Louise Raymond

Name: Louise Raymond
First Appeared: 12th May 1998
Last Appeared: 27th April 1999
Played by: Carol Harrison

Louise Raymond, née Simmonds, certainly knew how to make an entrance. Arriving in Albert Square in May 1998, she crashed the proceedings of her estranged husband Terry’s wedding to Irene Hills. Despite having been separated for years, Terry and Louise were still legally married, much to the surprise of everyone, including their children, Simon and Tiffany. The siblings had been left in the dubious care of their drunken and abusive father after Louise abandoned them, making her sudden reappearance a bitter pill to swallow.

Both Tiffany and Simon struggled to cope with their mother’s unexpected return, but Louise’s persistence eventually won them over. Deciding to stay in Walford, she aimed to support Tiffany through her tumultuous breakup with Grant Mitchell. Louise initially tried to keep Tiffany from reuniting with Grant, but Grant, desperate to save his marriage and stay close to his daughter Courtney, began wooing Louise. Their mutual attraction grew, leading to a fling with Gianni di Marco on Louise’s part to throw Grant off. However, on her 40th birthday, Louise and Grant gave in to their feelings and spent the night together. Wracked with guilt, Louise kept the affair secret, especially when Tiffany decided she wanted to give her marriage another try.

November 1998 saw Louise attacked, only to be rescued by Grant, which almost led to another intimate encounter. Simon’s untimely arrival interrupted them, and Grant’s subsequent attempt to keep Tiffany away from Louise led to a confrontation at the Queen Vic. Unfortunately, Tiffany overheard everything, learning about her mother’s betrayal through a baby monitor. Devastated, Tiffany planned to leave Walford but was stopped by Grant. Their argument ended with Tiffany falling down the stairs and being hospitalized. After her recovery, Tiffany cut all ties with Louise. In a final tragic twist, Tiffany was killed by Frank Butcher in a hit-and-run on New Year’s Eve 1998.

Bianca Jackson found a letter from Tiffany detailing Louise’s betrayal, leading to a fierce confrontation and Louise’s hasty departure in January 1999. She returned later that year, following Simon’s mental breakdown, and confessed her affair with Grant, worsening Simon’s condition. After another round of family drama and a dalliance with Gianni, Louise left Walford for good in April 1999.