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Roles

The role of the matriarch has been integral to EastEnders since its inception. Central to the Square, the location, the EastEnders world, they dominate the emotional heart of so many storylines. But they have also changed over time.

Head of the Beales/Fowlers, Lou Beale ruled the roost with a rod of iron, dishing out orders and opinions. But Lou also had a softer side, showing genuine compassion and wisdom, earning her family’s and community’s respect.

Lou was a trail-blazer for Walford matriarchs, but they’ve also evolved far beyond the archetypal East End dowager. They’ve become much more complex, yet still possess similar key characteristics that makes this character type a mainstay in Albert Square.

Battleaxe Smothers

Let’s have a look at the kids you’ve raised. You’ve got one son who’s already divorced. You’ve got a daughter who got knocked up when she was at school as well and then ran away on her wedding day. And you’ve got him over there who’s done exactly the same thing and is only here because she told him to be. Sonia Jackson to Pauline Fowler. EastEnders, Thursday 11 January 2001, 19:30, ´óÏó´«Ã½ One.

Pauline took the baton from mum Lou and ran with it, guiding/controlling Mark, Michelle and Martin, receiving little thanks and even bitter defiance from her children. She sometimes let her traditional values, morals and beliefs cloud her judgement, and her devotion to her family bordered on obsession. However, she could be counted on to get it right, and with other people’s kids too – she always provided teen mum Demi Miller with a shoulder to cry on.

The 1990s saw mum Rosa di Marco drive her four children Beppe, Gianni, Teresa and Nicky to distraction, causing them and her many headaches. Zainab Masood went to extremes to manage her brood of Syed, Shabnam, Tamwar and Kamil, and woe betide them if they didn’t meet her expectations. At present, our Linda Carter flies the flag for ‘smothers’ everywhere. She’s reined it in somewhat, but can still be known to mollycoddle on-screen kids Johnny, Ollie and Annie.

Tart with a Heart

Her name’s Pat. She’s been through so many husbands, I couldn’t even tell you what her second name was these days. Mo Harris about Pat Evans. EastEnders, Monday 18 September 2000, 20:00, ´óÏó´«Ã½ One.

Pat’s colourful history with men and marriages meant that she had to be adaptable as a mother figure, having self-admittedly done a bad job already with her own sons, Simon and David. Across the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, Pat joined some of EastEnders' most iconic dynasties, helming the Butcher, Evans and Wicks clans - fiercely protecting and advising as many marital family members as she did blood relatives.

Shirley Carter turned out to be cut from the same cloth as dearly departed Pat. With a fag in hand and a penchant for fellas, Shirl eventually proved her mettle at Phil's side and at the head of the Mitchell table following Peggy's departure. But it was the arrival of a whole bunch of Carter crew that catapulted Shirley to true matriarch status. These days, Cindy Beale is trying her best, but getting it wrong with kids Peter, Gina and Anna as she suffers the fallout of her passionate affair with her daughters’ half-brother!

Gangster's Moll

I'm Peggy Mitchell. I'm old East End. Real East End. Proper. You don't mess with me. Peggy Mitchell. EastEnders, Friday 25 December 2009, 20:00, ´óÏó´«Ã½ One.

Peggy is arguably the best-known EastEnders matriarch. She was a mixture of Violet Kray and (the real-life) mother of Barbara Windsor, so much so that the necklace Peggy always wore actually belonged to Babs’ mum. Passionate Peggy was an advocate of everything "faaaahmily" and could turn a blind eye to her clan’s extra-curricular criminal activities - while also making sure any characters who crossed them lived to regret it.

In 2025, the mother leading the charge in dealings both dodgy and above board is the formidable Suki Panesar. Falling in love with Eve Unwin has tamed her, but being step-mum to the rough and ready rogue Ravi still means the extended Panesar-Gulati family should keep their eyes peeled for the Old Bill.

Cash-Strapped Lioness

Bringing up four kids on your own? Trust me I think I know… All I’ve ever done my whole life is sacrificed my happiness for my kids... I gave up everything for you. I gave up my youth. My freedom. My ambitions. Carol Jackson. EastEnders, Thursday 26 April 2012, 19:30, ´óÏó´«Ã½ One.

While some matriarchs are quiet and focused in their dominance, others are loud and scrappy. Carol Jackson was the epitome of the latter. Dragging her unruly brood by their ears, Carol endured the financial hardships and emotional battles that came with keeping them on the straight and narrow. And despite many screaming matches, her kids knew and appreciated how much she fought so they could have a better life.

Having a fiery temper, a gaggle of kids with multiple (useless) fathers and next to no money is something Rosie Miller, Karen Taylor and her own daughter Bianca have all shared in common with Carol. Currently, it’s the bread and butter of life for Stacey Slater, symbolising strength in motherhood by raising Lily, Arthur, Hope and granddaughter Charli!

Strong Survivors

You know why I did what I did: an evil man made me, pulled me away from my family, ruined mine and my children’s lives. Kathy Beale. EastEnders, Monday November 18 2019, 19.30 ´óÏó´«Ã½ One.

Some mothers will face relentless trauma, tragedy and tears while coping with their kids. None more so than Kathy Beale. After she was introduced as Ian’s mum in the first episode, we subsequently learned that Kathy had been raped and had fallen pregnant at 14 before giving up her child for adoption. And after Kathy rejected her daughter Donna Ludlow repeatedly as an adult, Donna died of a drug overdose. Years later, Kathy became an older mother to Ben, and little did she know what grief he’d bring to her door eventually!

But while Kathy contends with nursing Ian’s broken heart from cheating Cindy again, other present day Walford mums have endured trouble and strife and are still thriving. Denise Fox has raised two daughters and now a son while being married to an alcoholic domestic abuser, a serial killer, and a crooked cop. Plus she has been forced to help cover up a murder and had a mental breakdown as a result. She’s loved, she’s lost, she’s eaten out of bins and been engaged to Ian Beale. If anyone is a survivor, it’s our D!

Written by Mark James Lowe