EastEnders star Lorraine Stanley to be written out of Karen Taylor role

A source told The Sun on Sunday: "It’s always a tough call for bosses when deciding which characters will leave the soap, but it has to be done to keep storylines fresh and create new arcs for characters.

"Lorraine had a great run on the soap and was a real scene stealer with her comic timing and she has certainly made her mark with fans."

RadioTimes.com understands that it was the decision of the production team to write out Karen and her final scenes will air later this year.

The news comes alongside the story that actress Shona McGarty has quit her long-running role as Whitney Dean.

Karen Taylor was introduced as the matriarch of the all-new Taylor family in EastEnders in 2017, arriving during the controversial era under executive producer Sean O'Connor.

As the mother of popular characters including Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters), Keegan Baker (Zack Morris), Bernadette Taylor (Clair Norris), and Chantelle Atkins (Jessica Plummer), Karen has been at the centre of many of their storylines.

Karen has been a staple in Walford since her arrival, with a job at the launderette and regularly raiding the buffet table at events in the Queen Vic pub.

Among her storylines outside of clashing with Keanu's lover Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) and mourning the loss of her daughter Chantelle, Karen enjoyed romances with her ex-partner Mitch Baker (Roger Griffiths) and Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick).

The role of Karen was not the first EastEnders character to be played by Lorraine Stanley, with the actress having portrayed a younger version of Mo Harris (Laila Morse) in the spin-off special EastEnders: Pat & Mo in 2004 and then playing Linda's rival pub landlady Thelma Bragg in 2016.

It is currently unknown how Karen will depart from the soap, but fans can rest assured it will be dramatic.

Read More

• EastEnders 2023 summer preview: 5 spoilers from Chris Clenshaw
• 8 EastEnders spoilers for next week: Freddie Slater meets his evil father
• EastEnders’ Bobby Brazier predicts heartache in Freddie’s search for dad
• EastEnders’ Molly Rainford on Anna Knight stealing to find ‘Rose Knight’
• EastEnders return confirmed for villain Graham Foster who raped Little Mo
• EastEnders' Gillian Taylforth teases Kathy and Rocky future after Jo's threats
• EastEnders is nowhere near the axe – it's having a renaissance
• EastEnders' subtle flash-forward clue may hint at Christmas murder victim
• EastEnders spoilers: Sharon Watts betrayal of Keanu exposed by voicemail?
• EastEnders’ Patsy Kensit to return for another appearance as Lola’s mum
• EastEnders star confirms Nish Panesar comeuppance amid Christmas theories
• EastEnders airs Christmas flash-forward clue with amber cufflinks twist
• EastEnders summer return for Angela Wynter as Yolande Trueman
• EastEnders' Michelle Collins confirms flashbacks and Cindy Beale breakdown
• EastEnders boss Chris Clenshaw reveals impact of Cindy return on Knights
• EastEnders' Adam Woodyatt hypes up Ian reunions with Phil and Sharon
• EastEnders' Michelle Collins teases Cindy's scenes with love rival Elaine
• 15 EastEnders questions we still have after Cindy and Ian Beale's return

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and from 6am on BBC iPlayer. Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.

Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.