Karen McDonald
Encyclopedia
Karen McDonald is a fictional character
on the long-running British
soap opera
, Coronation Street
from June 2000 to December 2004. She is played by actress Suranne Jones
and was the feisty and volatile wife of Steve McDonald.
). In May 2004, just days after winning the award for 'Best Actress' at The British Soap Awards Jones announced that she was leaving the serial to pursue other projects with Granada TV.
Karen Phillips comes to Coronation Street
in summer 2000 as a friend of Linda Sykes (Jacqueline Pirie
) who used to work with her at Wheelers factory. The two grew up on a rough council estate. Karen is taken on as a new machinist at Underworld.
She quickly finds herself popular with the men of the Street and has a fling with Vikram Desai (Chris Bisson
). During Christmas
2001, she is drinking alone in the Rovers and ends up spending the night with Peter Barlow
(Chris Gascoyne). By 2001, Karen is dating Steve McDonald
(Simon Gregson
). Her colleague and friend, Janice Battersby
(Vicky Entwistle
) says that none of Karen’s boyfriends ever take her seriously, which leads to one of the strangest marriages the Street has seen.
Janice bets £10 that Karen won't be able to get engaged so Karen persuades Steve to propose in front of all the Rovers regulars. Janice then ups the stakes to 2 days' wages, on the condition that Steve and Karen walk down the aisle. Neither Karen nor Steve will back out - but thinking that the other will, leading them both to be surprised when they both turn up at the Register Office - and even more when they both say "I do". They hold the reception at the Rovers and Vikram donates cakes from the Corner Shop that are nearly past their sell-by date. Six weeks later, they finally arrange their honeymoon in Florida
. The couple soon realise that they really do love one another.
On returning from honeymoon, Karen sets about making her and Steve the "Posh and Becks" of Weatherfield
. Having moved into the flat over Streetcars with Vikram, Karen soon gets fed up and in September 2001, they move into the flat over The Kabin - Number 12, Coronation Street.
In May 2002, former jailbird Joe Carter
(Jonathan Wrather) becomes Underworlds new manager. He and Karen have a volatile relationship, which initially results in his firing her.
Settling into a life of luxury, Karen decides that the McDonalds' future is in one of Richard Hillman
's (Brian Capron
) new flats on The Ridings development. After much moaning and many arguments, Steve finally gives in and makes an offer, but on one condition: new flat - new job. Of course, a new flat also means new furniture so Steve and Karen take a trip to 'Elevations', an upmarket furniture shop. The icing on the cake for the "McBeckham" lifestyle is for Karen to unveil her new Victoria Beckham
style haircut in the Rovers, and also the news that she has landed a job at 'Elevations'. On top of this, she also announces that the first piece of furniture for the new 'Chez-McDonald' has been purchased - a sofa at £2,500. While reassured by the fact that staff get 10% discount, Steve reminds his wife that 90% of £2,500 is still a lot.
The McDonalds withdraw their offer for the new flat when discovering that a bail hostel is to be built close to The Ridings. However, Karen's sofa arrives but is too big to go up the stairs at No 12 and she refuses to send it back, as her colleagues would laugh at her. Soon after, Karen is sacked from 'Elevations' for being too common.
By late 2002 Karen has returned to Underworld, and in 2003, she is promoted to supervisor, although crooked boss Joe wants more than her managerial skills. Karen resists his advances, but Steve grows very suspicious. Karen even returns from a business trip with Joe to be with Steve, only to find Steve having a one-night stand. She immediately falls into Joe's arms and is seduced by his promises of a new flat. Karen agrees to help Joe steal the factory from Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs
), by forging checks for a fake company named Artrec (an anagram of Carter).
Karen, however, is unhappy about being that dishonest and confesses to Mike in June 2003. Furious, he sacks her and Joe and drives them out of Weatherfield, insisting that they stay away unless they can repay the money they have stolen. Karen also realises that Joe was using her and leaves him to stay with her Aunt Eva. Weeks later, Steve tracks her down and pays Mike, leading Steve and Karen to reconcile.
Relaxing back into her normal life, Karen soon comes up with her latest idea. She and Steve should divorce so they can have the wedding of ‘their’ dreams. Worried they'd get into trouble with the law if it doesn't seem real, she throws Steve out (because of his infidelity), stages arguments in the Rovers and even throws his belongings out into the Street – setting many residents against him. After a lot of pleading from Karen, Steve finally has enough and tells her that he will divorce her but refuses to marry her again. Karen tries desperately to stop the divorce but it has already gone through.
She is then surprised when Steve proposed to her on a romantic night on a canal boat. Absolutely ecstatic, Karen throws herself into preparations for the wedding. Karen knows exactly what she wants, and proceeds to book a country house for the reception, a horse-drawn carriage, swans and a harpist. She also looks into having a winter wedding - so she can wear fake fur and arrive in a sleigh. The winter wedding never happens, and a date is set for February 2004.
However, during Christmas
2003, Tracy Barlow
(Kate Ford
) admits to Steve that he, not Roy Cropper
(David Neilson
), is the father of her baby, following a one-night-stand when he and Karen were separated. She also tells him that she plans to allow the Croppers to adopt the baby, following the birth. Tracy wants Steve to tell her not to go ahead with this plan, but he doesn't - agreeing that the Croppers would make great parents for the baby. Unable to accept that Steve doesn’t want her, Tracy cancels the flowers for the wedding and the venue as Karen rages. Steve finds out and manages to book the venue that Karen had really wanted but couldn't get, without her knowing.
18 February 2004 and the day of the wedding, most of Weatherfield
go to Walcott Manor – including Steve’s mother, Liz (Beverley Callard
), and brother Andy (Nicholas Cochrane
). Tracy also arrives, wanting her baby back. Hayley
(Julie Hesmondhalgh
) and Roy refuse to let her take baby Patience (as she is then known), insisting that she is staying with her father as agreed. When Tracy angrily reveals that Roy isn't Patience's father - Steve is, Roy and Hayley hand baby Amy over to Tracy. This comes out just as Steve and Karen are saying their vows. Karen is heartbroken that her dream wedding was ruined by Steve's lies. However, they eventually marry when Steve makes Karen realise that Tracy meant nothing to him.
When Karen learns about what Tracy had done to ruin her wedding, she is furious. In revenge, she ruins Patience's (now called Amy Barlow) christening. The two women brawl in the aisle of the church and Karen thumps Tracy. The presence of Tracy, baby Amy and Liz McDonald
on Coronation Street annoys Karen, particularly as Liz and Tracy get on well. Karen cannot stand the fact that Liz pays so much attention to baby Amy.
In August 2004, Karen’s dad, Malcolm Phillips (Richard Bremmer
), arrives at her and Steve's flat. He tells Karen that her mother is dying and asks Karen to visit but she refuses and throws him out. Karen then tells Steve about her childhood.
Her parents were very religious, making Karen knock on doors trying to convert people until she was 14. Karen confesses that it was Linda Sykes who got her away from her parents. Linda protected her when she was bullied for dressing strangely. Karen used to go to Linda's house to smoke and watch television, until her father found out and went ballistic, called her a whore and beat her. She moved out the next day, slept on Linda's sofa, got herself a Saturday job and tried to forget. Her parents had disowned her ever since.
Karen’s mother dies a week later, sending Karen on an emotional roller coaster. She begins thinking that God is punishing her for her “sinful” ways. She gives up drinking, smoking and gets rid of all her material things, puts her designer clothes into black sacks and gives them to the factory girls and she even starts being more pleasant to Liz and Tracy. Steve manages to persuade Karen to visit her mother’s grave. Karen realises that whilst she may not have been a good daughter that she would be a good wife to Steve – they love each other and that is all that matters now.
After this shake-up, Karen decides to cement her and Steve’s relationship by having a baby. Karen makes this public knowledge, leading to many arguments with Tracy who rubs Karen’s nose in the fact that she had a child with Steve. Tracy brands her “Barren Karen” when it takes time for her to get pregnant, infuriating Karen and leading to a fight in the street. Karen’s hatred for Tracy, and to a stronger extent, Amy, increases every time that they see one another.
In November 2004, Karen goes to Dublin to visit Linda. Steve is tricked by Tracy and Liz into driving down to London, only to find out that the “McDonald-Barlows” are to appear on a new quiz show called “Top of the Tree”. Steve agrees to appear and the family win a car – thanks to Karen being Steve’s “Phone a Friend” and providing the winning answer. When Karen finds out about the gameshow, she is fuming. The next day, she marches straight to the Barlows' and drags Tracy out on the cobbles, and slams her against the prize car, slapping her in the process. She points out to the Barlows that it is only because of her that they won the car and that she should be allowed to use it too. A farcical war of “wheel taking” ensues with Karen and Tracy taking turns to remove the wheels from the car.
In late November 2004, Karen finally discovers that she is pregnant and delights in jeering at Tracy. Unfortunately, however, her happiness is short-lived, as Karen experiences cramps at the Underworld Christmas party and later discovers that she has miscarried. This sends Karen over the edge, and when she discovers that Liz has told Tracy about her miscarriage, she is livid.
On Christmas Eve
2004 Karen sees Tracy loading the car up ready to go and visit her adoptive brother, Peter Barlow
. While Tracy is distracted, Karen steals the car, not realising that baby Amy is in the back. Steve and Tracy hurry to the Red Rec, only to find the car on fire. Not realising that Karen has taken Amy from the car, assuming Karen has killed her baby and returns to Coronation Street, vying for blood, leading to a car chase and the two women fighting on the roof of Underworld. Tracy, in a fit of rage, attempts to murder Karen and it isn’t until Steve and Hayley intervene that Tracy stops attacking Karen. Karen hasn't harmed Amy, leaving her with Roy.
It is the worst possible Christmas for Karen and Steve. Following a final explosive showdown, Steve tells Karen that he has had enough and cannot believe she would let him think that she had killed his daughter. Karen pleads with Steve to give her another chance but he says that she has had too many chances already. Karen McDonald leaves the Street on Boxing Day
2004 and her current whereabouts are unknown.
Karen is later mentioned in February 2009 when Steve is preparing for his marriage to Becky Granger (Katherine Kelly
). It is revealed that Karen and Steve had divorced in January 2006.
In April 2010, Karen is referred to again when Becky suffers her second miscarriage - within a few weeks of her first - and is subsequently told it is unlikely she will be able to have children. Upset, Becky tells Steve she is terrified that history was repeating itself - in that her miscarriage would end their marriage, just like it did to his marriage with Karen, five years before. Steve, however, quickly reassures Becky that he and Karen divorced for several reasons.
. In 2003, the 'will they, won't they?' storyline between Karen and Joe Carter was a ratings winner with over 15 million viewers tuning in, maintaining the high ratings of the highly successful Richard Hillman murder storyline.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the long-running British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
, Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
from June 2000 to December 2004. She is played by actress Suranne Jones
Suranne Jones
Suranne Jones is an English actress. She first rose to prominence playing the role of Karen McDonald in ITV1's soap opera Coronation Street over a period of four years...
and was the feisty and volatile wife of Steve McDonald.
Casting
Suranne Jones was cast as machinist Karen by then producer Jane Macnaught in early 2000, having previously appeared briefly in April 1997 as Mandy Phillips, the girlfriend of Chris Collins (Matthew MarsdenMatthew Marsden
Matthew Marsden is an English actor and singer. In the United Kingdom he is widely remembered for playing the character Chris Collins in the popular soap opera, Coronation Street. However, he is best known in the USA as a film actor. He has played the roles of Paris in Helen of Troy, Dr...
). In May 2004, just days after winning the award for 'Best Actress' at The British Soap Awards Jones announced that she was leaving the serial to pursue other projects with Granada TV.
Karen Phillips comes to Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
in summer 2000 as a friend of Linda Sykes (Jacqueline Pirie
Jacqueline Pirie
Jacqueline Pirie is a Scottish actress best known for appearing in ITV's popular soap operas Emmerdale, as Tina Dingle from 1994–1996....
) who used to work with her at Wheelers factory. The two grew up on a rough council estate. Karen is taken on as a new machinist at Underworld.
She quickly finds herself popular with the men of the Street and has a fling with Vikram Desai (Chris Bisson
Chris Bisson
Christopher Paul "Chris" Bisson is a British actor.-Career:Born in Wythenshawe, Manchester, Chris Bisson first appeared on television as J.J. in Children's Ward in 1990...
). During Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
2001, she is drinking alone in the Rovers and ends up spending the night with Peter Barlow
Peter Barlow (Coronation Street)
Peter Francis Barlow is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera Coronation Street. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode aired on 15 April 1965...
(Chris Gascoyne). By 2001, Karen is dating Steve McDonald
Steve McDonald (Coronation Street character)
Steven James "Steve" McDonald, is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Simon Gregson, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 6 December 1989.-1989–2004:...
(Simon Gregson
Simon Gregson
Simon Gregson is an English actor. He is known for being a cast member of the British soap opera Coronation Street in which he has played Steve McDonald since 1989....
). Her colleague and friend, Janice Battersby
Janice Battersby
Janice Bernadette Battersby is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Vicky Entwistle, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 6 January 1997....
(Vicky Entwistle
Vicky Entwistle
Vicky Entwistle is an English actress who is most famous for playing the role of "loudmouth" factory worker Janice Battersby in ITV1's long-running soap opera Coronation Street....
) says that none of Karen’s boyfriends ever take her seriously, which leads to one of the strangest marriages the Street has seen.
Storylines
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The couple soon realise that they really do love one another.
On returning from honeymoon, Karen sets about making her and Steve the "Posh and Becks" of Weatherfield
Weatherfield
Weatherfield is a fictional town, based on Salford in North West England, which serves as the setting for the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street...
. Having moved into the flat over Streetcars with Vikram, Karen soon gets fed up and in September 2001, they move into the flat over The Kabin - Number 12, Coronation Street.
In May 2002, former jailbird Joe Carter
Joe Carter
Joseph Christopher Carter is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played from to . Carter is most famous for hitting a walk-off home run to win the 1993 World Series for the Toronto Blue Jays....
(Jonathan Wrather) becomes Underworlds new manager. He and Karen have a volatile relationship, which initially results in his firing her.
Settling into a life of luxury, Karen decides that the McDonalds' future is in one of Richard Hillman
Richard Hillman
Richard Charles Hillman was a fictional character in the British television soap opera Coronation Street, played by Brian Capron. Hillman is now rated as one of the best soap villains of all time.-Development:...
's (Brian Capron
Brian Capron
Brian Capron, born 11 February 1947 at Eye in Suffolk, is a British actor, who trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art . His father was an Algerian pilot, of French descent, who died in a plane crash before Brian was born....
) new flats on The Ridings development. After much moaning and many arguments, Steve finally gives in and makes an offer, but on one condition: new flat - new job. Of course, a new flat also means new furniture so Steve and Karen take a trip to 'Elevations', an upmarket furniture shop. The icing on the cake for the "McBeckham" lifestyle is for Karen to unveil her new Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham
Victoria Caroline Beckham is an English singer-songwriter, dancer, model, actress, fashion designer and businesswoman. In the late 1990s, Beckham rose to fame with the all-female pop group Spice Girls and was dubbed Posh Spice by the July 1996 issue of the British pop music magazine Top of the Pops...
style haircut in the Rovers, and also the news that she has landed a job at 'Elevations'. On top of this, she also announces that the first piece of furniture for the new 'Chez-McDonald' has been purchased - a sofa at £2,500. While reassured by the fact that staff get 10% discount, Steve reminds his wife that 90% of £2,500 is still a lot.
The McDonalds withdraw their offer for the new flat when discovering that a bail hostel is to be built close to The Ridings. However, Karen's sofa arrives but is too big to go up the stairs at No 12 and she refuses to send it back, as her colleagues would laugh at her. Soon after, Karen is sacked from 'Elevations' for being too common.
By late 2002 Karen has returned to Underworld, and in 2003, she is promoted to supervisor, although crooked boss Joe wants more than her managerial skills. Karen resists his advances, but Steve grows very suspicious. Karen even returns from a business trip with Joe to be with Steve, only to find Steve having a one-night stand. She immediately falls into Joe's arms and is seduced by his promises of a new flat. Karen agrees to help Joe steal the factory from Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs
Johnny Briggs (actor)
Johnny Briggs, MBE is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Mike Baldwin in the soap opera Coronation Street, in which he appeared from 1976 to 2006...
), by forging checks for a fake company named Artrec (an anagram of Carter).
Karen, however, is unhappy about being that dishonest and confesses to Mike in June 2003. Furious, he sacks her and Joe and drives them out of Weatherfield, insisting that they stay away unless they can repay the money they have stolen. Karen also realises that Joe was using her and leaves him to stay with her Aunt Eva. Weeks later, Steve tracks her down and pays Mike, leading Steve and Karen to reconcile.
Relaxing back into her normal life, Karen soon comes up with her latest idea. She and Steve should divorce so they can have the wedding of ‘their’ dreams. Worried they'd get into trouble with the law if it doesn't seem real, she throws Steve out (because of his infidelity), stages arguments in the Rovers and even throws his belongings out into the Street – setting many residents against him. After a lot of pleading from Karen, Steve finally has enough and tells her that he will divorce her but refuses to marry her again. Karen tries desperately to stop the divorce but it has already gone through.
She is then surprised when Steve proposed to her on a romantic night on a canal boat. Absolutely ecstatic, Karen throws herself into preparations for the wedding. Karen knows exactly what she wants, and proceeds to book a country house for the reception, a horse-drawn carriage, swans and a harpist. She also looks into having a winter wedding - so she can wear fake fur and arrive in a sleigh. The winter wedding never happens, and a date is set for February 2004.
However, during Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
2003, Tracy Barlow
Tracy Barlow
Tracy Lynette Barlow is a fictional character in the British television soap opera Coronation Street. She is currently portrayed, since 2002, by Kate Ford, the latest in a series of actresses who have played Tracy at various ages...
(Kate Ford
Kate Ford
Kate Connerty is a British actress best known for playing the role of Tracy Barlow in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street from 2002 to 2007. Kate returned to Coronation Street on Christmas Eve 2010....
) admits to Steve that he, not Roy Cropper
Roy Cropper
Royston "Roy" Cropper, is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor David Neilson, the character was introduced during the episode airing on 19 July 1995. Originally a secondary character, he was given a more prominent role in 1997, by the...
(David Neilson
David Neilson
David Neilson is an English actor best known for portraying Roy Cropper in Coronation Street from 1995 onwards....
), is the father of her baby, following a one-night-stand when he and Karen were separated. She also tells him that she plans to allow the Croppers to adopt the baby, following the birth. Tracy wants Steve to tell her not to go ahead with this plan, but he doesn't - agreeing that the Croppers would make great parents for the baby. Unable to accept that Steve doesn’t want her, Tracy cancels the flowers for the wedding and the venue as Karen rages. Steve finds out and manages to book the venue that Karen had really wanted but couldn't get, without her knowing.
18 February 2004 and the day of the wedding, most of Weatherfield
Weatherfield
Weatherfield is a fictional town, based on Salford in North West England, which serves as the setting for the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street...
go to Walcott Manor – including Steve’s mother, Liz (Beverley Callard
Beverley Callard
Beverley Jane McEwan is an English actress, best known for her role as Liz McDonald in ITV's Coronation Street, and Flo Henshaw in BBC Three's Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.-Early life:Beverley Jane Moxon was born in Leeds on 28 March 1957 to Clive and Mavis Moxon...
), and brother Andy (Nicholas Cochrane
Nicholas Cochrane
Nicholas Cochrane is an English actor, best known for his role as Andy McDonald in long-running soap opera Coronation Street....
). Tracy also arrives, wanting her baby back. Hayley
Hayley Cropper
Hayley Anne Cropper is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street...
(Julie Hesmondhalgh
Julie Hesmondhalgh
Julie Hesmondhalgh is an English actress.Hesmondhalgh was born in Accrington, Lancashire. As a teenager, she was moderately interested in acting, but wished to become a social worker. She applied to drama school to be with her friends, and studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art...
) and Roy refuse to let her take baby Patience (as she is then known), insisting that she is staying with her father as agreed. When Tracy angrily reveals that Roy isn't Patience's father - Steve is, Roy and Hayley hand baby Amy over to Tracy. This comes out just as Steve and Karen are saying their vows. Karen is heartbroken that her dream wedding was ruined by Steve's lies. However, they eventually marry when Steve makes Karen realise that Tracy meant nothing to him.
When Karen learns about what Tracy had done to ruin her wedding, she is furious. In revenge, she ruins Patience's (now called Amy Barlow) christening. The two women brawl in the aisle of the church and Karen thumps Tracy. The presence of Tracy, baby Amy and Liz McDonald
Liz McDonald
Elizabeth "Liz" Jayne McDonald is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Beverley Callard, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 27 October 1989 and remained on the series until Callard opted to leave in 1998...
on Coronation Street annoys Karen, particularly as Liz and Tracy get on well. Karen cannot stand the fact that Liz pays so much attention to baby Amy.
In August 2004, Karen’s dad, Malcolm Phillips (Richard Bremmer
Richard Bremmer
Richard Bremmer is a British actor. He played Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and played Skeld in The 13th Warrior. He also had a role in the 2004 movie :Vipere au poing.-External links:...
), arrives at her and Steve's flat. He tells Karen that her mother is dying and asks Karen to visit but she refuses and throws him out. Karen then tells Steve about her childhood.
Her parents were very religious, making Karen knock on doors trying to convert people until she was 14. Karen confesses that it was Linda Sykes who got her away from her parents. Linda protected her when she was bullied for dressing strangely. Karen used to go to Linda's house to smoke and watch television, until her father found out and went ballistic, called her a whore and beat her. She moved out the next day, slept on Linda's sofa, got herself a Saturday job and tried to forget. Her parents had disowned her ever since.
Karen’s mother dies a week later, sending Karen on an emotional roller coaster. She begins thinking that God is punishing her for her “sinful” ways. She gives up drinking, smoking and gets rid of all her material things, puts her designer clothes into black sacks and gives them to the factory girls and she even starts being more pleasant to Liz and Tracy. Steve manages to persuade Karen to visit her mother’s grave. Karen realises that whilst she may not have been a good daughter that she would be a good wife to Steve – they love each other and that is all that matters now.
After this shake-up, Karen decides to cement her and Steve’s relationship by having a baby. Karen makes this public knowledge, leading to many arguments with Tracy who rubs Karen’s nose in the fact that she had a child with Steve. Tracy brands her “Barren Karen” when it takes time for her to get pregnant, infuriating Karen and leading to a fight in the street. Karen’s hatred for Tracy, and to a stronger extent, Amy, increases every time that they see one another.
In November 2004, Karen goes to Dublin to visit Linda. Steve is tricked by Tracy and Liz into driving down to London, only to find out that the “McDonald-Barlows” are to appear on a new quiz show called “Top of the Tree”. Steve agrees to appear and the family win a car – thanks to Karen being Steve’s “Phone a Friend” and providing the winning answer. When Karen finds out about the gameshow, she is fuming. The next day, she marches straight to the Barlows' and drags Tracy out on the cobbles, and slams her against the prize car, slapping her in the process. She points out to the Barlows that it is only because of her that they won the car and that she should be allowed to use it too. A farcical war of “wheel taking” ensues with Karen and Tracy taking turns to remove the wheels from the car.
In late November 2004, Karen finally discovers that she is pregnant and delights in jeering at Tracy. Unfortunately, however, her happiness is short-lived, as Karen experiences cramps at the Underworld Christmas party and later discovers that she has miscarried. This sends Karen over the edge, and when she discovers that Liz has told Tracy about her miscarriage, she is livid.
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
2004 Karen sees Tracy loading the car up ready to go and visit her adoptive brother, Peter Barlow
Peter Barlow (Coronation Street)
Peter Francis Barlow is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera Coronation Street. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode aired on 15 April 1965...
. While Tracy is distracted, Karen steals the car, not realising that baby Amy is in the back. Steve and Tracy hurry to the Red Rec, only to find the car on fire. Not realising that Karen has taken Amy from the car, assuming Karen has killed her baby and returns to Coronation Street, vying for blood, leading to a car chase and the two women fighting on the roof of Underworld. Tracy, in a fit of rage, attempts to murder Karen and it isn’t until Steve and Hayley intervene that Tracy stops attacking Karen. Karen hasn't harmed Amy, leaving her with Roy.
It is the worst possible Christmas for Karen and Steve. Following a final explosive showdown, Steve tells Karen that he has had enough and cannot believe she would let him think that she had killed his daughter. Karen pleads with Steve to give her another chance but he says that she has had too many chances already. Karen McDonald leaves the Street on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
2004 and her current whereabouts are unknown.
Karen is later mentioned in February 2009 when Steve is preparing for his marriage to Becky Granger (Katherine Kelly
Katherine Kelly (actress)
Katherine Kelly, is a British actress and recording artist who is most well known for playing Becky McDonald in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She has also starred in the film Mischief Night.-Early life and career:...
). It is revealed that Karen and Steve had divorced in January 2006.
In April 2010, Karen is referred to again when Becky suffers her second miscarriage - within a few weeks of her first - and is subsequently told it is unlikely she will be able to have children. Upset, Becky tells Steve she is terrified that history was repeating itself - in that her miscarriage would end their marriage, just like it did to his marriage with Karen, five years before. Steve, however, quickly reassures Becky that he and Karen divorced for several reasons.
Reception
For her portrayal of Karen, Jones was nominated in the category of "Best Actress" at the 2005 British Soap AwardsBritish Soap Awards
The British Soap Awards is an annual awards ceremony to honour the best of British soap operas.The first event took place in 1999 and takes place in May each year. Although it is an ITV production, the events were held at the BBC Television Centre, in London until 2010. The 2011 awards relocated to...
. In 2003, the 'will they, won't they?' storyline between Karen and Joe Carter was a ratings winner with over 15 million viewers tuning in, maintaining the high ratings of the highly successful Richard Hillman murder storyline.