Gillian Taylforth

Gillian Taylforth (born 14 August 1955 in London) is an English actress. She is best known for her roles as Kathy Mitchell (formerly Kathy Beale) on the BBC soap opera, EastEnders (1985–2000) and as Jackie Pascoe-Webb on ITV's Footballers Wives (2002–2006), but more recently as Sgt. Nikki Wright in ITV's The Bill (2006–2008). Away from television acting, she has appeared in film during her early career, and has presented on ITV's Loose Women as well as appearing as a celebrity contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2008.

Taylforth's relationship with Geoff Knight spanned 23 years and was heavily focused upon in the media due to his reported abusive behaviour. In 1994, Taylforth sued The Sun newspaper for libel after they ran a story claiming she had been caught by police performing a sexual act on Knight in their car; she lost the court case.