Sarah Cairns

Name: Sarah Cairns
First Appeared: 3rd September 2004
Last Appeared: 22nd October 2004
Played by: Alison Pargeter

Sarah Cairns’ brief yet intense time in Albert Square was anything but ordinary. Arriving in September 2004 as a barmaid at Angie’s Den nightclub, Sarah’s life took a dramatic turn when she met Martin Fowler. A night of heavy drinking led Martin to wake up in Sarah’s bed, realizing he had made a huge mistake. Despite Martin’s admission that he was married, Sarah became increasingly obsessed with him, turning into a full-blown stalker who sent him relentless text messages and declarations of love.

Things escalated quickly as Sarah’s mental instability became apparent. She stalked Martin, sent him unsolicited gifts, and even resorted to spying on him and his wife, Sonia. Her fixation reached dangerous levels when she attempted to ingratiate herself with Sonia by feigning friendship and care. This manipulation led to an alarming moment when Sarah ran in front of a van, hoping Sonia would rescue her, which she did, bringing Sarah into her home. The situation grew increasingly tense as Sarah’s lies and manipulations continued, culminating in a dramatic showdown where Martin tried to distance himself from her for good.

Sarah’s behaviour spiralled out of control. She plotted a treasure hunt for Martin, leaving unwanted gifts and staging a picnic surprise that ended in chaos. Her obsessive actions led her to confess her feelings to Martin’s mother, Pauline, who promptly sent her packing. However, Sarah returned, lying about her flat being flooded and attempting to stay in the Fowlers’ home. In a final, desperate bid to win Martin over, Sarah held Sonia hostage, revealing her knowledge of Martin’s family history and his guilt over Jamie Mitchell’s death. The confrontation ended violently, with Martin getting stabbed and Sonia knocking Sarah unconscious.

In the aftermath, Sarah was committed to a mental institution, allowing Martin and Sonia to start rebuilding their lives.