Kathy Beale

Name: Kathy Beale
First Appeared: 19th February 1985
Played by: Gillian Taylforth

Kathy Cotton has been part of the fabric of Albert Square since the very beginning, and has the unenviable job of being Ian Beale’s mum. I mean, someone has to be right? Nope, despite appearances, Kathy is a boat load of compassion wrapped up in a warm hug – providing you’re on her good side!

She’s been through blackmail, sexual assault, financial straits; she’s been cheated on, lied to and taken for a ride, but still she smiles, welcoming most people into her heart. Apart from daughter-in-law Cindy. Do not go there unless you want an historical re-enactment in full.

After a marriage to Phil Mitchell left her with only one good thing (son Ben Mitchell, although the ‘good’ is questionable), she moved to South Africa in 1998 to live out her life in the sunshine – except husband Gavin Sullivan actually faked their deaths and it took 15 years for her to find her way home to Walford, where she was eventually welcomed home with open arms… And the Square wouldn’t be the same without her!