[1][2] Elaine's storylines in her first stint saw the character arrive to comfort Linda following her rape by Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo), pursuing a relationship with toyboy Jason Adams (Scott Neal),[3][4] and feuding with Babe Smith (Annette Badland).

Elaine is described as being larger than life, glamorous, and loves to be the centre of attention, and has a 'fraught' relationship with her daughter due to their similar personalities.

Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) calls her to Walford for the first time in October 2014 when Linda starts acting strangely, refusing to be intimate with him and complaining of migraines.

Elaine convinces Linda to dress up and work the bar during a musical bingo night run by her granddaughter Nancy Carter (Maddy Hill), and later becomes suspicious when she notices tension between her daughter and Dean Wicks (Matt Di Angelo).

[13] On Christmas Eve 2016, Linda receives a phonecall from a hospital in Spain informing her that Elaine has suffered a severe stroke and it is unknown whether she will recover.

Linda decides she has to leave Walford with her son Johnny Carter (Ted Reilly) to be with and support her mother through her illness.

After Mick disappears at sea and is presumed dead, his new widow Janine Carter (Charlie Brooks) decides to sell his half of the Queen Vic after getting arrested for perverting the court of justice.

The following month, Elaine's partner George Knight (Colin Salmon) arrives from Marbella and moves into The Queen Vic with his two daughters Gina (Francesca Henry) and Anna (Molly Rainford), and their pet Chihuahua, Tyson, much to the dismay of Linda.

Elaine fires Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) from The Queen Vic shortly after George's arrival which infuriates Linda.

Elaine continues to struggle with Linda following her alcohol relapse, in the months after she murdered Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) on Christmas Day (see "The Six").

George's biological brothers, Kobina (Jonathon Nyati) and Kojo Asare (Dayo Koleosho) arrive in Walford to seek answers about their father's death.

Elaine subsequently supports George and the rest of her new family after Kojo falls off a stairwell in an accident witnessed by Cindy and Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) shortly after Kojo sees Cindy and George’s son, Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) kissing outside of the Queen Vic.

When Linda brings home a random man, Glen, to the Queen Vic, Elaine throws him out after he barges into Annie and Ollie’s room, believing it to be a bathroom.

This prompts her to apologise to Phil, Sharon, Alfie and Johnny, who tell her that they need Linda to hit rock bottom if there is anyway to deal with the situation.

Linda experiences a vision of what would happen to her if she continues drinking which shows her imminent death, funeral and Johnny becoming an alcoholic.

At the funeral, Nancy blames Elaine for Linda’s struggles with alcoholism, accusing her upbringing in a pub as the cause, and slaps her in anger.

Snapping out of the vision, Linda pours the vodka down the drain and returns to the Queen Vic, where she tells Elaine she’s ready to go to rehab.

Confronting Cindy, Elaine gives her an ultimatum, confess the affair to George and the family or risk the recording being played publicly.

After Cindy is left for dead by an unknown assailant following the affair reveal, Elaine aids George before she heads to the hospital.

Elaine is later involved in a plan to get Tracey and Tom to reconcile on good terms and helps them stay in touch after years apart.

Speaking about her casting, Friedman said of Elaine that she is "tough, warm and capable – but also proud and more than a little vain, bringing with her a whole new dynamic when she arrives in Walford to sort out her daughter.

On 28 March 2023, EastEnders announced that Harriet Thorpe had been recast as Elaine,[17] returning to the show in a central role alongside her new partner, George Knight, and his daughters Gina (Francesca Henry) and Anna (Molly Rainford).

[18][19] Thorpe's casting brought excitement to the upcoming storyline, with her character Elaine positioned as a key figure in the Knight family dynamic.

[21] Elaine returned on 10 May 2024, with Clenshaw praising Thorpe's portrayal, noting that the character had already exceeded expectations by the time her family made their full debut on 1 June 2023, in the show's 6708th episode.

The strength of Elaine's character and Thorpe's performance was a central point in establishing the Knight family's presence in EastEnders, as the storyline unfolded throughout the summer.

[24] Elaine plays a significant role in the storyline, becoming a vital source of support for Yolande, who confides in her following the traumatic event.

[25] Thorpe's portrayal of Elaine highlights her character's empathetic and nurturing qualities, providing Yolande with a safe space to process her ordeal.

Thorpe's performance adds depth to Elaine's character, reinforcing her as a pivotal figure in Yolande's journey towards healing.

After Linda's husband, Mick Carter, disappeared and was presumed dead, Elaine returned to support her, becoming a partner in running The Queen Vic.

Denby remarked that Elaine immediately connected with the pub's regulars, taking control of the iconic Queen Vic and promising to keep it a family establishment, which resonated with viewers.