EastEnders legend Gillian Taylforth has played Kathy Beale on the BBC soap for decades, but her sister is also a well-known television star in her own right
EastEnders icon Gillian Taylforth isn’t the sole famous face in her family; her sister is a television personality too.
Gillian, 70, made her first appearance in Walford as Kathy Beale in the BBC soap’s inaugural episode, which broadcast in February 1985.
During her early years, Kathy was married to Pete Beale (Peter Dean), who was renowned for trading fruit and vegetables at Bridge Street Market. He was also the twin brother of Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard), which accounts for Kathy’s close ties to the Fowler family.
She also has her work cut out for her with her two adult sons, including her eldest child, Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), who holds the Square’s record for marriages, and Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden), who is currently behind bars for credit card fraud.
In 1998, Kathy abandoned the Square and relocated to South Africa with Ben and her new husband, Gavin Sullivan (Paul Nicholas), who is the biological father of Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) and Zack Hudson (James Farrar), reports OK!.
She returned for two separate guest appearances in 1999, making her final exit on 6 January 2000, but years afterwards, devastated Ian received news that the pair had perished in a car crash, which proved to be false.
In 2015, Kathy staged a dramatic return to Walford and has remained a viewer favourite ever since. She has had numerous relationships, including her current boyfriend, Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman), whom she stole from Jean Slater (Gillian Wright).
Actress Gillian Taylforth has portrayed Kathy Beale for decades, but she previously appeared in Hollyoaks, where her sister played her on-screen sibling.
Celebrated sister
Gillian is a cornerstone of EastEnders and an undeniably highly accomplished television performer, and it appears talent runs in the family, as her sister is Kim Taylforth.
From May 2013 to August 2014, Gillian portrayed Sandy Roscoe, the matriarch of the Roscoe clan in Hollyoaks, and mother to established character Darren Osborne (Ashley Taylor Dawson).
Three years following Sandy’s exit from the Chester village, her sister Christine arrived, portrayed by her real-life sibling, Kim.
In April 2017, Christine Roscoe visited Sandy’s son, Freddie Roscoe (Charlie Clapham), but her stay proved brief.
Hollyoaks wasn’t Kim’s first foray into soap territory, having appeared in Brookside as Pauline Robson in 1998.
She’s also recognised as Marilyn Fenner in ITV’s Bad Girls, the long-suffering, downtrodden wife of corrupt and manipulative prison officer Jim Fenner (Jack Ellis).
Kim has additionally featured in Family Affairs, The Bill, Operation Good Guys, and London’s Burning, most recently appearing as Renee in the film Tales of the Underworld.
Beyond television, Kim has performed in numerous pantomimes throughout the UK, taking on roles as either the Wicked Queen or the Good Fairy.
Gillian’s notable ex
Gillian was previously romantically involved with EastEnders co-star Nick Berry, who portrayed Queen Vic barman Simon Wicks, better known as ‘Wicksy’.
The duo, who played on-screen stepmother and stepson, were together for three years from 1985 to 1988.
Their relationship generated considerable media interest at the time, with regular reports highlighting that Nick was eight years Gillian’s junior and cast as her on-screen stepson.
Gillian subsequently entered into a relationship with Geoff Knights during the late 1980s, with whom she shares two children, Harrison and Jessica. Tragically, Geoff died in 2013 at the age of 58 following a battle with stomach cancer.
She is understood to currently be in a relationship with Philip Oag, though she prefers to maintain privacy regarding her personal life.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
