Name:     Kate Russell Played By:     Jane Gurnett Age:     47 Occupation:     General Manager
Character Quote:	"Shall we have [Lola and Belle] publically flogged in the car park?"

2003:

It's Angel's interference and her way of lauding it over that Kate doesn't like, but then she has a lot to thank Victor Barnes for. The man has died and left it in his will that the new owners (the Samsons) had to give Kate a home and job at the hotel. She has since lost her grip on the business that she built up with the late Patrick originally, and her children have all left home.

Kate was friends with Angel Samson at one time, believe it or not. But now they hate each other, although they can get along when need be. Kate's lost everything in recent years - her husband and boyfriend and it is now the time for her to get on and have a piece of the new action of the hotel.

2001/2:

Kate was the best employer that anybody could ask for, she liked to keep a close eye on things in the family, particularly in regards to the marriage between her son Jake and his wife Tracey. Kate had every intention of letting her son and his wife sort their own marriage problems out but has had to intervene on more than one occasion to ease her own mind about the well-being of her grandson Scott.

Kate was naturally devastated when her husband Patrick died of a heart attack and was unhappy that her daughter Nicola was blaming Billy, an old friend, for the death of her father. She was even more upset when Billy declared that Sarah was to move into his flat with him. Nothing upsets her more when Scott is unhappy, she is able to drop everything and comfort the boy which also makes her a brilliant grandmother.

Kate told Billy in December 2001 that she regretted breaking off their initial relationship from 18 years ago and wanted to leave Patrick for him, which meant breaking off the marriage to Patrick of 22 years. Needless to say, Patrick was not happy at this and promptly sacked Billy in the staff room 20 minutes before the lunch rush hour. When Kate found out about this her response was to issue an ultimatum to Patrick - reinstate Billy or she will walk out on him. Needless to say she got the chef reinstated but only because Patrick could not bear to lose her.

After Patrick's death, which saw Kate pleading for forgiveness at his graveside, her attentions turned to the hotel and a deepening financial crisis. As if that wasn't enough, her son Jake's marriage had got worse and at her grandson's 13th birthday party she was forced to move Scott into her apartment after a drunk Tracey announced her intent to divorce Jake for her lover right in front of Scott. He was almost in tears at this news.

Diane arrived in August 2001 and while Kate was initially charming and pleasant towards her, by Christmas Kate did not like Diane at all particularly since she had tried to seduce Patrick while Kate was away on holiday in the USA. The final straw came when Diane arrived at the after funeral lunch for Patrick, and was told in no uncertain terms by Kate to basically get lost.

Nevertheless, Kate was the sort of boss everybody wants, She is kind, sensitive and a joy to work for. She's likely to give everybody the odd afternoon off at the drop of a hat quickly plunging the hotel into skeleton staff mode. Respected by all the staff, she is confident, bright and just wants the hotel to run itself. Kate is a firm favourite with the visitors to this site, and has a number of fan sites and groups dedicated to her and Jane Gurnett :)

Kate was pregnant with Jake when she was 15 and the father was Victor Barnes. The pair met when Jake was arranging a deal to save the hotel from going under. She wouldn't sign the contract and then let slip to Jake that he was his father when he thought she was talking about why she wouldn't sign the contract.

Kate plays agony aunt to Scott and wasn't happy to hear that he thought that his father had hit Tracey which wasn't true. Other agonies of her grandson were when his mother showed him up in the school playground by arguing with Mike Kitson which later led to Scott being in a school fight.

In 2002, Kate had rekindled her affair with Billy at the expense of suffering Sarah's wrath when she finds out. There is still the flame of passion between her and Billy but is it the right duration of time after Patrick's death for this fling? Well the fact that the pair spilt up over Sarah should answer that.