Lorraine Stevens

Name: Lorraine Stevens
First Appeared: 26th November 1991
Last Appeared: 3rd May 2012
Played by: Victoria Alcock

Lorraine Stevens was the kind of character who could stir up drama just by walking into a room. Back in 1991, Pat Butcher met Lorraine in a bar while trying to pick up a man. Lorraine, being harassed by a bloke who implied she was a prostitute, found an unlikely ally in Pat. Lorraine soon turned up at the Butchers’ house, asking for a place to stay. She quickly outstayed her welcome and threatened to spill the beans about Pat’s bar-hopping ways to Frank Butcher, causing a bit of a rift in the Butcher household. Lorraine’s presence made Pat realise just how far she’d come from her own wild days.

In March 1992, Lorraine contacted Pat from the hospital, having been beaten up by her boyfriend, Gary. She needed Pat to take care of her 15-year-old daughter, Mandy, to prevent social services from stepping in again. Pat was reluctant but eventually agreed, and Mandy moved in with the Butchers. Lorraine was released from the hospital the following week and promptly abandoned Mandy, leaving her to fend for herself. On Christmas Eve, Lorraine promised Mandy a visit but never showed up. Mandy found Gary instead, leading to a confrontation that ended with Mandy fleeing with Mark Fowler.

Fast forward to 2012, and Lorraine made a dramatic return to Walford. Lucy Beale, thinking Lorraine was a man Mandy was having an affair with, invited her to The Queen Vic. Mandy was less than thrilled, but Lorraine quickly bonded with Ian Beale, who invited her to stay. Behind closed doors, Lorraine was verbally and physically abusive to Mandy. Lucy overheard Lorraine’s cruel words and exposed her as an alcoholic who had stolen Ian’s money. Lorraine retaliated by accusing Mandy of using Ian for money, leading Ian to kick Lorraine out in March 2012.

Lorraine didn’t stay away for long. She caused more trouble by informing Mandy’s ex-boyfriend, Alex Foster, of her whereabouts, making Ian insecure. Lorraine reappeared in April 2012, claiming she was dying from years of alcohol abuse. Mandy, initially skeptical, eventually agreed to care for her. Ian forbade it, so Mandy left Lorraine outside the tube station, where she collapsed. Mandy visited her in the hospital, and they briefly bonded before Lorraine turned nasty again, declaring she never loved Mandy. Just before Mandy’s wedding, she learned that Lorraine had died. True to Lorraine’s prediction, nobody but Mandy attended her funeral.