Development 
1. References

2. Hayley Slater

Hayley Slater, played by Katie Jarvis, first appears in the episode broadcast on 9 February 2018. She is a relative of established characters Stacey Fowler (Lacey Turner) and Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace).

Hayley is first seen taking photos of Stacey and her husband, Martin Fowler (James Bye). In the café, she looks through the photos and answers a phone call, asking if they received photos. She insults Martin to the caller, reassuring them that she knows what to do next. Hayley introduces herself to Martin at his stall and helps herself to an apple. Later in the café, Hayley distracts Martin when he is looking after his daughter, Hope Fowler, and Stacey catches Hayley kissing Martin. In Martin's absence, Hayley whispers to Stacey who she is when she asks. Stacey does not want Hayley around her, but she later gets in touch with Hayley and asks what she wants. Martin meets up with Hayley when he is looking after Hope and his stepson, Arthur Fowler (Hunter Bell) and Hayley encourages Martin to keep the children out for longer, disobeying Stacey's instructions. Hayley pretends to defend Martin in front of Stacey when she collects Arthur and Hope with police presence due to Martin not returning them. Later, Hayley visits Stacey and warns her not to soften towards Martin when she feels guilty as they are cousins and Slaters. Hayley later arrives in Walford again shortly after her family return to ask Mo Harris (Laila Morse) for her share of money from the sale of SIM cards. When Hayley demands her money, Kat forcibly orders her to leave Walford. After spending the night sleeping rough, Stacey's mother, Jean Walters (Gillian Wright), invites Hayley to the Slaters by Jean when she opens up to Jean about her upbringing and being excluded from the family. Hayley is barred from The Queen Victoria from the landlady Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) when she sleeps in bed with her husband Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) after being paid by Stuart Highway (Ricky Champ). Martin discovers Hayley and Stacey are related and that Hayley does not have a son, but she later conceals her pregnancy. Hayley befriends a homeless girl, Brianna (Rina Diamond), who steals money from Hayley that she conned out of a man, Craig (Nigel Betts), by not going through with selling herself for sex. Craig motivates Hayley to contact her baby's father and she meets up with Kat's estranged husband, Alfie Moon (Shane Richie), informing him that he is the father of her child, but he does not want Hayley's child. After missing her earlier appointment for an abortion, Hayley cancels it and decides to keep her baby.

When the family receive Charlie Slater's (Derek Martin) taxi cab, the family plan to sell it, but Hayley fixes it to use it for fares. Hayley is caught using it illegally by a police officer, who urges her to get a valid license, but Hayley gives up on becoming a taxi driver due to the length of the process. Hayley confides in Jean about being pregnant after the lack of trust towards her to look after Hope and Jean insists that the father shares responsibility. Jean sets up a meeting between Hayley and Dave (Will Rastall), a married man Hayley had an affair with and who Jean assumes is the father. Stacey finds out Hayley is pregnant when she interrupts Jean adjusting Hayley's clothes and Stacey demands to know if Martin is the father; after denying Martin is the father and snapping, Hayley decides to leave. Jean announces Hayley's pregnancy to the family in order to prevent Hayley from leaving and despite initial anger towards Jean, Hayley changes her mind when the family throw a baby shower for her. Hayley is unhappy when Jean orchestrates a reunion with her mother, Bev Slater (Ashley McGuire). Bev lies to Hayley about a changed positive lifestyle, but Hayley is angered by Bev's suggestion of blackmailing Alfie and further angered when Bev goes through her belongings. Hayley and Bev argue and berate each other, with Bev leaving Hayley when she bleeds. Upon Jean working out Alfie is the baby's father, Hayley goes onto the balcony of her family's old flat whilst drinking, but is talked down by Jean. Kat calls social services, who offer Hayley support.

On Halloween, Hayley goes into labour and decides to drive herself out of Walford but the taxi cab breaks down and Hayley is forced to give birth in a crack den and passes out shortly after; Kat and Keanu find Hayley and her daughter. Despite Kat and Jean's support, Hayley struggles to adapt to family life and runs away from home several times. Bev tries to sell Hayley's baby, but Kat intervenes, strengthening their bond. Just as Hayley is adjusting to life as a mother, Alfie returns and reconciles with Kat. He is stunned to realise that Hayley did not abort his child, and insists they keep the truth hidden from Kat. Hayley develops feelings for him when she sees him bond with their daughter, named Cherry by Alfie after his deceased mother. On Christmas Eve, Stacey witnesses Hayley kiss Alfie. She is horrified to uncover Cherry's paternity and issues an ultimatum: one of them goes, or Kat learns the truth. Hayley decides to go, but her parting gift to Alfie – a lock of Cherry's hair – is discovered by Kat and she works out the truth. After a furious showdown, Alfie turns nasty with Kat, who accuses him of taking advantage of Hayley's vulnerability. Hayley defends Kat and pushes Alfie down the stairs, seemingly killing him. However, as they discuss what to do, they discover Alfie survived the fall and has left with Cherry. Kat convinces Alfie to return with Cherry which he does. After realising that Hayley is not coping, Kat suggests that she and Alfie look after Cherry. After she attempts suicide by stepping out in front of a minibus driven by Keanu, she tries to stab herself with a screwdriver and is then admitted to a psychiatric hospital.

Development

On 22 December 2017, executive consultant John Yorke announced a new member of the Slater family would be introduced into EastEnders among the returning Slaters, to "sort Stacey out" after her big 2018 storyline.^[1][2] Hayley's connection to the Slater family was not immediately revealed upon the character's debut, but it was announced that she would be involved in "a brand new mystery" for Martin. Duncan Lindsey, writing for the Metro, suggested that Hayley could be connected to the Slater family, either helping Stacey fight against her estranged husband Martin or a new family member.^[3] The reporter also suggested that Hayley could be acquainted with Martin's former stalker, Sarah Cairns (Alison Pargeter).^[3] It was reported that Hayley would not be friends with Martin, who will have to "watch his back" throughout his custody battle with Stacey.^[3] The character was revealed as Stacey's cousin in her third episode. Of her casting, Jarvis said that she is "really excited to join a team of such lovely, talented people and become part of such an iconic show" and loves being a part of the Slater family, commenting that it is "going to be so much fun and I cannot wait to see what's in store for Hayley."^[4]

It was reported Hayley would have a "horror [...] ordeal" around Halloween as she will be alone as she gives birth, which is described as a "terrifying twist" and leaves Hayley "panic striken."^[5] Hayley's anxiety also increases under the pressure of keeping the secret about the baby's paternity and her plan to "attempt to do a runner" is stopped when she goes into labour, putting her and her baby in a "worrying situation".^[5] Following the birth, Hayley, described as "struggling" and "overwhelmed", abandons her baby with foster carers Mariam and Arshad, however, her baby suffering a "scare" reportedly makes Hayley "rise to her responsibilities" and "reevaluate her earlier decision to give up her child."^[6][7]

In July 2018, Jarvis was longlisted for the "Best Newcomer", "Best Bad Girl" and "Best Shock Twist" awards at the Inside Soap Awards. For her portrayl of Hayley, Jarvis was nominated for Best Soap Newcomer at the 2018 Digital Spy Reader Awards; she came in third place with 13.2% of the total votes.^[15] Alfie being revealed as the father of Hayley's baby was nominated for Biggest OMG Soap moment; it came in fifth place with 8.3% of the total votes.^[8]

References

Hayley Slater

• Harder
• Harder ... Faster
• Harder & Faster (Album April Wine)
• Harder, Faster, Better, Stronger
• Harder (fish)
• Harder Hall
• Harder na Rass
• Harder Now That It's Over
• Hardert
• Harder Than the Best
• Harder Than The Best
• Harder Than You
• Harder Than You Think
• Harder They Come
• Harder To Breathe
• Harder to Breathe
• Harderwick
• Harderwijk, North Holland
• Hardest Button To Button
• Hardest Part Is The Night
• Hardest Pit in the Litter
• Hardest working man in show business
• Hardesty
• Hardesty Heights, Columbus, Ohio
• Hardesty heights, columbus, ohio