Carmel Jackson

Name: Carmel Jackson
First Appeared: 5th June 1986
Last Appeared: 24th August 1989
Played by: Judith Jacob

Carmel Jackson, née Roberts, made quite the impression when she first arrived in Walford in June 1986. As Michelle Fowler’s health visitor, Carmel was instantly recognizable with her long dreadlocks and colourful attire. Her West Indian heritage mixed with a British upbringing made her a lively addition to the square. Carmel was kept busy handling some of Walford’s most difficult cases, from Mary Smith, the troubled prostitute, to the self-destructing heroin addict Donna Ludlow, and even the mentally unstable Sue Osman. Carmel’s presence was a breath of fresh air amidst the chaos of Albert Square.

In December 1986, Carmel started dating Kelvin Carpenter, much to the dismay of his parents. They lived together for a while, but the age difference took its toll, and Carmel grew tired of Kelvin’s immaturity, eventually dumping him publicly in The Queen Vic. Life in Walford got even more complicated when her brother Darren and his children, Junior and Aisha, moved in. Darren’s criminal antics and scams were a stark contrast to Carmel’s law-abiding nature. This tension escalated when Carmel reported Darren to the truancy officer and later threw him out after his racist objections to her relationship with Matthew Jackson.

Carmel’s relationship with Matthew seemed promising at first, and they got engaged in 1988. Despite a rocky start due to family tensions, they married in January 1989. However, their honeymoon phase was short-lived as Matthew’s violent tendencies emerged. The situation worsened when Carmel had to take in Junior and Aisha after their grandparents couldn’t cope. Matthew’s jealousy and violent outbursts continued, causing a strain in their relationship. Despite several attempts to reconcile, the abuse persisted, leading to a dramatic climax where Junior stabbed Matthew to protect Carmel. Realizing she couldn’t change Matthew, Carmel ended the marriage and threw him out.

In July 1989, after Matthew’s departure, Carmel faced another blow with the death of her father. She decided to leave Walford, taking Junior and Aisha with her to care for her mother.