Elaine Peacock
Elaine Peacock is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Introduced as the mother of established character Linda Carter, Elaine is originally played by Maria Friedman from October 2014 until June 2017 as a recurring character, before being recast to Harriet Thorpe from May 2023 onwards as a series regular, taking over The Queen Victoria public house as landlady alongside Linda, following on from the disappearance of Linda's ex-husband Mick Carter. Elaine's storylines in her first stint saw the character arrive to comfort Linda following her rape by Dean Wicks, pursuing a relationship with toyboy Jason Adams, and feuding with Babe Smith.
In her second stint, Elaine's storylines include taking over The Queen Vic as landlady alongside new partner George Knight and his daughters Gina and Anna Knight, a feud with George's ex-wife Cindy Beale and subsequently falling out with George after he and Cindy kiss twice, supporting Yolande Trueman after her sexual assault ordeal by Pastor Clayton, caring for George's brother Kojo Asare whom decides to live with her and George, coming to terms with Linda murdering Keanu Taylor as part of "The Six" storyline, revealing to Linda that her father was gay which they hid from her for years, dealing with Linda's alcohol relapse, being a suspect in the "Who Attacked Cindy?" storyline for the show's 40th anniversary, cheating on George after she feels unwanted by him, having a health scare which prompts her to sell The Queen Vic, and becoming co-manager of The Prince Albert gay bar with Cindy after Cindy struggles to run it alone.
Elaine is described as being larger than life, glamorous, and loves to be the centre of attention, and has a 'fraught' relationship with her daughter due to their similar personalities.
Development
Friedman was cast in the role of Elaine on 18 September 2014. Speaking about the development and casting of Elaine, executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins said that "ever since Elaine became the voice on the end of the Queen Vic phone, we have been waiting to see just what kind of woman made Linda Carter."Friedman had initially signed up for a guest stint, with Elaine appearing from October to December 2014. Speaking about her casting, Friedman said of Elaine that she is "tough, warm and capable – but also proud and more than a little vain, bringing with her a whole new dynamic when she arrives in Walford to sort out her daughter. Maria Friedman is a West End legend and we are all very excited to have someone of her pedigree playing Elaine Peacock."
The character returned for another guest stint from February to March 2015 and returned for three months from September 2015 to January 2016. She returned for a single episode in March 2016. The character made an unannounced one–off return on 30 June 2017.
Reintroduction
On 28 March 2023, EastEnders announced that Harriet Thorpe had been recast as Elaine, returning to the show in a central role alongside her new partner, George Knight, and his daughters Gina and Anna. Thorpe's casting brought excitement to the upcoming storyline, with her character Elaine positioned as a key figure in the Knight family dynamic. Elaine's role as the matriarch was particularly notable, as she became both a supportive partner to George and a protective mother to her daughter, Linda.Executive producer Chris Clenshaw described the creation of the Knight family, which began in early 2023, and highlighted how important Elaine's character was in grounding the family's arrival in Walford. Thorpe described her casting as a "dream come true" and described Elaine as "funny but fearless". Thorpe added that in the role, she wanted to make Elaine a character representing the over-60s demographic. Elaine returned on 10 May 2023, with Clenshaw praising Thorpe's portrayal, noting that the character had already exceeded expectations by the time her family made their full debut on 1 June 2023, in the show's 6708th episode.
The strength of Elaine's character and Thorpe's performance was a central point in establishing the Knight family's presence in EastEnders, as the storyline unfolded throughout the summer.
In April 2024, EastEnders announced a sexual assault storyline surrounding Yolande Trueman, where she is sexually assaulted by Pastor Gideon Clayton. Elaine plays a significant role in the storyline, becoming a vital source of support for Yolande, who confides in her following the traumatic event. Thorpe's portrayal of Elaine highlights her character's empathetic and nurturing qualities, providing Yolande with a safe space to process her ordeal. Elaine's involvement in this sensitive storyline is crucial, as she helps Yolande navigate the complex emotions following the assault and offers her emotional refuge. Thorpe's performance adds depth to Elaine's character, reinforcing her as a pivotal figure in Yolande's journey towards healing. The storyline, crafted in collaboration with End Violence Against Women Coalition and Hourglass, aimed to raise awareness about the impact of sexual abuse, particularly for older women, and Thorpe's involvement further emphasises the importance of creating a dialogue around this issue. After the episode that featured the sexual assault aired, Thorpe commented on how "honoured" she was to be part of the storyline.
Relationships
Linda Carter
Elaine's relationship with her daughter, Linda Carter, has been portrayed as complex and, at times, strained. After Linda's husband, Mick Carter, disappeared and was presumed dead, Elaine returned to support her, becoming a partner in running The Queen Vic. However, tensions surfaced when Linda confided in Elaine about Keanu's murder and the events of Christmas night, leaving Elaine shocked and emotionally distant. Their relationship has been characterised by moments of both conflict and reconciliation, with Elaine's tough love often clashing with Linda's emotional vulnerability. Critics noted this dynamic, with some viewers feeling that Elaine's approach to Linda's struggles was sometimes unsupportive.George Knight
Discussing Elaine's relationship with George, Colin Salmon highlighted how Elaine plays a pivotal role in their dynamic. He described them as a happy couple, with Elaine giving George the space to make himself "vulnerable" to her. Salmon noted that Elaine "instils confidence" in George, recognising his softer side, and in return, George is always there to support her. The actor emphasised that Elaine and George are equals, with Elaine standing out as one of the few people unafraid to challenge George. Salmon explained, "There are a lot of people who struggle to look a man as big as George in the eye, but not Elaine." He credited Elaine for helping George grow as a person by telling him when he's wrong, a quality that strengthens their relationship.Harriet Thorpe added that because Elaine and George began their relationship later in life, they have a deep understanding and acceptance of each other. She said, "They accept each other for who they are and know what they want, and don't want." Stefania Sarrubba of Radio Times also praised their relationship, calling it "well-balanced and healthy."
Storylines
2014–2017
calls her to Walford for the first time in October 2014 when Linda starts acting strangely, refusing to be intimate with him and complaining of migraines. Elaine convinces Linda to dress up and work the bar during a musical bingo night run by her granddaughter Nancy Carter, and later becomes suspicious when she notices tension between her daughter and Dean Wicks. She accuses Linda of having an affair with him, revealing that she cheated on Linda's deceased father John before his death. Linda denies this passionately and Elaine believes her, but still sensing something is wrong, warns Dean to stay away from Linda. She returns to Walford in December and finds out that Dean raped Linda. Elaine then allows Mick and Linda to stay with her for a while to escape Albert Square. Elaine returns for an event at The Queen Vic, and then again when Linda has her five-month scan. After the scan, she breaks down to Elaine, revealing her fears that the baby is Dean's, not Mick's. It is later revealed that after Linda gives birth prematurely to Ollie Carter, he is Mick's son.One year after Linda's rape, Mick arranges for Elaine to take her on holiday. They return early, and Elaine brings with her new toyboy fiancé, Jason Adams with her. The Carters are at first cautious of Jason, particularly Linda, which frustrates Elaine. Mick and Linda hear somebody downstairs, and when they investigate, they find Jason naked with Mick's great-aunt, Babe Smith. Mick and Linda force Babe to get Jason to leave, without Elaine knowing. However, when Elaine teases Babe as to how she has never had a man in her life, Babe claims that she had sex with Jason. Elaine does not believe her and accuses her of trying to cause trouble for her and Jason. However, later that day, Babe plays a recording on her mobile phone to Elaine, the Carters and the pub's customers of Jason persuading her to help him rob the pub, revealing their one-night stand in the process. Elaine is furious and slaps Babe for humiliating her and for cheating with her fiancé, before Mick orders Jason to leave. Linda then persuades Elaine to listen to Babe's version of events, which reveal that she did not have sex with Jason, but they came close. Elaine manages to forgive Babe, but when Jason arrives for his belongings, she, Babe and Linda are all stunned at how remorseless he is for hurting the family. Linda throws Jason out.
Elaine is thrilled when Linda and Mick plan to marry, but causes tension when she tries to take over the planning. Mick is able to get her involved in a nativity play, so she does not have time to plan the wedding. Once the couple marry, Elaine decides to return to Watford. She returns when Ollie is injured and may have brain damage. Linda misses a health worker's visit, so Elaine takes charge.
On Christmas Eve 2016, Linda receives a phonecall from a hospital in Spain informing her that Elaine has suffered a severe stroke and it is unknown whether she will recover. Linda decides she has to leave Walford with her son Johnny Carter to be with and support her mother through her illness. After six months away caring for Elaine, Linda returns to Walford for her 40th birthday party. However, she returns to Watford the same evening. It is revealed that Elaine has recovered and that her stroke was not as severe as first made out, and that she and Linda are hiding a secret. Linda's secret is later revealed to be that she was diagnosed with cervical cancer while caring for Elaine. In September 2021, Linda leaves Walford with Ollie and her newborn daughter Annie, to stay with Elaine.