Inside EastEnders’ Vi Highway star’s roles on rival soaps before heart-wrenching exit
FANS of EastEnders were saddened when they watched Vi Highway walk away from Albert Square earlier this week but this is not actress Gwen Taylor’s first rodeo when it comes to soap.
Having carved out an illustrious career, Gwen has had her fair share of parts across many iconic British television shows before she set foot on the BBC soap opera.
The 82 year old star is mostly recognised in recent times for her role as Vi, the grandmother to Callum and Stuart Highway, on the show but fans may have also seen her in daytime soap Doctors.
Gwen played the role of Olive Wolverton in the afternoon offering.
ITV viewers may also recognise the star thanks to her role as Anne Foster in Coronation Street.
She was the mother of Frank Foster who was famously involved with Carla Connor before she killed her own son after discovering he had raped Carla.
Anne was later in a showdown with Sally Webster and Carla before she was eventually taken in by the Police in one of the soap’s most memorable stories of 2012.
Gwen also appeared in Heartbeat as Peggy Armstrong showing that she was more than up for taking on the challenge of Vi.
Violet departed the soap earlier this week.
After being plagued by mystery phone calls, Violet finally answered and got a shock.
“It was Stuart,” she told Patrick after taking the call.
“He’s got himself a new job you see. And a new phone number. Him and Lorraine are doing really well but they’re struggling a bit with young Roland.
“So they’ve got themselves a live-in nanny. Her name is Violet Highway.”
Patrick was stunned and asked if she was leaving – and Violet confirmed she was.