Yolande Trueman has graced our screens for almost two decades. From her dramatic entrances to her jaw-dropping exits, Yolande’s journey has been nothing short of a soap opera masterclass. As we gear up for her most monumental episode yet on Tuesday 7th May 2024, let’s rewind and reminisce over Patrick’s formidable queen…
Yolande Trueman, the fabulous creation of Angela Wynter, sashayed into the world of EastEnders, and our hearts on the 16th of September, 2003 (Episode 2588). She was an unexpected arrival on Albert Square, who turned up with no warning. Patrick Trueman, the Walford wide boy, had a bit of a romantic escapade offscreen in Trinidad, which left his sons Anthony and Paul to hog the limelight back home. In a chit-chat with his best mate Jim Branning, the idea popped up to bring Yolande over to Britain. Now, whether Jim was playing cupid to boost Patrick’s love life or just wanted some peace and quiet from his constant yammering, we’ll never know. That secret’s buried deep in the mystery that is Jim’s mind.
EastEnders is no stranger to tossing in new characters that shake up the alleyways of Albert Square. Usually, these fresh faces come swinging into the drama with a backstory that could fill a novel and have relatives popping out of the woodwork like a Mitchell reunion at a crushed-car convention. But lo and behold, the latest addition had nothing – no kin, no history, not even a roof over their head. How on earth would this enigmatic figure slot into the bustling tapestry of Albert Square? Was it an attempt to sprinkle a bit of diversity into the mix, a dash of spice to the predominantly English working-class stew? Or was it a desperate Hail Mary to revive Walford’s spirits, akin to the upcoming, much hyped but underwhelming arrival of the Ferreira clan?
Turns out, our fretting was for naught.
HEARING THE DRUMBEAT…
In the dramatic climax of her debut, it was unveiled that Patrick, our charming scoundrel, had encountered the exotic enchantress Yolande during his vacation escapades, leading to a sizzling romance. Talk about a lightning strike of passion! These two sizzled more than a summer BBQ at The Queen Vic. But, oh, the twist! Victor, Yolande’s stern, buttoned-up spouse, with old-school views on matrimony, was none too pleased. Believing Patrick was after a fleeting tryst, Yolande nearly bade farewell, but a last-minute declaration of love (and a daring taxi dodge) by Patrick changed the game. Cue the Julia’s Theme, right?
In a dramatic twist only Walford could muster, Victor barged in, determined to drag Yolande back to Trinidad, waving a measly £10,000 at Patrick as a ‘please-take-this-and-let-me-take-my-wife’ deal. Patrick, in a moment of sheer brilliance, declined (because, obviously!) and gave Victor directions to the nearest exit. But this is EastEnders, where misunderstandings are as common as rain in London; Yolande sees the cash in Patrick’s grip and jumps to conclusions. Mortified, she jets off to Trinidad solo, cash in tow. Fast forward a month, and she was back, having ditched the tyrant husband and now ready to embrace the Walford way of life, proving she’s the only one who can tame Patrick’s questionable hobby of betting on horses all day long.
Yolande, as originally envisioned by the BBC, is the essence of effervescence and optimism. Her faith isn’t just a footnote; it’s the headline of her character, resonating powerfully within the Walford community. With sass that’s nothing short of defiant, loyalty that’s unshakeable, and a no-nonsense attitude, she embodies the quintessential ‘woman of the community’ – echoing the familiar traits of our aunts, sisters, mothers, and grandmothers. Yolande breezed into Walford like a gust of fresh air, yet beneath her robust exterior, there lurked a vulnerability that was rarely glimpsed, most often through her interactions with her show-stealing counterpart, Patrick. The now-defunct website once declared her “the best thing that’s happened to Patrick,” a sentiment that’s tough to argue with.
THE MOMENT I WAKE UP…
Fast forward ten months and it’s wedding bells for Patrick and Yolande, with Patrick’s sons Paul and Anthony cheering from the pews. And, in a moment that’s sure to be replayed on all future ‘EastEnders’ Greatest Moments’ lists, a choir belts out a gospel rendition of Aretha Franklin’s “I Say a Little Prayer.” With their feet firmly on the ground, the Truemans kick off their marital bliss by launching a budding business dynasty in Walford, taking the reins of the Minute Mart, the B&B, and – despite a rocky start thanks to Patrick’s less-than-stellar accounting skills – Trueman’s Motors.
In 2006, Yolande stirred up a storm in Walford when Pat Evans, the queen bee of the car lot, took on the books at Trueman’s Motors. But when she also decided she wanted her turf back, sparks flew! The drama hit peak soap opera when Pat and Patrick’s lips (amongst other things) locked, his Trilby stayed on (another glorious moment for that list) and Stacey Slater, shop-worker supreme, spilled the beans to Yolande. The Queen Vic bore witness to the showdown, and let’s just say, Yolande’s calm demeanour was out the window! She transformed into a vengeful deity, ready to unleash fury on Pat, who had dared to tango with her man. The slap heard ’round Walford was epic, a moment of TV gold. In a twist of revenge, Yolande flirted with the idea of a fling with Kevin Wicks, but her conscience kicked in, and she bailed. The next day, she came clean to Patrick about her near-miss infidelity and, with a heavy heart, gave him a shot at redemption.
In 2008, Patrick made a bit of a chilly mistake at the Minute Mart by turning off the chiller cabinet, leading to an unexpected ‘hot’ sale of unchilled goodies. This culinary misadventure served up a buffet of food poisoning, with local chatterbox Dot Branning leading the chorus of rumbling stomachs. The uproar summoned an inspector from the corporate office, who, instead of doling out a scolding, was wowed by Yolande’s clean-up act. So much so, she landed a swanky new gig at the Minute Mart HQ in Birmingham. Yolande was over the moon and ready to pack her bags, but Patrick, the man of the hour, wasn’t quite ready to leave Walford behind, preferring the devil he knew over the angel he didn’t.
On the 3rd of October, 2008, Yolande bid farewell to Walford with a suitcase full of dreams and a heart brimming with hope. Her leaving do was a shocker – she was flying solo to Birmingham! Meanwhile, Patrick, ever the charmer, promised to join her post-house sale. But plot twist: no romantic reunion, just the cold arrival of divorce papers in May 2009. And just like that, a nation’s collective heart shattered. Cue the dramatic ‘Doof-Doof’ as the curtain fell.
DOOF-DOOF!
The soap opera skies of Walford were clouded with dismay as fans and Angela Wynter alike were left in a tizzy. The bigwigs at the Beeb decided not to renew Wynter’s contract, citing a creative drought in dreaming up new escapades for her character. Wynter, however, wasn’t buying it and quipped to Digital Spy that writers should be able to spin tales as easily as a barista froths a cappuccino. She speculated that her exit might be due to the show’s cast resembling a United Nations gathering more than a typical East End pub crowd. Wynter took pride in her role as Yolande, considering herself woven into the very tapestry of the show. The on-screen marriage of Patrick and Yolande stood as a rare gem of black representation on British TV, leaving fans to mourn the loss of Yolande’s presence, which left a gap as noticeable as a missing dart from the Queen Vic’s board. Yet, in the hearts of the Fox-Trueman clan, and viewers alike, Yolande’s legacy endured, as indelible as the ink on Heather’s lucky yoghurt lid.
In 2017 Yolande, like a comet returning to our orbit, made two fleeting yet memorable appearances. First, Denise Fox was summoned to the corporate lair, tasked with explaining her shenanigans that threw shade at the Minute Mart in the Walford Gazette. Then, in a June encore, Yolande popped up again to celebrate Patrick’s birthday, complete with dancing and a trip down memory lane. Sparks flew, nostalgia reigned, and fans were left clamouring for an encore of this dynamic duo.
EPIC RETURN!
In a twist that could only happen in Walford, in 2023 Patrick, after a school project epiphany, decided Yolande was the love of his life and set off to reclaim her heart. Fast forward to August, and Yolande was back, but not quite the firecracker we remembered. Her partner Anton had given her the boot for reigniting her old flame with Patrick. Now, she was knocking on Patrick’s door, suitcase in hand, hoping for a couch to crash on, but Patrick was not rolling out the welcome mat just yet.
Rewind 19 years and it’s déjà vu all over again! Patrick, in a last-minute twist, decides Yolande is the one. He dashes through the streets to Walford East Tube Station, just in time to stop her from leaving. Fast forward to a heart-warming heart-to-heart and a spontaneous dance in the laundrette, and voilà, they’re a couple once more. It’s like a soap opera… oh wait, it is!
VITAL ROLE
In a bold move for EastEnders, Yolande has now found herself at the heart of a gripping storyline, where she has been sexually assaulted by Pastor Gideon Clayton during a church event at the local community centre. It’s a narrative pivot that places Yolande in the spotlight, showcasing her resilience and dynamism that has not only uplifted the Fox-Trueman clan but also the entire Square. Angela Wynter is delivering a performance that is both heartbreakingly authentic and a testament to her immense talent. The show’s handling of the storyline with the gravity it warrants is evident, marking a significant moment in the series’ history.
Yolande’s return to Albert Square has been like a lightning bolt, striking things up and keeping it as lively as ever. She’s woven into the very essence of the place. While other characters have drifted in and out of the Fox-Trueman saga, Yolande remains the steadfast pillar for Patrick, supporting him against all odds and life’s curveballs.
And he’ll support her when it counts.
A Walk Through Walford 
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