New EastEnders star Lorraine Stanley joining as Karen Taylor appeared in the soap before as Thelma Bragg… and young Mo Harris in spin-off
EASTENDERS will be welcoming a brash new family to the Square - but one face will look VERY familiar to some eagle-eyed soap fans.
That's because actress Lorraine Stanley, who will be playing the Taylors' matriarch Karen, has appeared in EastEnders before as Thelma Bragg in 2016.
And she also appeared as young Mo Harris in the BBC soap's spin-off Pat and Mo.
Last year, Lorraine's character Thelma was on-screen friends with Kellie Bright's character Linda Carter.
She appeared in eight episodes which saw Thelma's daughter Linzi become part of Jay's underage sex storyline after she slept with him when she was just 14 years old.
Thelma's big scene involved her storming into the pub, exposing Jay and branding him a "nonce".
Before that, she played young Mo Harris in a 2004 spin-off, which explored the history of Mo and Pat Butcher.
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The hour-long special revealed what had caused the feud between the former friends as they met at the grave of Pat's brother and Mo's husband Jimmy.
Lorraine has previously starred in a number of big films such as Suffragette and Made in Dagenham.
Her latest soap character, Karen, is described as “a fierce woman” who is “kind-hearted and loyal” and “won’t hear a bad word said against her brood".
Speaking about her latest role, she said: "I’m chuffed to be cast in such an iconic show that I’ve grown up watching. Working with my new family is really quite special, and I’m proud to play their mum."
Lorraine will be joining Walford with Danny Walters, Clair Norris and real life brothers Tom and Alfie Jacobs, all of whom will be playing her children.
Bronson the dog and a bearded dragon named Rooney complete the clan.
The BBC also promise the Taylor family are harbouring "a secret".
EastEnders executive producer Sean O’Connor is bigging up the arrival of the new family - and promises they will bring plenty of drama.
He said in a statement: “I’m hugely excited at the arrival of Karen and her family in Albert Square. They’re noisy, brash and not-to-be-messed-with."
- EastEnders airs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights on BBC One
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