Pat comes to Walford in June 1986 to tell Pete that he is not Simon's father. Many arguments erupt, but Lou steps in to convince a devastated Pete that Simon is his. When Pat starts work as a barmaid in The Queen Victoria pub later that year, she finds that Lou thinks Simon is Kenny's son, following an affair, and she is adamant that Pat should keep this secret and not upset her close knit family. However, Pete's twin sister Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard) overhears and tells Pete everything. Pat lives up to her promiscuous reputation and, with encouragement from Mehmet Osman (Haluk Bilginer), ends the year prostituting herself. Animosity between Pat and Pete continues. When Pat is assaulted in February 1987 — left unconscious and close to death in the middle of the Square — Pete is prime suspect in the police investigation. He is later cleared when the real culprit, the Walford Attacker, is caught. The arrival of Kenny in 1988 brings the question of Simon's parentage to the fore once again. Pat tells Simon and the Beale brothers that she does not know who the father is, adding further confusion. She also says that Den is a possibility, but later rules Den out and demands that he has sex with her, or she will tell people that he is the father. That July, a dying Lou pleads with Pat to finally tell Simon the truth. Pat reveals that Brian, the man that Simon believed to be his stepfather, is actually his biological father. Following Lou's death, Pat forms a close friendship with Pete's second wife Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth). The pair were formerly foes, but find themselves having had a common bond, with the dominance of both Lou and Pete in their lives. As such, Pat gradually elevates herself as a surrogate mother and close relative of Pete and Kathy's son Ian (Adam Woodyatt). Frank comes back into Pat's life in 1987. June has died and he and Pat reunite, taking over the tenancy of The Queen Vic. Pat has a hard time in her role as the stepmother to Frank's children, particularly with his troublesome youngest daughter Janine (Rebecca Michael). On 22 June 1989, Pat and Frank marry in Cockney style by driving out of Albert Square in a horse drawn cart. By the end of 1989, the Butchers have moved from The Queen Vic to the B&B across the Square, which Pat runs while Frank opens a used car lot. Despite family and marital problems, Frank and Pat are happy until 1992 when they begin to struggle financially, forcing them to sell the B&B. Pat tries to turn their fortunes around by starting a cab firm, PatCabs. However, disaster strikes on Christmas Eve that year, when Pat — doing a short run for a regular customer — hits a teenage girl who later dies from her injuries. She struggles to cope with the guilt, particularly when confronted by the girl's mother. When breathalysed, she is found to be just over the limit. When Pat appears in court several months later, she is imprisoned for six months. Pat returns in the autumn, but by then the Butchers are in financial ruin. In desperation, Frank pays local hardman Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) to torch the car lot in an insurance scam. When this goes wrong and a homeless boy dies, Frank has a breakdown and in April 1994, he abandons Pat and his children, leaving Pat destitute and heartbroken. Eventually, Frank's eldest daughter Diane (Sophie Lawrence) brings news that Frank is alive and so Pat begins getting on with her life. Local car dealer Roy Evans (Tony Caunter) arrives in Albert Square and is attracted to Pat, but early attempts to woo her get him nothing but refusals. Pat later softens, and goes on a cruise with him, although she makes it clear that sex is not on offer. Her carnal abstinence is a blessing for Roy, as he later admits he is impotent and can offer nothing more than platonic love. Pat is relieved to discover that, for once, a man wants something from her other than sex. In November 1995, Roy moves in with Pat, but on Christmas Day, Frank returns. Pat finds it hard to contain her rage and emotion when she sees her estranged husband, but despite him stirring up old feelings, she chooses to stay with Roy and they marry in 1996. Pat and Roy weather money problems, Roy's ill health, and his depression, brought on by his jealousy of Pat and Frank's shared past, which almost makes him commit suicide in 1998. Pat finally convinces Roy that it was him she wants, although she finds it hard to let go of Frank completely. Frank goes on to marry Phil's mother Peggy (Barbara Windsor), but Frank begins to have second thoughts upon realising that he still loves Pat. In 2000, Pat and Frank go on a holiday with their respective spouses, alongside fellow couple Terry Raymond (Gavin Richards) and his wife Irene Raymond (Roberta Taylor) in Spain. During this time, Frank seduces Pat, and she tries to end the affair; however, when Frank turns up on her doorstep with no clothes and a comedy bow tie on his neck, she realises that she had never stopped loving him either. The duo continue their affair, and eventually decide to elope to Manchester. The couple are due to depart on Guy Fawkes Night in November 2000, when Pat has second thoughts. However, it is too late, as Peggy has already found Frank's farewell letter, and shames the cheating duo by reading it to the entire pub before slapping Frank and Pat. Peggy throws Frank out, and he leaves Walford alone. Roy is initially willing to forgive Pat, and explains that certain things have got to change, but his son Barry (Shaun Williamson), alerts him to a suitcase containing massage oils, along with fishnet stockings and a red Basque, which Pat was planning to take with her for Frank. Enraged by her betrayal, Roy throws Pat out and she is left penniless and homeless. Roy later asks Pat for a divorce. In February 2001, Pat decides to join Simon in New Zealand, though Roy follows her to the airport and tells her that he wants to be with her, despite Barry's objections. Grateful that Roy has given her a second chance, Pat is adamant that she will not mess things up again. This starts off well throughout the rest of 2001 and the entirety of 2002, during which Pat reunites with her stepson and Frank's son Ricky (Sid Owen) in the process. However, in March 2003, Roy discovers that Pat knew about Ricky having an affair with Barry's wife Natalie (Lucy Speed) not long ago. Roy believes that Pat has again chosen to support Frank's offspring over his own, and the stress causes Roy's second and fatal heart attack. Roy dies intestate, leaving Pat bereft and homeless, as Barry — beneficiary of Roy's estate — evicts her, despite Pat's efforts to support Barry and help rebuild his life after the double blow of his marriage break up and the death of his father. Pat moves into a bedsit. Janine (now played by Charlie Brooks) marries Barry and plans to con him out of all of his money and possessions. The day after the wedding, Janine admits everything and pushes Barry down a cliff to his death. She later brags about it to a disgusted Pat and starts to bully Ian's estranged wife Laura (Hannah Waterman), who is living with Pat at her house. When Laura accidentally falls down the stairs and dies, Janine is arrested on suspicion of murder. Pat, who is Janine's alibi, lies to the police, and so Janine is implicated as revenge for Barry's death. Pat is given a job at the bookies by the square's crime kingpin Andy Hunter (Michael Higgs) in 2004. They develop a rapport, until Pat finds out that Andy has arranged for his employee Paul Trueman (Gary Beadle) to be killed in retribution for attempting to entrap him to the police. She is nevertheless surprised when Andy is murdered by his gangland rival Johnny Allen (Billy Murray) in 2005, before later finding out that Andy has left her his house in his will. It is at this point that it transpires that Pat and Johnny are old acquaintances, as she used to work for Johnny in the past. She immediately suspects him of killing Andy, but Johnny convinces her otherwise and the pair attend Andy's funeral. However, Pat eventually learns from Johnny's henchman Jake (Joel Beckett) that in the end Johnny did kill Andy, and has also ordered Jake's brother Danny (Jake Maskall) to murder Sharon's step brother turned husband Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman). Towards the end of 2005, Pat is summoned as a witness for the prosecution at Janine's trial in December that year. She is later surprised to see that Frank has returned, and the pair greet each other. They later have sex, but Pat soon realises that his primary motive is to convince her to alter her testimony at Janine's trial. At first, Pat refuses, to the point where she tells Frank that Janine killed Barry, but eventually relents. Afterwards, Frank tells Pat that he will always love her and the two reconcile, before parting ways one last time. In February 2006, missing male company, Pat begins flirting with Paul's adopted father Patrick (Rudolph Walker), who is married but unable to resist the chance of a casual fling with Pat. Soon enough, Patrick's young assistant Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) sees them together and tells Patrick's wife, Yolande (Angela Wynter) about it; this ends the affair, and causes Yolande to resent Pat as a result. In August 2007, Pat discovers that her mother lied about the date of her sister Joan's death. She and a kind stranger, Len Harker (Christopher Ellison), break into Joan's care home and learn that Joan died only a few years earlier after marrying a man with Down's syndrome. Pat is touched to discover that Joan often spoke of how much she loved her. In March 2008, Pat announces she is leaving Walford for Spain, but gets news that Frank has died of throat cancer. She is devastated, and despite initial feuding, she and Peggy support each other through Frank's funeral. Pat opts to remain in Walford when her granddaughter Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) turns to her for help soon after, moving in with her four children. Having reconciled with one grandchild, Pat severs her bond with another when she discovers Ian's stepson Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell) is in hiding with his runaway half sister, Lucy Beale (Melissa Suffield). Pat threatens to tell Ian the truth, and is hit by a car driven by Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons) whilst trying to apprehend Steven. She spends time in hospital, where Steven attempts to smother her before she can tell Ian. His plan fails, and Lucy returns to Ian. Pat suffers a heart attack in January 2010 amidst increasing animosity with Janine. It is revealed that she has an underlying condition and needs a pacemaker, but refuses to have the operation. Janine persuades Pat to have the pacemaker fitted, and she makes a full recovery. Disgusted with the litter in Albert Square, Peggy and Pat both decide to run for the council. They are interviewed by journalist Harvey Freeman (Martin Jarvis), but eventually they both pull out of the election. Harvey secretly woos them both, causing various rows between the women when they find out. They both finally unite against Harvey and humiliate him in punishment. Pat and Peggy's friendship strengthens, so Pat is hurt when Peggy leaves Walford without saying goodbye, upset to lose her best friend. When Pat discovers that Janine stabbed herself in order to frame Stacey after making the discovery that she killed Peggy's late former husband Archie (Larry Lamb), she denounces Janine once more and goes to New Zealand to visit Simon. She returns in April to find that Bianca is in prison and that her adopted daughter Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) is missing, although she is relieved when Whitney returns home shortly after. When Pat discovers that Ricky and Janine's maternal grandmother, Lydia Simmonds (Margaret Tyzack and Heather Chasen), is staying with Janine, she believes that Janine is only interested in Lydia's inheritance, and Janine jokingly admits this to Pat, although a close bond soon forms between Janine and Lydia. When Lydia dies in the night, Pat comforts Janine, but later turns on her, believing that she killed Lydia to get her money, despite the fact Janine had already seen the will and knew that Lydia was donating her money to charity. When the police take Janine in for questioning over Lydia's death, Janine believes it was Pat who phoned them, although it is later revealed that it was Whitney's half brother Ryan Malloy (Neil McDermott) who made the call. Pat is still adamant that Janine murdered Lydia, which causes an emotional argument. When it is discovered that Lydia has changed her will and left her whole estate to Janine, Pat persuades Lydia's son Norman (George Layton) to contest the will. He initially agrees, but after Janine agrees to share the money with Ricky, Pat convinces Norman to change his mind. Although Norman likes Pat and wants to see her again, Pat is oblivious to this. When Pat discovers that Simon is about to lose his home in New Zealand, she fails to get a loan to help him because of her age. Norman offers to help, and organises a loan for her. After speaking to her great grandson Liam (James Forde) about it, Pat decides she likes Norman; they kiss, and she asks him to stay. The next day, Norman tells Patrick that he regularly earns commission organising loans for people. Patrick then warns Pat about this, and once Pat finds out that the terms of the loan mean that if she misses a payment she could lose her house, she rejects Norman, tells him to leave, and says she never wants to see him again. Derek Branning subsequently arrives in Walford and recognises Pat. She runs away, but he chases her and forces his way into her home. Pat is fearful of Derek, and he taunts her, asking Pat if she is still a prostitute. Derek also tells her to tell David that he has not forgotten about their fight. When Roxy asks Pat about Derek's past, Pat confirms that he is dangerous. Pat struggles to keep up the loan repayments on her house, and counts on Ricky's bonus money to cover the debt. When Ricky returns from Dubai, he reveals that he has lost all his money, so Pat explains that they will lose the house by the end of the week if a payment is not made. A desperate Pat turns to Janine and asks for money. Janine gives her £50,000 without hesitation, but insists on Pat using the house as collateral, although this does not thaw the animosity between the pair. In the build up to Christmas 2011, Pat gets acquainted with Jake and Danny's cousin Michael (Steve John Shepherd), who is conveniently also Janine's boyfriend. They find themselves sharing an enemy in Derek, as the latter begins to spark trouble in the square. When Michael spots Derek and Liam together, he forms an allegiance with Pat over their hatred of him and they proceed to call his probation officer to check up on him, infuriating Derek. He later confronts Pat, angrily threatening her. Shortly after this, Patrick drops into Pat's and finds her collapsed on her kitchen floor. Pat is admitted to hospital, having suffered a pulmonary embolus, and the doctors run some tests, but she discharges herself secretly, telling Ricky she has been allowed to go. Janine then goes to see Pat, telling her she is moving the repayment deadline to the following day after an argument with Bianca. Pat rings Simon to find out whether he can pay her the money, but is left horrified when he tells her his brother David slept with his wife. As her stress increases, Pat's chest pains continue, and Patrick persuades her to return to the hospital. There, she is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which has metastasised to her lungs, bones and abdomen. Pat refuses all further palliative treatment, and returns to Walford to be with her loved ones, sharing one last drink with her family and friends in The Queen Vic. On New Year's Day 2012, Pat's health rapidly deteriorates, and she is visited by old friends, including her longtime friend Dot (June Brown), as well as Ian. Janine soon arrives to evict the family, after Pat is unable to pay all her debts back, but soon realises that Pat is not faking her illness and is devastated. Visiting her sick stepmother, Janine confesses to Pat that she is pregnant, and Pat convinces her to keep the baby, after which the two finally reconcile. Later, David arrives to see Pat, but the pair argue; David leaves, and is persuaded to return by Carol. David tells Pat that he is sorry for the mess he has made of things over the years. David then tells Pat that he forgives her for all the times she let him down when he was a child. Despite admitting that she is scared, Pat is able to make peace with her son moments before she ultimately succumbs and dies. Everybody on the Square mourns for Pat the next day, and Norman comes back with a bunch of flowers for her, not knowing that she has already died. Pat's funeral, which is paid for by Janine, takes place, and is attended by many Albert Square residents. Simon turns up with flowers after the funeral has ended, and lays them down at her grave. In September 2013, Peggy returns and visits Pat's house to say goodbye, leaving a bottle of gin on her doorstep. Nearly three years later, in May 2016, Peggy reappears in the square with terminal cancer that has spread to her brain. Peggy begins hallucinating the smell of cigarette smoke, which then manifests to a vision of Pat. As the two sit and reminisce about past memories, Peggy decides to commit suicide in order to prevent her family watching her deteriorate. Pat promises not to leave her side as she does this and watches sadly as Peggy commits suicide via an overdose.