Gwen Taylor: Last News

EASTENDERS' star Gwen Taylor has been one of the leading storylines on the BBC soap this year, but did you know she was in three soaps before coming to Albert Square? That's right, Gwen, 82, had a whole host of soap gigs before landing her spot as Stuart and Callum Highway's savage nan Violet on EastEnders. Gwen starred as Peggy Armstrong in the drama series Heartbeat.

She’s already an acclaimed star of stage and screen, and now Gwen Taylor is ticking off another major acting milestone by joining the cast of EastEnders. The 82-year-old actress arrived in Albert Square last night as Stuart and Callum’s straight-talking nan, Violet Highway – a classic Walford matriarch who doesn’t take any prisoners.

Don't miss a thing by getting the latest from the Manchester Evening News sent direct to your inbox

EastEnders is set to welcome a new arrival to the square, with Gwen Taylor playing a stern grandmother who isn't afraid to speak her mind.Violet Highway will appear on the soap in the run-up to her grandson's wedding, as Callum Highway prepares to walk down the aisle with longtime beau Ben Mitchell.EastEnders scriptwriters have promised Violet will bring a dose of toughness to Walford, her hard edges even leaving gangster Ben (Max Bowden) squirming.While Violet isn't particularly close with her grandsons Callum (Tony Clay) and Stuart (Ricky Champ), they could come to rely on her as the storyline develops.With Ben and Callum's wedding on the horizon, Violet's first scenes are set to air later this spring, as viewers watch the Highway family