Petra Mary Taylor is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Alexandra Pigg.

Writers introduced Petra's family into the show which included her sisters, Marie Jackson (Anna Keaveney) and Michelle Jones (Tracy Jay).

Her subsequent miscarriage and doomed relationship with Barry Grant (Paul Usher) allowed writers fully realise Petra's depression and her story culminates in a suicide storyline.

She disliked having to play constant tragedy after Gavin's death and grew annoyed at the public reaction to Petra's disappearance story.

[1] Promotional on-set photographs were also released showing Pigg with Daniel Webb, who plays Petra's husband Gavin Taylor.

Pigg was optimistic about being cast in a new show and told Thomas that "I think people will watch it right away in Liverpool, because it is set here, down south it might take a bit longer.

[2] In her backstory, Petra's mother died when she was a child and their father Davey Jones (Ian Hendry) was a drunk who was unable to care for them.

[3] Pigg told Geoff Baker from Birmingham Mail that "Petra's just an ordinary typist who desperately wants a baby.

[2][1] In a character profile published in TVTimes, Petra was described as being the "attractive wife" of Gavin, who has to suffer his "roving eye" when shows interest in other women.

[5] In the book, Brookside: The Official Companion, show creator Phil Redmond profiled Petra as a "typist at a large insurance office who always seemed to be on the verge of a good long sulk.

Irwin confirmed that Pigg would remain in the show and Gavin's death "brings the warring neighbours of Brookside estate a little closer.

"[11] Show creator Phil Redmond later confirmed that Gavin's death became a plot device to bond the remaining characters.

[13] Producers arranged location filming in Isle of Man for a holiday storyline featuring Petra and her new love interest Barry Grant (Paul Usher).

[20] James Moore and Clare Goldwin from the Daily Mirror described Petra's best storyline as her "committing suicide after her husband's death".

[21] Their colleague Ken Irwin branded Petra "the sex siren of Brookside" and labelled her and Gavin a "sexy" couple.

[22] Max Bell (also from Daily Mirror) opined that Pigg was "a big hit in Brookside" and branded Petra as "neurotic and ill-starred".

[23] David Stuckey and Len Capeling from Daily Post labelled Petra as "an attractive bird on the boil, with added sex problems.

Married to Petra - whose tight dresses reveal the lines of her underwear - Gavin lusts after neighbour, Heather Huntington.

"[4] Another Birmingham Mail critic assessed that Petra and Gavin's debut set the tone for "trouble" and "sparks" in Brookside.

[27] A writer from the Burton Mail was confused by Gavin's behaviour lusting after Heather because Petra is "attractive" but it was clear their marriage had problems.

[2] Frank Jeffery from The Sunday People branded Petra the "merry widow" and believed killing her off was a "pity" because Brookside needed her "dose of earthy sexuality".