Why did Karen Taylor leave BBC’s EastEnders as character makes shock return?

EastEnders fans will be seeing a familiar face on Thursday night amid Keanu Taylor’s funeral.

In upcoming scenes, Sharon Watts is left stunned to see Karen Taylor in The Vic ahead of Keanu’s funeral but it’s not long before the enemies are throwing insults at each other to which Kat Slater and Sonia Fowler are forced to intervene.

Soap watchers will recall that Keanu was stabbed to death on Christmas Day with a meat thermometer by Linda who was trying to protect pal Sharon Watts, as Keanu began strangling her. The Six, including Sharon, Linda Carter, Suki Panesar, Stacey Slater, Kathy Beale and Denise Fox, then covered up the crime and their parts in it.

Keanu’s corpse was buried under the floor of the café, while the women told the police that Keanu had fled and was on the run after attacking Nish Panesar. This lie and his true fate was finally exposed earlier this year when his corpse was found at the café with the woman framing evil Dean Wicks for the crime.

With Karen back on Thursday for Keanu’s funeral, longtime soap fans will remember why the fan favourite left Albert Square in the first place but for new viewers, here’s a refresher.

Karen and Mitch Baker left Albert Square with their family in December. Prior to their exit, Karen and son Keanu’s kidnap plot was exposed by Phil Mitchell to a stunned Sharon. Karen was exposed for hatching a plan to kidnap Albie – but Sharon was yet to find out at the time that Keanu was also a big part of the plan.

In sad scenes, Karen ran out of the Vic after Phil’s confrontation and back to her home where she cried her eyes out. She had lied to everyone in a bid to protect her son and felt she had no option but to leave Walford for good. When Mitch suggested they hand Phil’s money back, or she could end up dead, Karen decided to keep it – and was adamant her only option was to leave Walford for good and let Keanu live his life without the fear his secret would be exposed.

The episode ended with Karen and Mitch driving off, revealing they were heading for Spain with Phil’s money as they even discussed getting married. However, Karen insisted she would never change her name, declaring: “Watch out Spain, the Taylor-Bakers are coming!” Earlier this year in February, Karen made a comeback for a brief return after she was left concerned about her missing son Keanu not realising at the time he was dead.