Clyde Tavernier

Name: Clyde Tavernier
First Appeared: 5th July 1990
Last Appeared: 22nd July 1993
Played by: Steven Woodcock

Clyde Tavernier burst onto the scene in Albert Square in July 1990, making his mark with a job at The Queen Victoria pub as a potman. It wasn’t long before Clyde found himself under suspicion for a series of money thefts at the pub, with his boss Eddie Royle pointing the finger at him. Clyde, understandably, felt this was due to the colour of his skin. However, it soon emerged that Ian Beale had been trying to frame barman Simon Wicks, and Clyde was cleared of any wrongdoing. When Clyde discovered that his son Kofi’s grandparents planned to take Kofi to Jamaica permanently, he rushed to the airport to stop them. After some convincing, Clyde was granted custody, and Kofi moved in with him and his family.

In 1991, Clyde struck up a friendship with Michelle Fowler. Both were single parents, and their kids often played together. While Michelle had a crush on Clyde, he only saw her as a friend and started dating Karen, a lounge singer. This relationship irked a jealous Michelle but ended when Karen moved to Manchester. At Michelle’s birthday party, she managed to seduce Clyde, which led to regret and awkwardness on both sides. However, after some time, they repaired their friendship.

Clyde’s life took a punchy turn when he resumed his boxing career, spurred on by Phil and Grant Mitchell, who planned to exploit him in the ring. Their scheme backfired when Clyde won against a superior fighter. Meanwhile, tension with Eddie Royle re-emerged when Eddie tried to involve Clyde in a betting scam. Refusing to participate, Clyde later found Eddie’s murdered body and, in a panic, accidentally picked up the knife used in the crime. Nick Cotton, the real murderer, framed Clyde, leading to a manhunt. Clyde went on the run with Kofi, and with Michelle’s help, they tried to flee to Jamaica but were eventually caught. Clyde was imprisoned but later released when a witness identified Nick as the true killer. Clyde and Michelle rekindled their romance soon after.

In 1992, Clyde and Michelle’s relationship faced scrutiny due to its interracial nature. They struggled with the judgment of others but decided to be open about their relationship. Clyde’s family initially disapproved, leading to tension, but they eventually came around. Clyde’s relationship with Michelle ended abruptly when he caught her with another man. Soon after, Clyde embarked on a controversial relationship with Gidea Thompson, his grandfather Jules’ granddaughter from an affair. Ignoring his family’s protests, Clyde left Walford in July 1993 with Gidea to start a new life in Trinidad, closing his eventful chapter in Albert Square.