Gillian Taylforth has been banned from driving for two years. During a hearing at Stevenage Crown Court on Friday the former EastEnders actress was told that she wouldn't be able to drive for 24 months after being found to be over three times the legal limit during an incident in February.The 59-year-old pleaded guilty to the charges three months ago although later she made an application to overturn the driving ban part of her sentence due to 'special reasons', but not the conviction itself.
© Photo: Getty ImagesGillian has been banned from driving for two-years
Mum-of-two Gillian asked to be allowed to continue driving, arguing that she need her licence to help her fiancé Dave Fairbairn get to hospital for his cancer treatment as he is already banned from driving. Dave, who is himself banned from driving, is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.The application was struck out by the court, however, and Gillian was disqualified from driving for two years, ordered to pay a £3,500 fine, £720 costs and a £120 government surcharge.Gillian, who is also well-known for playing Sergeant Nikki Wright in The Bill, recently made a surprise return to EastEnders in honour of the soap's 30th birthday earlier this year.The Islington-born actress reprised her role as Ian Beale's mother Kathy Beale and took part in a mysterious scene involving Phil Mitchell.
© Photo: TwitterThe actress returned to EastEnders as part of the soap's 30th anniversary week of shows
Adam, who plays Ian Beale in the BBC show, took to Twitter to celebrate Gillian's big come-back, writing: "Dreams do come true #EELive," and adding a photo of the pair to mark their reunion.Kathy was last seen on the show in 2000 and her return had been shrouded in secrecy. During the episode, EastEnders' executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins tweeted, "We're good at keeping secrets. #KathyComeHome #EELive."Viewers saw Kathy emerging from a car to meet up with her ex Phil Mitchell, before begging him to let her "come home". Her few seconds on screen sparked a social media meltdown because it was thought that the character had died in a car crash in South Africa after moving there with her son Ben 15 years ago.It has been confirmed that Gillian will be returning to the show indefinitely in the near future, when fans will learn "where Kathy has been and why she has stayed away so long", EastEnders promised.
