Lydia Murdoch

She’s driven by the need to control and has worked hard to maintain a certain standard in her life. She also has a very caring streak, and is fiercely protective of her family.

She was born and brought up in Glasgow’s Gorbals. Her parents were hardworking but hard up. Lydia’s upbringing was characterised by volatile family relationships, constant arguments and a distinct lack of luxuries at birthdays and Christmases. She left school at 15 to work in a nail salon and, with her good looks, Lydia grew into a savvy, worldly-wise woman.

Lydia’s ‘dream ticket’ came in the form of Lenny Murdoch. She loved his dangerous streak and, before long, they married. They had a daughter, Amber, and Lydia also raised Lenny’s sons from his previous relationships, Ewan and Rory, as her own. However, Rory and Ewan both died in tragic circumstances.

Lydia carries an air of sophistication. Over the years, she turned a blind eye to Lenny’s dodgy dealings because he financed a lifestyle she couldn’t resist. However, when Amber became embroiled in Lenny’s world which saw her killing her father’s rival to protect him, Lydia turned her back on Lenny and left Shieldinch as she struggled to cope with Amber being sent to prison, taking with her all of Lenny’s murderous secrets.

Lydia for the most part had a tempestuous relationship with Amber and kept sporadic contact with her when Amber was serving her sentence for murder. However, once Amber was released, Lydia found herself returning from her new life in Spain to reconnect and help her daughter when she struggled with her own, new-found parenthood. Lydia dotes on her grand-daughter Charlotte.

Lydia bought the Tall Ship pub at auction and, with her own money coming in, she’s no longer reliant on Lenny’s crooked earnings. She turned her back on Lenny in the past, but does she still have feelings for him?