{"id":34678,"date":"2023-07-11T01:01:18","date_gmt":"2023-07-10T23:01:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1854585"},"modified":"2023-07-11T05:43:36","modified_gmt":"2023-07-11T03:43:36","slug":"eastenders-gillian-taylforth-supports-comeback-for-kathys-hills-family","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/eastenders-gillian-taylforth-supports-comeback-for-kathys-hills-family\/","title":{"rendered":"EastEnders\u2019 Gillian Taylforth supports comeback for Kathy\u2019s Hills family"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kathy’s own family, the Hills, have not been seen in the soap since 1999. <\/p>

By Lewis Knight\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 11 July 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Gillian Taylforth would be keen to see Kathy Beale\u2019s own relatives make a comeback to EastEnders<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The BBC One soap favourite was an original cast member of the show since its inception in 1985 and despite Kathy being killed off-screen in 2006, made a return to the soap in 2015 and has been part of the show ever since.<\/p>\n

However, Kathy\u2019s own blood relatives \u2013 the Hills \u2013 have not been in the show since 1999 following the exits of the family.<\/p>\n

In her backstory, Kathy was one of five siblings and the soap introduced her older brother Ted Hills (Barry Croucher) and his children Tony (Mark Homer) and Sarah (Daniela Denby-Ashe) in 1995.<\/p>\n

However, Ted was written out in 1997, while Tony and Sarah experienced some dramatic storylines before each departed the show in 1999.<\/p>

Kathy left Walford to live with Ted in South Africa in 1998, while Tony settled in Amsterdam with partner Simon Raymond (Andrew Lynford) and Sarah left for university and later reunited with love interest Joe Wicks (Paul Nicholls).<\/p>\n

Little has been discussed of the Hills since, even after Kathy had married evil Gavin Sullivan (Paul Nicholas) in South Africa and he forced her to fake her own death.<\/p>\n

Yet, in the run-up to Kathy\u2019s wedding, Ted and Tony both got a mention<\/a> when Rocky Cotton (Brian Conley) had a look through Kathy\u2019s old address book.<\/p>\n

\""Brian\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Brian Croucher as Ted Hills in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

So, when actress Gillian Taylforth spoke with RadioTimes.com<\/a> and other press, we asked her whether she would like to see Kathy\u2019s own relatives make a return to the soap.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Ted. That would be nice, yeah, because that\u2019s why [Kathy] went over to South Africa to see Ted,\u201d recalled Taylforth.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo yeah, that would be nice if the Hills came in, you know. That would be nice. And who knows? Who knows if there are other relatives out there? Yeah, that would be lovely\u2026and I hadn\u2019t thought about that for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\""Mark\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Mark Homer as Tony Hills in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Meanwhile, they aren\u2019t the only returns that Taylforth would be keen to see as she was asked about other faces she would be keen to see back.<\/p>\n

On seeing Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) back in the soap again, Taylforth said: \u201cAgain, I saw Jackie you know, at the funeral and that was lovely. And I obviously didn\u2019t see what she was doing with Tom and that.\u201d<\/p>\n

She then noted that she\u2019d like to Lisa Fowler (Lucy Benjamin) to return for another stint in the soap after she returns this summer, noting: \u201cWe got Lucy Benjamin and that was great. It was lovely, that. I didn\u2019t get to do anything with her when she came back last time. So that\u2019d be really good to see her again and work with Lucy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\""Danny\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Lucy Benjamin as Lisa Fowler in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC, Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

When discussing whether we could see Tiffany Butcher (Maisie Smith) return to the soap after her exit in early 2022, Taylforth noted that Smith\u2019s other commitments might get in the way.<\/p>\n

\u201cTiffany, yeah, little Maisie. Oh, she\u2019s so busy at the moment,\u201d noted the actess. \u201cYeah, you do\u2019t whether when she could ever get back because she\u2019s so busy working\u2026and that would be nice. She\u2019s a lovely girl,\u00a0 <\/span>really lovely.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finally, Taylforth also showed enthusiasm to see a comeback for Milly Zero in the role of Rocky\u2019s troublesome niece, Dotty Cotton, who departed in December last year.<\/p>\n

\""Milly\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Milly Zero as Dotty Cotton in EastEnders<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Taylforth said: \u201cI really liked little Milly Zero, brilliant little Milly who played Dotty. We had some lovely stuff together, you know, obviously with the Rocky-Dotty relationship. So that was great to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read More<\/strong><\/p>\n