Donna Yates (EastEnders)
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14 April 2014
20 July 2018
| Donna Yates | |||||||||||
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| EastEnders character | |||||||||||
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| Portrayed by | Lisa Hammond | ||||||||||
| Duration | 2014–18 | ||||||||||
| First appearance | Episode 4837 14 April 2014 | ||||||||||
| Last appearance | Episode 5745 20 July 2018 | ||||||||||
| Introduced by | Dominic Treadwell-Collins | ||||||||||
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Donna Yates is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Lisa Hammond. The character and casting was announced in March 2014 and she made her first appearance on 14 April of that year. Donna was introduced as a stallholder and a rival to her new colleagues Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) and Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace). EastEnders executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins was happy that Hammond had been cast in the role as EastEnders had been trying to get her into the soap for a while. Donna was the second regular disabled character to appear in EastEnders and some of her storylines raised awareness of disabilities. The character was not intended to be in a wheelchair but this changed after Hammond impressed producers. Donna was characterised as being feisty, hardworking, opinionated and brash, and Treadwell-Collins teased that she would not be an easy character to like at first. However, Donna's loyal, fragile and funny sides to her personality were also explored.
Donna's initial storylines involved her clashes and friendships with her colleagues. Her foster mother Claudette Hubbard (Ellen Thomas) and her foster brother Vincent Hubbard (Richard Blackwood) were later introduced, and Donna was seen often clashing with Vincent's wife Kim Fox (Tameka Empson). Donna also formed friendships with several characters, including Nancy Carter (Maddy Hill) and Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald), and she had short-term romantic encounters with Fatboy Chubb (Ricky Norwood) and Shrimpy (Ben Champniss). In 2016, a controversial storyline aired where Donna attempts to get pregnant with Vincent's sperm, though she is unsuccessful. In 2017, Donna develops a rivalry with Robbie Jackson (Dean Gaffney), but the pair later becomes friends and start a romantic relationship, even moving in together.
In April 2018, it was announced that Hammond had left the soap and she made her final appearance on 20 July of that year. Donna's final storyline involved a feud with Rainie Cross (Tanya Franks) and trying to plant drugs on her to prove that she is an unfit parent, which leads to Donna leaving Walford and ending her relationship with Robbie. Donna received positive reception from critics and viewers and Hammond was longlisted for two Inside Soap awards. Several critics called the character feisty and her romance with Robbie was well-received. However, Donna's departure was criticised for being lowkey. Hammond revealed that she had received abuse from viewers for using a wheelchair after they had seen her walk in scenes. On the day of the airing of Donna's departure, Sophie Dainty from Digital Spy wrote an article detailing reasons why she would miss the character.
In March 2014, it was announced that Lisa Hammond had joined the cast of EastEnders as Donna Yates, who was described as a "tough" and "no-nonsense" market trader who would declare "war" and make enemies with her stall rivals Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) and Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace).[1][2] Hammond was excited to join the soap opera, saying, "It's a great opportunity to be a part of such a big and popular show. Donna is a bit of a handful but they're always the most fun characters to play! It feels good to be bad!"[1] Executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins called Donna a "flinty, aggressive and difficult" character and admitted that she would not initially be an easy character to like, but that she would discover her to be a "funny, loyal but also fragile woman underneath" as viewers get to know her better.[1] Treadwell-Collins called Hammond a "brilliantly comic and sharp actress" and was delighted that she had been cast as Donna as he and other EastEnders staff had been trying to get Hammond into the EastEnders cast "for a long time".[1]
"Donna is an in-your-face loud mouth – your best friend or your worst enemy. Donna Yates is a brash woman – Queen of Spring Lane market. She's worked hard all her life and never taken a hand-out from anyone. Proud to a fault, Donna has fought tooth and nail for her independence and won't let anyone take it away from her. Her self-started business is her livelihood and success is everything. She wants to win. She wants respect. She'd rather be feared than loved."
Donna was reported to be the second regular disabled character to feature in EastEnders after Adam Best (David Proud) from 2009 to 2010.[1] Donna was also the first female actress in a wheelchair to feature in the soap opera.[4] The character was not intended to be in a wheelchair, but this was changed when Hammond, who has a restricted growth condition, impressed producers during her audition among able-bodied actors.[1] Hammond revealed in 2015 that she had received abuse from viewers over her disability, explaining, "when I get out of my [wheel]chair to do a scene on my feet, people don't like it. If I'm feeling good and want to walk in that scene, I will. But if I can't or pain levels are bad then I'll use my chair".[5] Hammond added because of this, she has had viewers shout at her and ask her why she uses a wheelchair after they have seen her walk in episodes.[5] Hammond added, "People always think I'm this feisty girl and I can hold my own but in those moments you just don't think of anything to say. It's shock and disbelief. I have to laugh it off".[5]
Hammond told Inside Soap that whilst Donna is initially "very opinionated", there would be a humorous side to her.[6] Hammond explained, "I don't want her to just be a hard-faced cow. There needs to be a glint in her eye, tinged with a bit of sarcasm as well".[7][6] Hammond admitted that she found it hard to "launch into being such a fiery character", but when she settled in, she thought, "This is fun - people will hate me!"[6] Donna's official profile on the BBC website revealed that "abrasive personality" covers her "hidden depths" and called her intelligent and opinionated.[3] It also revealed that she works hard on her business and "swears by her unfaltering work", but teased that due to this, Donna's love life and other aspects of her life have "slid".[3] They added that whilst Donna is hoping to find the right man, her "abrasive personality" may make it harder to find him.[3] Metro reported that Donna would be a "loudmouth" who "always has to be top dog and will go to any lengths to achieve this"; they added, "Never one to let her guard down, Donna takes no prisoners and always has to have the last word. But is her in-your-face persona all a front?"[8]
Development
Introduction and relationships
Hammond made her first appearance as Donna in the episode that originally aired on 14 April 2014.[6][3] Donna debuted during an ongoing storyline revolving around the potential closure of Bridge Street market, which worries many characters.[9] Donna immediately gets on the wrong side of Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) and Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace), who confront her after incorrectly assuming that she is someone from the council.[6] Speaking of Donna's debut scenes, Hammond said, "Not only did I come in on my first day as someone who is difficult and a bit nosey, but I had to do it with Kat and Bianca! They are really strong women, so it was daunting. But Patsy and Jessie have always been a good laugh in between scenes, so it was very easy to settle in."[6] Hammond called Palmer her "mentor" who offered to help her with any questions that she had.[6] Donna's clothes stall is later moved from Spring Lane Market to Bridge Street, which angers many residents.[10] Donna does not try to be nice to other residents, but she ends up bonding with Kat after the latter is scarred in a housefire.[11] Hammond explained, "Because Donna's disabled – the way I am – she's used to getting looked at and dealing with negative comments around that, so I think there might be a holding of hands on that".[11] Donna's friend Pam Coker (Lin Blakley) later tries to get Donna and Kat closer together but they are not "fooled for a moment".[12]
In October 2014, Hammond teased that viewers would learn more about Donna's backstory, adding, "We'll get to know a little bit more about her life rather than the market stall and the bitchy-bitchy: more about who she is and where she has come from".[11] In January 2015, Donna moves to Albert Square, with it being teased that viewers would be teasing more of the character.[12] Donna's foster mother, Claudette Hubbard (Ellen Thomas), and her foster brother Vincent Hubbard (Richard Blackwood), were introduced later in 2015.[10] Vincent and Donna were characterised as having a close bond and being "deeply loyal to each other".[13] The following year, Donna is left with a "tough dilemma" when Claudette asks her to talk to Vincent for her, hoping that Donna will get him to forgive and bring the family back together; although she is initially torn, Donna does try to talk to Vincent but he responds angrily and leaves, saying that he does even want to talk about his mother.[14] Hammond later explained that whilst Donna has not forgiven Claudette, she misses her and wants to see her fix things with Vincent and wants her family together.[15]
Throughout her time in the soap, several of Donna's storylines focused on her loyalty to her friends, such as when she tells Pam that she suspects that her husband Less (Roger Sloman) is having an affair and when she stands up for Nancy Carter (Maddy Hill) when she is fighting with her family.[16] In 2017, Donna moves into a house share with Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald), Ben Mitchell (Harry Reid) and Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) and becomes especially good friends with Abi, sticking by her when she reveals that she is having an affair with her sister's boyfriend Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell).[16][17] Donna was often seen clashing with Vincent's wife, Kim Fox (Tameka Empson).[16] In November 2016, Kim and Donna have an argument after she steals Donna's blue badge for her own use despite not being disabled.[18][19] After this is discovered and Kim also admits to sometimes using the disabled toilets, so Donna berates her and tells her and tells her what life is like for her being disabled and tells her to not do it as it is wrong.[18] This scene was praised by viewers on social media for highlighting disability awareness, with Digital Spy suggesting that it was part of EastEnders' attempt to incorporate some "down-to-earth storylines" into the soap.[18]
Romances with Fatboy and Shrimpy
In 2015, Donna had a short-lived romance with Fatboy Chubb (Ricky Norwood), who she had been friends with beforehand.[20][21] A writer from Bournemouth Daily Echo believed that viewers would see a softer side to Donna due to her romance with Fatboy.[20] Hammond believed that the pair were well-suited for each other as they were already good friends.[20] She added, "Fatboy has got a bit of an edge to him, but he’s very nice. Donna's probably gone for a flash guy in the past, but Fats is kind-hearted and he can handle her attitude as well".[20] Hammond revealed that she and Norwood had to refilm their kissing scene several as things kept going wrong in the studio, such as a light cracking, which Hammond found humorous.[20] She joked, "Myself and Ricky just resigned ourselves to the fact that we would have to keep kissing over and over!"[22] Hammond had high emotions about the scene as it was her first onscreen kiss on EastEnders, but credited her "brilliant" director and Norwood's professionalism to making her feel comfortable.[20] She added that she was happy that she had been able to get to know Norwood for over a year before kissing him in contrast to other projects where she had to kiss actors after only knowing them for a day.[20]
In the storyline, Donna and Fatboy begin a close friendship, but Donna begins to develop feelings for him, which leads to her flirting with him; they then kiss and spend the night together.[21][23] After this, it becomes clear that Donna and Fatboy want different things as the news about them spreads across Albert Square, as Fatboy sees Donna as just a friend.[23] Fatboy ends up asking Donna out for a drink, but he later breaks things off with her.[24][25] When Vincent – who was not a fan of the pairing – finds out how Fatboy treated Donna, he visits Fatboy's home and takes "shocking action" to teach him a lesson, which scares him.[24][26] It was teased that Vincent's revenge could go "too far".[24] Hammond had previously told Inside Soap that there would be some "interesting" scenes where Vincent would be a "bit too up in [Donna's] business" regarding men, which Hammond believed was "very authentic" to "tackle".[25]
In December 2016, Donna dances and flirts with Shrimpy (Ben Champniss), an EastEnders extra, at a party.[27][28] However, Donna's intoxicated friend Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons) spots this and she tries to get his attention instead and they dance together.[27] The following Valentines Day, Shrimpy attempts to ask Donna out, but he is too shy to do it himself, so Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White) gives her the chocolates from him instead.[29]
Attempted pregnancy
In 2016, Donna was involved in a controversial storyline where she attempts to get pregnant with Vincent's sperm.[30] In the storyline, Donna becomes desperate to start a family of her own but has to go to "extreme lengths" to do this as she does not have a boyfriend.[30] Hammond explained to Inside Soap that Donna wants children of her own as not only has she always wanted children, but also because she feels lonely.[13] Donna becomes so desperate that she even asks her good friend Kush Kazemi (Davood Ghadami) to father her child.[31] Donna confides in her friend Pam about having a child, who tries to encourage her to apply to be the new market inspector to take her mind off it.[13]
Donna then decides to ask Vincent.[30] Hammond explained that Vincent would be shocked by Donna's request, as he knew that Donna was seriously looking into having a child, he was not anticipating that she would ask him to help her.[30] Explaining Donna's reasoning, Hammond explained, "Donna looks around at the men in her life and sees how Vincent is with Pearl. She loves the way he is with his daughter [Pearl], and regardless of some of the other things he might get up to, Donna believes he would always be there for her, no matter what".[30][13] Vincent initially responds to Donna's suggestion by "flying off the handle" and refusing, but he later comes round to the idea after Donna explains her reasoning; however, he finds it difficult to persuade his wife and Pearl's mother, Kim, to agree to the idea.[30][13] Hammond revealed, "Kim loses it! She thinks it's a ridiculous suggestion, and after considering all the logistics involved, she realises it would mean she'd be forced into some kind of relationship with Donna. And they've never been best of friends."[13] Laura-Jayne Tyler from Inside Soap observed that Kim had not factored in Vincent and Donna's bond.[13] Kim also tries to stop the plan by telling Claudette about what Vincent and Donna are planning as she believes that she will be against it and talk them out of it, although this is not the case.[15]
Rivalry and romance with Robbie
Donna is given a new love interest – her colleague, Robbie Jackson (Dean Gaffney).[32] Robbie, who had debuted in 1993, was reintroduced as a regular character in June 2017 and is revealed to be the new enforcement officer of Donna's market.[33] The pair initially do not get on and argue, which Gaffney called a "clash of personalities".[33] Speaking about the reason of Donna and Robbie's clash to Digital Spy, Gaffney said, "I think it's purely because [Donna] sees this anal character coming in throwing his weight about. And also there's a discrepancy with her stall – will she lose the stall? And Robbie is the reason why she might or might not".[33] However, Gaffney also revealed that what they had been filmed afterwards "kind of rectifies that so we've come full circle in a short space of time".[33] In the storyline, Robbie annoys his colleagues with his attitude and he briefly evicts Donna from her pitch when she does not pay her fees on time, leading to her colleagues getting revenge on her before he changes his mind.[34]
Sophie Dainty from Digital Spy hinted later in 2017 that there could be a "spark" between Donna and Robbie when Donna winds him up and, trying to lift his spirits, "demands" that he takes her out on a date after he is jilted by a woman that he had met online.[32] However, Donna then tries to "wreak havoc" for Robbie when he is given a chance to meet again with the woman that he met online.[32] Gaffney had previously teased that Robbie would "find love".[35] Robbie and Donna's "chemistry" is revisited in December 2017 when, after several more weeks of banter between the pair, Robbie tells Donna that he is fed up of always being made fun of by her.[36] Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) decides to matchmake the pair as she believes that there is an "underlying passion" between them, so she locks them in the kitchen of the Queen Vic pub in attempt to help them realise their true feelings.[36] Whilst locked in, Robbie and Donna bond and Donna offers to help Robbie with his troubles, and the pair almost kiss before being interrupted by Whitney opening the door.[36] Although the pair are embarrassed by their near-kiss, they end up helping each other when the market is threatened with closure and they then arrange to meet again, leaving Donna to go to big efforts as she believes that she is going on a date with Robbie.[36][37] Donna supports Robbie as he is awaiting updates about the market closure and he buys her a "thoughtful" Christmas present, but he accidentally gives her the wrong gift.[38] Donna is humiliated and throws a drink in his face and tells everyone that the market may be closing, but she regrets her actions when she finds out what Robbie really got her.[38] Robbie and Donna later begin a relationship and later move in together.[39] When Donna gets into an argument with Hayley Slater (Katie Jarvis) in the pub, Robbie calls Donna his girlfriend and tells Hayley to leave him alone, which leads to him accidentally getting into a fight with Stuart Highway (Ricky Champ) by accident.[40]
Departure
On 10 April 2018, it was announced that Hammond would be leaving EastEnders as Donna.[41] Speaking about her exit, Hammond said, "It's been so great to play Donna for the past four years. I've made lifelong friends at EastEnders and will really miss all of the brilliant cast and crew who have always been a pleasure to work with! I look forward to what the future brings".[42][41] Hammond was one of several EastEnders cast members to announce their departures in 2018, including Blackwood as Vincent.[41] An EastEnders spokesperson confirmed Hammond's departure and said "Lisa has been a fantastic addition to the cast and she will be missed. We wish her all the very best for the future".[43] It was reported that at Hammond was still filming at the time of the announcement.[43] Hammond wrote on Twitter that she was both happy and sad to leave the soap opera.[10]
Hammond made her final appearance as Donna in the episode broadcast on 20 July of that year.[39] In the storyline, Donna plants drugs on recovering drug addict Rainie Cross (Tanya Franks) to get her addicted again and make her appear to be an unfit carer for now-deceased Abi's daughter of the same name.[39][44] Donna apologises to Rainie's husband Max Branning (Jake Wood) and blames Rainie's mother Cora Cross (Ann Mitchell) for making her doubt Donna's ability to look after Abi, and the pair sort things out, but Robbie confronts Donna after finding out what she did and is also angry that she did not tell him.[39] Robbie contemplates their future but Max tells him to figure Donna as she is a good person.[39] However, Robbie returns home to discover that Donna has taken her stuff and left without saying goodbye, whilst Donna departs Walford in her taxi and accidentally encounters Rainie, who tells Donna to take a long break from Walford.[39][45] Donna's exit aired in the middle of the episode, and thus she did not get the traditional cliffhanger theme tune.[46] After discovering that Donna has left him for good, Robbie is "crestfallen" and heartbroken and struggles with her departure.[45]