Albie to be returned. Karen is panicked by Keanu's actions believing that they're both going to go to prison. Phil and Kat later hear about Albie's kidnap and offers to give them the money and help, Sharon and Keanu later confront Dorian and he swears that he didn't take Albie and says he was with his daughter and even shows them a picture. Keanu and Sharon believe Dorian and he tells them he hopes they get Albie back, Karen posts another ransom note through the door and tells them to drop the money off tomorrow and they will get Albie back. Phil offers to take the money to the kidnapper and kill them, Sharon accepts leaving Keanu worried.

Keanu later convinces Sharon to let Karen drop off the money instead of Phil and Sharon agrees, Karen then gets the Albie from Kandice's boyfriend Malcom and returns Albie to Sharon. Keanu then begs Sharon not to take Albie away from him and Sharon tells Keanu that she won't go to Abu Dhabi and Keanu tells her he also wants her back, the two then kiss and reunite. Karen does not approve of Keanu getting back together and visits Sharon and tries to convince Sharon not to get back with Keanu but Sharon tells Keanu, Keanu is furious with Karen and storms around to the house and demands Phil's money but Karem refuses to give it him. Telling Keanu that when him and Sharon inevitably don't work out again he will need the most expensive lawyer, Keanu then square's up to Karen clenching his fist. Two weeks later Keanu tries to get the money off Karen again but both are caught by Mitch, they both admit to Albie's kidnap leaving Mitch disgusted.

Phil gets suspicious when he sees Karen spending money in the Vic, when Karen gives Kat £2,000 to pay for damage to a car that Mitch accidentally crashed into. Phil checks the money and notices it is his marked notes that he gave to Sharon to pay off Albie's kidnapper, Phil is convinced that the Taylor's kidnapped Albie and he asks Sam to find proof, Sam later finds a picture on Karen's brother-in-law's social media with Albie from the day after he was kidnapped. Phil gains further proof when he sends Tommy around to Karen's and he finds Phil's money under her bed, before Tommy can take the money back he is interrupted by Felix, Tommy takes a couple of the notes and gives them to Phil. Phil then goes to the Vic and confronts all the Taylor's and reveals the true circumstances behind Albie's kidnap infront of Sharon. 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, 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. Karen returns to find Keanu, unaware that he was killed by Linda and buried under the café by Linda, Sharon, Denise, Suki, Stacey and Kathy.

Kill count

Attempted murder victims

  1. Gray Atkins (10 March 2022) - Attempts to hit him with a baseball bat after he tells her that he killed Chantelle but misses.


Employment history

Occupation Years
Manageress of the Launderette 2018-2023
Telephone Operator at Kat's Cabs 2021 -2023

Residence

Address Years
Walford Towers Prior to 2017-2017
23B Albert Square 2017 -2023
Spain 2023 to present

Quotes

  • To her family and neighbours (when arriving in Walford; first line): "Right, everyone out! You all right? Karen Taylor, just moving in." (15 June 2017)

See also

Advertisement