Carol Jackson

Carol Jackson
EastEnders character
Portrayed byLindsey Coulson
Duration1993–1997, 1999, 2010–2015
First appearanceEpisode 917
16 November 1993 (1993-11-16)
Last appearanceEpisode 5148
2 October 2015 (2015-10-02)
ClassificationFormer; regular
Created byTony McHale
Introduced by
Book appearancesBianca's Secret Diary
Spin-off
appearances
Pudding Lane (1999)
EastEnders E20 (2010)
Last Tango in Walford (2010)
In-universe information
Other namesCarol Branning
Occupation
  • Waitress
  • Café manager
  • Personal assistant
  • Launderette assistant
  • Bookmaker manager
FamilyBranning/Jackson
FatherJim Branning
MotherReenie Branning
StepmotherDot Cotton
BrothersDerek Branning
Max Branning
Jack Branning
SistersApril Branning
Suzy Branning
HusbandAlan Jackson (1996–1999)
SonsRobbie Jackson
Billie Jackson
DaughtersBianca Jackson
Sonia Fowler
GrandsonsLiam Butcher
Morgan Butcher
Sami Jackson
GranddaughtersTiffany Butcher
Bex Fowler
Whitney Dean (adoptive)
NephewsBradley Branning
Oscar Branning
Joey Branning
Ricky Branning
James Branning
Kevin
NiecesLauren Branning
Abi Branning
Alice Branning
Penny Branning
Amy Mitchell
Rebecca
Other relativesLouie Beale
Abi Branning
Charli Slater

Carol Jackson is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Lindsey Coulson. The character was introduced in 1993 as the mother of the Jackson family. Coulson decided to quit the role in 1997, but she returned temporarily in 1999 within a storyline that contributed to both the introduction of her boyfriend Dan Sullivan (Craig Fairbrass) and the departure of her daughter Bianca (Patsy Palmer); in the storyline, Carol discovers that Bianca had previously had a relationship with Dan and they resumed their affair - which prompted her to end her relationship with Dan, disown Bianca, and leave the square on her own.

On 25 October 2009, it was confirmed that she would return along with other members of the Jackson family - Sonia (Natalie Cassidy), Robbie (Dean Gaffney) and Billie (Devon Anderson), on 15 February 2010, although her first appearance in 2010 is in EastEnders: Last Tango in Walford, an episode released exclusively to DVD on 8 February 2010. Coulson chose to leave the show for a third time in June 2015, with her exit airing on 2 October 2015.

Carol is depicted as a tough, working-class grafter, fiercely defensive of her four children. Her storylines include relationships with several men including David Wicks (Michael French), eventual husband Alan Jackson (Howard Antony), Connor Stanley (Arinzé Kene), Eddie Moon (David Essex) and Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra), the death of her youngest son Billie, and her breast cancer diagnosis in January 2014.