She debuted on-screen during episodes airing on 22 August 2006 and was introduced by series producer Bryan Kirkwood as part of the McQueen family.

Carmel was killed-off as she saved her cousin, Theresa McQueen (Jorgie Porter) from Sonny Valentine (Aaron Fontaine) during the "End of the Line" storyline.

Her most prominent storylines include her marriage and divorce from Sonny's brother Calvin Valentine (Ricky Whittle), her facial disfigurement after a tanning machine explodes in her face, remarrying Calvin which ends in tragedy after he was shot dead by Theresa, her relationship with Jim McGinn (Dan Tetsell), her feud with Theresa and infatuation with Theresa and Calvin's daughter Kathleen-Angel McQueen, beginning a relationship with Sonny and being killed in an explosion following a train crash at her cousin Porsche McQueen's (Twinnie-Lee Moore) wedding reception.

Her brother John Paul was gay, and was accepted for her whole life, she was devastated by Niall's attack on her family, which left older sister Tina dead.

Way to rain on the parade Theresa!In June 2012, it was revealed that Carmel will reportedly suffer "horrific injuries" after an accident with a tanning machine.

[7] Carmel was killed off in the train explosion in November after being a hero, saving cousin Theresa McQueen (Jorgie Porter) from the hands of Sonny Valentine (Aaron Fontaine).

The episode in which Carmel died was broadcast on Channel 4 on 12 November 2014, with cast members and television critics praising Merna's performance in her final scenes.

Carmel grew up alongside her older half-sisters, Jacqui (Claire Cooper), Mercedes (Jennifer Metcalfe) and Tina (Leah Hackett) and younger siblings, John Paul (James Sutton) and Michaela (Hollie-Jay Bowes).

Darren Osborne (Ashley Taylor Dawson) notices Carmel's singing talents and gets her to perform for customers in the SU bar.

Jacqui is forced into marrying Albanian immigrant, Aleksander Malota (Jon Lolis), who Carmel falls in love with, however, she fails to resist him.

Jacqui also confesses her love for Tony Hutchinson (Nick Pickard), who she has been having an affair with, and tells Alek that he has to go back to Albania, which upsets Carmel.

While attending a party at the student Halls, Carmel and Russ have a heart-to-heart in John Paul's bedroom and the pair affirm their love for one another.

After they return from their honeymoon, Calvin begins to feel increasingly guilty over Nige's (Sam Townend) "death", which he thinks he caused.

Her cousin, Theresa (Jorgie Porter), auditions but is called off the stage by people making fun of her for having sex with Tony, claiming she cannot play a virgin when she clearly is not.

After Warren is killed by Clare Devine (Gemma Bissix) in a fire at The Loft, Calvin takes in his autistic foster brother Spencer.

Carmel also takes on other jobs including a cheer leading coach at Hollyoaks High School and returning to her role as a PCSO.

Carmel is heartbroken when she finds out Jacqui and Mercedes knew who the real murderer was the whole time, however she agrees to keep quiet until the baby is born.

However, their relationship is halted when Brendan hides a stack of twenty pound notes in Carmel's bag, which then catches fire after an incident at Evissa.

Carmel turns to God and decides to begin training as a nun, much to the shock of her family, however her temptation is challenged when a good looking priest named Father Francis (Richard Winsor) arrives in the village.

Carmel finds it hard to leave the hospital and Ally Gorman (Daniel O'Connor) introduces her to some of his army friends who have lost limbs.

Carmel calls Jim, who comforts her and she learns that Nana faked the robbery because they wanted money to give Myra the send-off she deserves.

When the police come to see her on the day of Chloe's visit and show her footage of Theresa stealing Kathleen-Angel's doll house, it is clear that they have mistaken her identity for her cousin.

An angry Mercedes persuades Carmel to come to the police station to retract her statement, but just as they arrive, they find out that Theresa, who has been under interrogation, has admitted to murdering Calvin, and that she is going to prison.

After Jim is accidentally run over and left in a coma by Freddie Roscoe (Charlie Clapham), Carmel stands by him, despite Mercedes voicing her suspicions that Sonny has feelings for her.

A hurt Carmel breaks off their relationship, telling Jim that she cannot marry someone who lies to her, but she is stung to learn that John Paul knew the truth.

A furious Mercedes later throws Jim out of the McQueen home, but he begs Carmel to reconsider, claiming that he has given up everything if it means that he can be with her - and asks her and Kathleen-Angel to leave the village with him.

Carmel decides to go with Jim, and sneaks out, whilst John Paul manages to dupe Sonny into letting him take Kathleen-Angel.

Carmel waits for Jim in the square, but as he makes his way through a crowd of late-night pub-goers, he is stabbed by a disguised Fraser, in revenge for his betrayal.

Sonny, enraged, verbally belittles Carmel, causing her to storm off to the wedding reception, which is set to take place on a party train.

Unbeknownst to the guests, Sonny sneaks onto the train using Carmel's invite and attacks Phoebe with a metal bar, locking her in the toilet, before attempting to throw Theresa off.