User:EEfamilytrees/Bernadette Taylor

Bernadette Taylor
EastEnders character
Portrayed by	Clair Norris
Duration	2017–present
First appearance	Episode 5511 15 June 2017
Classification	Present; regular
Created by	Daran Little
Introduced by	Sean O'Connor
Spin-off appearances	'The Queen Vic Quiz Night' (2020)
In-universe information Other names Bernadette Rihanna Taylor Bernie Taylor Occupation Student Market trader Paper deliverer Glass collector Phone operator Waitress Cashier Breakfast chef Mother Karen Taylor Half-brothers Keanu Taylor Keegan Baker Riley Taylor Chatham Taylor Half-sisters Chantelle Atkins Sons Roland Highway (biologically) Daughters Belle Taylor Grandmothers Hazel Taylor Aunts Kandice Taylor Nephews Mackenzie Atkins Nieces Mia Atkins Peggy Taylor First cousins Princess Taylor Other relatives Maggie Taylor

Bernadette "Bernie" Taylor is a fictional character in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Clair Norris. She was introduced in episode 5511, broadcast on 15 June 2017, as a member of the Taylor family. She has stayed on the show ever since. Bernadette is the daughter of Karen Taylor (Lorraine Stanley) and half-sister of Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters), Chantelle Atkins (Jessica Plummer), Keegan Baker (Zack Morris), Riley Taylor (Tom Jacobs), and Chatham Taylor (Alfie Jacobs). On 8 October 2021, Norris took an extended break from the serial and only returned on 29 March 2022.

During her time on the soap, Bernadette has had friendships with Ted Murray (Christopher Timothy), Tiffany Butcher (Maisie Smith), Dotty Cotton (Milly Zero) and Alfie Moon (Shane Richie). She has also had feuds with Aidan Maguire (Patrick Bergin), Judith Thompson (Emma Fielding), Evie Steele (Sophia Capasso) and the entire Six, including Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal), Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth), Denise Fox (Diane Parish) and Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean).

Storylines

Bernadette, her mother, Karen (Lorraine Stanley) and her brothers, Keanu (Danny Walters), Chatham (Alfie Jacobs) and Riley Taylor (Tom Jacobs), and Keegan Baker (Zack Morris) move to Albert Square and immediately upset the residents with their rowdy behaviour. She bunks off school to the annoyance of Karen, pretending she is sick. Karen finds Bernadette eating packets of crisps in her room and when she does not eat her favourite food, Karen confronts her, working out she is pregnant. Karen takes Bernadette to see Dr Natasha Black (Rachel Bavidge), who confirms the pregnancy. She cannot work out how far gone she is and she says she was not forced to have sex, but refuses to name the father. Karen and Bernadette are also told social services will be notified due to her being underage. She wants to keep the baby and Karen tries to talk her out of it, but allows her to make her own choice. When Keegan and Keanu argue over whether Bernadette is really ill, Karen tells them that she is pregnant. Keegan calls Bernadette stupid whilst Keanu is supportive.

Karen overhears Bernadette talking to Keanu, who Karen thinks may be the baby's father. She meets up with a schoolfriend, Callum Edwards (Shaun Aylward), and tells him she is pregnant and he is the father. Callum becomes emotional and worries about his father's reaction. Bernadette is touched when Callum offers her £16, all he has in his bank account, and laughs when he asks if they should get married. When Ingrid Solberg (Pernille Broch) catches Bernadette destroying flowers in the square, she comforts her when she reveals she is pregnant and was being bullied. Ingrid makes Bernadette apologise to Jane Beale (Laurie Brett) for ruining the gardens and agrees to help fix it. She steals baby clothes from Stacey Fowler (Lacey Turner) and Karen scolds her. Bernadette is delighted that social services think she will be a good mother and Keanu gives her a moses basket. Keanu manages to convince her to go to teenage parenting classes and decides to go with her. Bernadette is in agony when she miscarries her daughter, which devastates her and her family. She is angry towards Karen when she visits her daughter at the hospital without her. Bernadette goes to see her daughter at the hospital and returns home with a box containing her daughter's footprints and is further angry with Karen for allowing the hospital to cremate her. She asks Callum to meet at the allotments, but Karen decides to do a memorial after speaking to Shirley Carter (Linda Henry). Keegan punches Callum when he realises he is the father, but Callum joins the family for the memorial and Bernadette reveals they were going to name their daughter 'Belle'. When Riley and Chatham return home, they ask questions about the baby.

After her first day back at school, Bernadette arrives home in tears after being bullied by girls saying Bernadette was not pregnant, just fat. Karen then confides in Bernadette about a miscarriage she suffered after her older half-sister, Chantelle Atkins (Jessica Plummer), was born. Bernadette arranges to see Callum, but he cancels and she makes a pass at Keegan's friend, Shakil Kazemi (Shaheen Jafargholi), and Keegan walks in on them. Keegan believes Shakil did not make the pass and Bernadette confides in Keegan that she arranged to see Callum and wants another baby as she misses Belle. On Halloween, Bex Fowler (Jasmine Armfield) and Louise Mitchell (Tilly Keeper) are forced to include Bernadette in their plans. Bernadette wants to raise money to enable Riley and Chatham to go on a school trip and after helping Martin Fowler (James Bye) on his stall, Honey Mitchell (Emma Barton) offers Bernadette a paper round. Bernadette fails to deliver the paper properly and Honey initially refuses to give Bernadette the full amount, but Bernadette blackmails it out of Honey, as well as extra money. Bernadette impresses Vincent Hubbard (Richard Blackwood) when she asks for a job, but is disappointed that Vincent will not give her a job due to her age. When Bernadette stages a robbery with Riley and Chatham, Vincent offers her a job of glass collecting. On her first shift, she overhears Keanu who has been recruited by Aidan Maguire (Patrick Bergin) in an illegal job with Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), Vincent and Mick Carter (Danny Dyer), but agrees to keep quiet. When the Taylors belongings and the family dog, Bronson are removed by loan sharks due to Karen failing to repay loans and they can get them back the next day if they can raise £1000, Karen and Bernadette go to visit Karen's sister, Kandice Taylor (Hannah Spearritt). Kandice agrees to loan them the money, but when Karen begins arguing with her, Kandice changes her mind. Bernadette meets up with Kandice and emotionally pleads with Kandice to help, but she apologetically refuses to and when the bailiffs are due to visit, Kandice turns up with the money.

Bernadette is suspended from school and takes the blame for Keegan when he smashes Mrs Robyn Lund's (Polly Highton) car window for her seemingly sarcastic reaction to Keegan revising. Bernadette befriends Ted Murray (Christopher Timothy) when she learns to play chess, and Tiffany Butcher (Maisie Smith). Karen and Keanu find one of Ted's chess pieces under Bernadette's bed so accuse him of having an illegal sexual relationship with her, but Bernadette shows them that they have been playing chess. Karen then arranges for Bernadette to spend time with Bex, Louise and Tiffany, but Tiffany sneaks Bernadette away to play chess with Ted. Bernadette plays in a tournament, but is beaten, however, she is asked to join the chess club. Bernadette supports Ted when his wife, Joyce Murray (Maggie Steed) is found dead and their daughter, Judith Thompson (Emma Fielding), arrives in Walford and is jealous of and annoyed with Bernadette due to parental affection she receives from Ted. Following Shakil's death, Bernadette and the other teenagers play spin the bottle and Tiffany kisses both Bernadette and Keegan, which leads Bernadette to confusion about her feelings, though Tiffany says she likes Keegan.

Bernadette competes in a few chess tournaments with help from Ted and he gives her keys to his flat while he goes on holiday to see his son in Australia. She also develops feelings for Tiffany and they kiss again. Tiffany makes it clear that she isn't interested in Bernadette romantically. Bernadette later comes out as a lesbian to Karen, who takes it well. Around this time, Tiffany works with her friend, Evie Steele (Sophia Capasso), by selling and transporting drugs. Evie regularly insults Bernadette but insists that she has to help Tiffany on a job. Later on, Tiffany tells Bernadette about her involvement with drugs. This sours their friendship. Tiffany tells Bernadette to cover for her to her adoptive sister, Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty), which Bernadette immediately assumes it's to do with Evie, but it wasn't. Bernadette inadvertently reveals Tiffany's plan to Evie, which was to replace Simmo in a drug delivery, so Evie manipulates her into travelling with Tiffany and Cameron "Rat" Morris (Kai O'Loughlin), a 12 year old who Evie uses as a drug deliverer. Rat takes the drugs from Tiffany's bag. Police enter their train and search Bernadette and Rat for drugs following a tip-off, but find nothing, however, Tiffany worries that Rat has swallowed the drugs and when they get off the train, he collapses. Tiffany and Bernadette get someone to call an ambulance and deny they know him to the police and then return home. Evie later takes Tiffany to the hospital but Rat is fine, and Bernadette finds out that Rat faked the collapse and had planted the drugs on Bernadette and Evie had called the police but they arrived too early and the plan to have Bernadette arrested failed. A few months later, Bernadette joins a dating app and has a date planned at Walford East, but gets a message from the girl, telling Bernadette that she can't do this and isn't ready. Bernadette then tells Habiba Ahmed (Rukku Nahar) that she isn't ready for dating.

In 2020, Bernadette agrees to be a surrogate for Stuart (Ricky Champ) and Rainie Highway (Tanya Franks). The two later back out due to Bernadette's age, but in 2021, they agree due to Bernadette needing the money. During this, Bernadette is in a relationship with Molly Ellis (Juliette Alexandra), but the two split up after Molly disagrees with the surrogacy, but the two remain in good terms. Bernadette later begins taking diet pills and exercising so she can prove that she will be healthy enough to carry the baby, and she later does. Bernadette later leaves Walford temporarily as she is stressed over Rainie using drugs again, but she is wrong.

Bernadette returns in March 2022, and gives birth to the baby, Roland Highway. Bernadette gives him to Rainie and Stuart, but struggled to cope. Bernadette reunites with Molly in April, and the two stage a strike at KJP Pest Control due to unfair circumstances. However, Bernadette gives up. Months later, Stuart forces Bernadette to take Roland back when he begins suffering from postnatal depression, but Rainie later splits from Stuart and leaves with Roland. Bernadette also develops a friendship with Dotty Cotton (Milly Zero) during this time. In June, Bernadette meets her step-cousins, Finlay (Ashley Byam) and Felix Baker (Matthew James Morrison) and quickly bonds with them. She also attends their father, Avery Baker's (Omar Lye-Fook) funeral. In August, Stuart locks Bernadette in the newly opened Panesar House Surgery and demands an appointment, but later lets everyone go after Bernadette texts Karen and Karen convinces Rainie to come and talk Stuart round. In December, Dotty leaves the square and Bernadette is the only person Dotty leaves on good terms with. Keanu returns which shocks Bernadette and Karen.

In 2023, Bernadette is fired by Nish. Felix and her both compete for a job at the Prince Albert, but Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) takes Felix on. Feeling guilty, Felix helps Bernadette find a job and gets her a trial shift at the cafe. Bernadette tries to ask Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) is she's staying in multiple times, but is ignored. Kathy later reveals that she ignored Bernadette as she was waiting for her personalised apron to arrive before telling her she'd be staying on permanently. Bernadette then starts working at the cafe full time with Kathy and Marie Evans (Liz Sweet).

On Bernadette’s twenty-first birthday, Anna Knight (Molly Rainford), Bobby Beale (Clay Milner Russell) and Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier) plan a surprise birthday party for her at the Albert with them, Mackenzie (Isaac Lemonius) and Mia Atkins (Mahalia Malcolm), Bailey Baker (Kara-Leah Fernandes), Karen and Mitch Baker (Roger Griffiths) attending. At the party, Karen appoints herself as Bernadette’s wingman, and encourages her to go speak to the girl at the bar. She does so, and the two hit it off and share a kiss, much to everyone’s amusement.

Bernadette asks Keanu if she can move in with him and Sharon after she looses the flat due to the family leaving, Keanu tells Bernadette to leave him alone and not to come to his and Sharon's wedding. As revenge Bernadette tells Phil that Keanu was behind Albie's kidnap, Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) interrupts the wedding and tells Sharon about Keanu being behind Albie's kidnap. Sharon then punches Keanu and tells him that Albie is Phil's son leaving both men shocked.

Several residents stare at Bernadette which upsets her, Felix later cheers Bernadette up and asks her to move in with him. The police later interview Bernadette about Nish's attack and Keanu's whereabouts and she tells them that Sharon told Keanu at their wedding that Albie was not his son. Bernadette is hired back at that café by Nish when she's puts him in contact with plummets who fix a leak in the café, during the reopening Bernadette receives and old voicemail by Keanu as Karen returns to find Keanu.

Bernadette tries to convince Karen to leave because of Phil's predatory behaviour for the £50,000, though Karen refuses - determined to get the truth. Unfortunately, she hits a dead end and is forced to leave once again. Once fixed, Bernadette gets her job back at the café and continues serving the regulars. However, when she gets drunk one night, she finds Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) in the streets and laughs drunkenly, she then fancies some food and goes into the café in the middle of the night, using her spare set of keys to get in. Some days prior, the floor had caved in so she hadn't been there. When she gets in there, she notices a funny smell and looks into the caved in hole and sees a dead body, Bernadette then frantically screams and the police are called. The following day, the police sadly identify the body as Keanu and break the news to Bernadette that he is deceased. She breaks down alongside Felix and confides in Sharon, however her and Felix are suspicious of Sharon and call the police on her - she is later arrested suspicion of murder. Bernadette takes some time away from normal life to grieve, she goes to see Karen with the news so they can grieve together. When Bernadette returns to Walford, residents pay their respects. During her compassionate leave from the café, Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) takes Bernadette's role and helps Bernadette settle back into the role. Although, Bernadette returns more snappy and aggressive.

When Keanu's funeral arrive, Karen returns and instantly banishes Sharon from attending. Despite this, they later forgive each other after years of hatred and Bernadette is surprised to see this. Karen and Bernadette say their goodbyes to Keanu before the hearse leaves. After the funeral, Karen interrogates Dean in prison, despite Bernadette's disapproval. Shortly after, Karen leaves for good. Bernadette later attends Dean Wicks' (Matt Di Angelo) plea hearing, to which he pleads as not guilty. When Bernadette tries to speak to Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), Linda runs off and confuses Bernadette. Some time later, Bernadette teams up with Dean after visiting him and begins to send threatening letters to Linda to try and get her to confess to the real murderer, she believes Dean that he isn’t Keanu’s killer.

The following week, Bernadette sends Linda numerous texts to throw her off whilst speaking to a brief, which works. Later, Bernadette visits Dean again and he reveals that he can't help her, and walks away, leaving Bernadette in the dark. Bernadette visits Linda in person and tries to be 'supportive' but secretly manipulates Linda into drinking and trying to confess to being Keanu's killer, though this fails. Sharon discovers this and confronts an angry Bernadette - though she lashes out. Sharon then gets suspicious and offers to pay for Bernadette’s rent to keep her quiet. However, Bernadette overhears Sharon and Kathy talking strangely, so Bernadette then decides to send threatening messages to Sharon. Bernadette later confides in Kathy over her suspicions, but goes slightly overboard with information. Sharon and Linda confront Bernadette the next day and she confesses to her actions, showing no guilt - Later that day, Bernadette chucks red paint over Sharon and stamps "Murderer" on her door, shouting to the whole square that she's a murderer. Bernadette continues to threaten Sharon and when attending court, she screams that Sharon is a murderer and runs out in tears, comforted by Felix. However, Bernadette's wish comes true when Sharon is arrested.

Development

Introduction and casting

Clair Norris (pictured) plays Bernadette.

The Taylor family was announced to be joining the BBC soap on 10 May 2017. One of these characters were Bernadette and Clair Norris was cast in the role. On her casting, Norris said "I'm so excited to go on a journey with my character Bernadette, and to be a part of the Taylor family. I never in a million years thought my first TV role would be in EastEnders. It's surreal but I'm ever so grateful to be given the opportunity and I can't wait to see the audience's reaction to us." Bernadette is described as having "little interest in anything other than sitting around the house and dreaming of being famous." Norris added that her character is "quite young. She's always being forced by her mum to go to school, but she can't be bothered basically" and she is "a typical teenager. She doesn't want to go to school. She just wants to stay around at home and watch reality TV." When her casting was announced, it was said that "at least one of the members of the clan is carrying a secret", this was hinting at Bernadette's secret that she is pregnant.

Executive producer Sean O'Connor added that he is "hugely excited at the arrival of Karen and her family in Albert Square. They're noisy, brash and not-to-be-messed-with. Karen is a twenty-a-day lioness, bringing up her kids with no support, no money and a very loud mouth. But though they may lack cash, the Taylors have love and warmth in spades. This summer is going to be explosive as the Taylors settle in Walford. The Square will never be quite the same again…" In an interview, O'Connor added that The Taylor family "feel very different to the other characters" they have, calling them "a big messy brood." He said the Taylors will "bring the breath of fresh air that" the Jackson family did upon their arrival and like other established, popular EastEnders families, they "will divide opinion, but within six months, I [O'Connor] think the audience will love them" and "will help re-calibrate what the show is." O'Connor also said that the family experience "the reality of the benefits system [...] we're not going to see these characters suddenly flashing cash round – we're going to see them struggling to make ends meet, because that's where the best stories are- ordinary characters facing adversity." O'Connor compared the characters to Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) and Coronation Street's Elsie Tanner (Pat Phoenix), saying "whatever fate throws at them, they pick themselves up and face the next day. It's the classic Scarlett O'Hara mantra; 'tomorrow is another day.'"

Teenage pregnancy and miscarriage

The Taylors "are thrown into a [...] crisis" when Karen makes a "shock discovery" about Bernadette and Karen figures out Bernadette is pregnant after Karen is "troubled by Bernadette's behaviour" coming to the "shocking realisation." Bernadette "refuses initially to reveal the father of her unborn child", however, Karen "remains determined to get to the truth." Bernadette's refusal to name the father leaves Karen "more frustrated than ever." Instead of being "the mouthy matriarch" and "gobby", Karen "surprisingly" opts to use "a softer approach" to the situation. Bernadette's silence prompts Karen's "own suspicions", but she could have "the wrong end of the stick" or uncover a "worrying secret" about Bernadette.

Reception

Viewers drew similarities to a teenage pregnancy storyline involving the character of Demi Miller, played by Shana Swash, in 2004 as the Millers were just as mouthy and controversial as the Taylors and at the time of their arrival, 13-year-old Demi was heavily pregnant.

When Bernadette suffers a miscarriage, Daniel Kilkelly from Digital Spy called it a "tragic" and "upsetting" turn.

References

Category:EastEnders characters Category:Television characters introduced in 2017 Category:English female characters in soap operas Category:Taylor family (EastEnders) Category:Female villains Category:Fictional waiting staff in soap operas Category:Fictional teenage parents Category:Fictional merchants