Linda Clarke

Name: Linda Clarke
First Appeared: 27th November 2006
Last Appeared: 10th June 2016
Played by: Lynda Baron

Linda Clarke, mother of Jane and Christian Clarke and adoptive grandmother of Bobby Beale, was never one to shy away from a bit of drama. In 2006, she surprised her daughter by showing up for Jane’s wedding to Ian Beale. Linda wasted no time causing a stir, calling Ian a bad father after overhearing Lucy’s conversation about strippers. She wasn’t done there; she criticized Pat Evans’ earrings at the hen party and berated Jane for wearing white for a second marriage. Linda also revealed that Jane’s birth name was Lesley, insisting on calling her that throughout her stay. When Jane’s affair with Grant Mitchell was exposed at the wedding, Linda made a swift exit back to Florida.

Linda returned in November 2008, announcing that she and her husband Roger had gone on separate holidays. Ian roped her into a cake-baking competition against Shirley Carter, which didn’t go well. Linda got upset, started drinking, and ended up making a poor attempt at the cake. Later, a very drunk Linda tried to flirt with Charlie Slater at The Queen Victoria pub, offending his girlfriend Brenda Boyle. Linda confessed to Ian and Jane that she had split from Roger and planned to move in with them.

Christian hadn’t seen his mother for nearly twenty years before her return to Walford. Initially, he wanted to keep his distance, but after learning about Lucy and Peter Beale’s loss of their mother, Christian tried to rebuild his relationship with Linda. She briefly moved in with him, but when Christian announced his plan to raise Roxy Mitchell’s daughter Amy, Linda had doubts. After Roxy changed her mind and Christian reverted to his promiscuous ways, Linda decided to move back in with Jane and Ian. She continued living with the Beales over Christmas.

In January 2009, Linda received a letter from Roger asking her to come back. Confused, she sought solace at The Queen Vic, sharing drinks with Patrick Trueman. Things escalated, and Jane and Denise Wicks later found Linda and Patrick kissing passionately. The next day, Patrick expressed his hope for reconciliation with his wife Yolande. Trying to move on from her marriage, Linda decided to stay in Walford, but Ian suggested she move into sheltered accommodation. After falling and hurting her leg, Ian suspected it was a ploy for her to stay. While Linda slept, Ian stole the letter and invited Roger to fetch her. Roger arrived, declared his affair was over, and asked Linda to return to Florida. Despite Christian’s warnings, Linda chose to leave with Roger. She made a brief return in 2016 when Jane was brutally attacked by Bobby Beale, but after ensuring Jane was in safe hands, Linda returned to Florida once more.