Karen Grant is a character in Brookside

Brookside

Brookside is a defunct British soap opera set in Liverpool, England. The series began on the launch night of Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, and ran for 21 years until 4 November 2003...

portrayed by Shelagh O'Hara from 1982 until 1987.

Grant Family

The Grant family consisted of Bobby Grant

Bobby Grant

Bobby Grant is a fictional character from British soap opera, Brookside played by Ricky Tomlinson. Bobby appeared in Brookside from the first episode in 1982 until the character's departure in 1988...

, Sheila Grant

Sheila Grant

Sheila Grant is a fictional character from British soap opera, Brookside played by Sue Johnston. Sheila appeared in Brookside from the first episode in 1982 until the characters departure in 1990.-Character:...

, Barry Grant

Barry Grant

Barry Grant is a fictional character in the defunct Channel 4 soap opera Brookside. He was portrayed by Paul Usher and was in the series from episode one in 1982 until 1995 with several sporadic guest appearances in 1997, 1998 and the final episode in 2003....

, Karen Grant and Damon Grant

Damon Grant

Damon Grant is a fictional character in the defunct British soap opera Brookside, played by Simon O'Brien. The character was part of the initial cast, appearing from episode one in 1982 until 1987...

. The family moved onto the Middle Class Brookside Close from a rundown council estate.

Character in early episodes

Karen Grant was not seen in the first episode; instead, Bobby was heard to be shouting at her through the bathroom door. Karen then appeared in the second episode. Karen represented youth subculture and was moody, keeping herself apart from her parents. Karen had a boyfriend, Duanne, in the early episodes, whom Bobby and Sheila thoroughly disapproved of.

Relationship with Damon

Karen is close in age to younger brother Damon. The two have a love-hate relationship, often engaging in arguments. At the same time, however, they are often allies in rebelling against Sheila's staunch Catholic upbringing (refusing to go to church with her, for example). As Karen became a more settled character, she often tried to calm hot-headed Damon.

Relationship with Barry

Karen's elder brother Barry was fairly protective of her, even beating up Duanne after he tried to force Karen to have sex with him (something Barry was later stabbed for). Barry also obtained contraception for Karen behind her mother's back.

Relationship with parents

In early episodes Karen had a typical adolescent awkward relationship with both her parents. After Sheila's rape, when their marriage became strained, she mediated between them.

Character in later episodes

In later episodes Karen no longer was portrayed as an awkward adolescent, instead becoming the most eloquent member of the Grant family and moving to London in 1987, though she returned briefly later that year for the funeral of her younger brother.