Pam St. Clement based her ‘EastEnders’ character Pat Butcher’s look on a bus conductor and a bakery worker.
The 72-year-old actress – who starred on the popular BBC soap from 1986 until 2012 – has revealed the inimitable style of the Walford stalwart, famous for big earrings and colourful blouses, was inspired by just two normal women she met in her everyday life.
She shared: "I saw a bus conductress on a 38 bus and I thought, ‘Yes, I want my hair to be like that.’ With the bangs and very harsh in the early days, of course.
"And I saw somebody who was serving behind a bakery counter in Hackney and I thought, ‘Yes, that’s the look I want.’ [It was] slightly blousey and, you know, I thought, ‘Yep, that’s her.’ "
However, Pam – who is among the show’s longest-serving cast members – doubted whether either the bus conductor or the baker were ever aware of their influence on the iconic TV character, although they might now.
Speaking on ‘Loose Women’, she said: "I based her look on those two, physically. Whether they will be able to identify themselves … God lord, I shall get some post!"
Pam also revealed that many of the pairs of garish earrings she wore as Pat were often gifts sent to her by ‘EastEnders’ fans.
She revealed: "All the time people would send in earrings. They would say, ‘I found these in Walthamstow market.’ It was wonderful and I’d wear them, because that’s what they wanted, really.
"I knew that somebody wanted to see the earrings they’d sent on my ears."
Pam St. Clement based Pat on baker
