Lilly Mattock

Name: Lilly Mattock
First Appeared: 5th November 1998
Last Appeared: 2nd October 1999
Played by: Barbara Keogh

Lilly Mattock, the former showgirl of the Westwood Girls, waltzed into Albert Square in 1998 with a splash of glam and cheeky charm. A hoofer who’d performed throughout Europe and the Far East post-World War II, Lilly was no stranger to the spotlight. After her husband, Jack Temple, passed away in 1983, Lilly found herself moving in with Dot Cotton when both their homes burned down. The dynamic between the two couldn’t have been more different—Lilly’s fun-loving personality often clashed with Dot’s more conservative ways, leading to plenty of humorous moments, like when Lilly tried convincing Dot that Jeff Healy had amorous intentions towards her.

Never one to let age slow her down, Lilly gave the youngsters of Walford a run for their money. She was a regular at the e20 club, so much so that owner Steve Owen eventually barred her to prevent her from upstaging his younger clientele. Lilly also found herself trouncing Huw Edwards and Lenny Wallace at poker, and making quite the spectacle at salsa classes. Her zest for life was infectious, even if it did lead to a few raised eyebrows.

Lilly worked at the First Till Last grocery store for Terry and Irene Raymond and befriended a local youth, Gareth Wiley, who was staying in a nearby dosshouse. When Gareth’s debts caught up with him, he panicked and demanded Lilly’s handbag during a party, knocking her down in the process. This traumatic event led to Lilly becoming a recluse, struggling with her newfound fragility and the realization that she wasn’t as strong as she believed.

The differences between Lilly and Dot eventually took their toll, and in 1999, Lilly decided to leave Walford. With the insurance cheque for her flat finally coming through, she moved into sheltered accommodation, leaving Dot to move in with Pauline Fowler