Karen McDonald Karen McDonald ( née Phillips ) arrived on Coronation Street in June 2000 as a friend of Linda Sykes who used to work with her at Wheelers . Karen was taken on as a new machinist at Underworld . She quickly found herself popular with the men of the Street and had a fling with Vikram Desai , over Christmas she was drinking alone in the Rovers and ended up spending the night with Peter Barlow . By 2001 , Karen was going out with Steve McDonald . Her colleague , Janice Battersby said that none of Karen ’ s boyfriends ever took her seriously , which led to one of the strangest marriages the Street has seen . Janice bet £10 that Karen wouldn ’ t be able to get engaged , so Karen persuaded Steve to propose to her in front of all the Rovers ' regulars . Janice then upped the stakes from a few pounds to two days wages , on the condition that Steve and Karen walked down the aisle . Neither Karen nor Steve would back out - but each thought that the other would . They were as surprised as the other guests when they both turned up at the Register Office - and even more surprised when they both said " I do " ! They held the reception at the Rovers and Vik donated cakes from the Corner Shop that were nearly past their sell - by date . Six weeks later they finally arranged their honeymoon in Florida . The couple soon realised that they really did love one another . On returning to the Street from honeymoon , Karen set about making her and Steve the " Posh and Becks " of Weatherfield . Having moved into the flat over Street Cars , Karen soon got fed up and in September 2001 , they moved into the flat over The Kabin . In May 2002 , jailbird Joe Carter landed a job at Underworld , this was the start of a volatile relationship between him and Karen , which first resulted in her being fired . Settling into the life of luxury , Karen decided that the McDonalds ' future was in one of Richard Hillman ' s new flats on " The Ridings " development . After much moaning and many arguments – Steve finally gave in to her , and made an offer , but on one condition - New flat . . . New job . Of course , a new flat also meant new furniture and Steve and Karen took a trip to Elevation , an upmarket furniture shop . The icing on the cake for the ' McBeckham ' lifestyle was for Karen to unveil her new Victoria Beckham style haircut in the Rovers , and also the news that she had landed a job at Elevation . On top of this , she also announced that the first piece of furniture for the new ' Chez - McDonald ' had been purchased . . . a sofa at £2 , 500 . Steve was reassured by the fact that staff get 10 % discount , he then reminded his wife that 10 % of £2 , 500 was still a lot . It then came to the McDonalds ' attention that a bail hostel was to be built near to their new flat at The Ridings and they withdrew their offer . However , Karen ' s precious sofa still arrived but was too big to fit up the stairs at No . 12 , she refused to have it returned to the store , as all her colleagues would laugh at her . Soon after Karen was sacked from Elevation for being too common . By the end of 2002 , Karen had returned to Underworld , and in 2003 Joe Carter promoted her to Factory Supervisor , although he was after more than her managerial skills . Karen resisted his advances , but Steve grew very suspicious . Karen even returned from a business trip with Joe to be with Steve , only to find that Steve had a one - night stand . She immediately fell into the arms of Joe , and always one for money and the high life , was seduced by his promises of a new flat . Karen agreed to help Joe steal the factory from under Mike Baldwin ’ s nose , by forging cheques for a fake company account named - Artrec ( an anagram of Carter ) . Mike found out about the scam in June 2003 and drove them out of Weatherfield . Karen then realised that Joe was just using her and she left him to stay with her aunt , Eva Briggs . Weeks later , Steve tracked her down and also paid Baldwin back the money which Karen and Joe had stolen from him . Eventually Steve and Karen were reconciled . Relaxing back into her normal life , Karen soon came up with her latest idea . Her and Steve should divorce so that they can have the wedding of ‘ their ’ dreams . She decided it must seem like the couple have fallen out ( because of Steve ' s infidelity , of course ! ) , and she staged arguments in the Rovers , and even threw his belongings out into the Street - setting many of the residents against him . After many pleas of " I WANT A DIVORCE STEVE ! " , he had finally had enough and told her that the divorce would happen . . . but there wouldn ’ t be another wedding ! Karen tried desperately to stop the divorce , but found out that it had already gone through . She was then surprised when Steve prepared a romantic night on a canal boat and proposed to her . Absolutely ecstatic , Karen threw herself into preparations for the wedding . Karen knew exactly what she wanted , and proceeded to book a country house for the occasion . On top of this she wanted a horse - drawn carriage , swans and a harpist . She also looked into having a winter wedding - so she could wear fake fur and arrive on a sleigh ! The winter wedding never happened , and a date was set for February 2004 . However , over Christmas 2003 , Tracy Barlow admitted to Steve that the baby everyone thought was Roy Cropper ' s was actually Steve ' s after a one - night stand when he and Karen were apart . Unable to accept that Steve didn ’ t want her , Tracy cancelled the flowers for the wedding , and then the venue itself . Steve found out in time and managed to book another venue that Karen had wanted without Karen knowing . The wedding day arrived and most of Weatherfield turned up at the very posh Walcot Manor - including Steve ’ s mother Liz , and brother Andy . Tracy also turned up to get her baby from the Croppers and ended up telling everyone whom the real father of the baby was . Karen was heartbroken that her dream wedding was ruined and more by the fact that Steve had lied to her , however they eventually married when Steve made Karen realise that Tracy meant nothing to him . When Karen learnt about what Tracy had done to ruin her wedding she was furious . She turned up at Amy ’ s christening bent on spoiling the Barlows ' day as much as Tracy had spoilt hers . The two women brawled in the aisle of the church and Karen thumped Tracy . Tracy ’ s continued presence on the Street annoyed Karen , not to mention the fact that Liz McDonald made the decision to move back to Weatherfield . Liz and Tracy got on like a house on fire and Karen wasn ’ t able to stand the fact that Liz paid so much attention to baby Amy . On a rainy night in August 2004 , Karen ’ s dad , Malcolm Phillips , turned up at her and Steve ’ s flat . He informed Karen that her mother was dying and asked Karen to come and see her . Karen refused and threw him out . Karen then went on to open up to Steve about her childhood . Her parents were very religious and Karen was made to knock on doors trying to convert people until she was fourteen . Karen confessed that it was Linda Sykes who got her away from her parents . It was her who saved her when she was being bullied for dressing strangely . Karen used to go to Linda ' s house to smoke and watch television , until her dad found out and went ballistic , called her a whore and beat her . She moved out the next day , slept on Linda ' s sofa , got herself a Saturday job and tried to forget . Her parents had disowned her ever since . Karen ’ s mother died a week later . This sent Karen on an emotional roller coaster . She began to think that it was God that was punishing her for her “ sinful ” ways . She decided to give up drinking and smoking and to also get rid of all her material things . She put all of her designer clothes into black sacks and gave them to the factory girls and she even started to be pleasant towards Liz and Tracy . Steve managed to talk his wife into visiting her mother ’ s grave . Karen realised that whilst she may not have been a good daughter that she would be a good wife to Steve - they loved each other and that was all that mattered now . After this shake - up , Karen thought that the only way to cement her and Steve ’ s relationship was to have a baby . Karen made it no secret that she and Steve were trying for a child , which led to many arguments with Tracy Barlow who gladly rubbed Karen ’ s nose in the fact that she had a child with Steve . Tracy branded Mrs McDonald as “ Barren Karen ” which utterly infuriated Karen . Karen ’ s hatred for Tracy , and to a stronger extent Amy , increased every time that they saw one another . In early November , Karen briefly went to visit Linda in Dublin . Whilst she was away , Steve was tricked by Liz into travelling to London to appear with her and the Barlows on a new TV gameshow , " Top of the Tree " . The winning prize was a brand new car , and the McDonalds and Barlows answered every question correctly , before struggling with the winning question , regarding fashion . Steve used Karen as his phone a friend , and Karen , totally unaware of what was going on , proceeded to answer the question correctly , and won the Barlows a car . When Karen discovered what had happened , she went ballistic ; firstly by attacking a gloating Tracy and then kicking Steve and Liz out of the flat , furious at their deceit . However , Karen and Steve soon reunited , with Karen more determined than ever to get pregnant . She quickly realised that , due to answering the winning question , she was as entitled to the car as the Barlows ; this led to Karen storming over to the Barlows ' house demanding the car . It was then agreed that each Barlow and Karen , Steve and Liz , would have use of the car for a day each , as there were seven in the winning team . This led to a further feud between Karen and Tracy , with Karen using up all of the petrol and then slashing the tyres when Tracy needed the car for a shopping trip . When Tracy handed Karen the bill for the tyres , Karen responded by removing the car ' s tyres and keeping them in the living room at No . 12 , although they were soon reclaimed by Tracy . Karen ' s eagerness to get pregnant led to her driving into the countryside with Steve ; seducing him in the car . However , the occasion was ruined by a dirty nappy of Amy ' s left in the car , and a squeaky toy that kept going off . Citing Tracy as responsible , Karen swore revenge . In late November , Karen , at long last , received the news she had been waiting for - she was pregnant . She delighted in jeering at Tracy , but tragically , the McDonalds ' happiness was short - lived . At the Underworld Christmas party Karen started to have stomach pains and it was later confirmed that she had miscarried . This sent Karen over the edge , and when she discovered that Liz had told Tracy about her miscarriage she was livid . On Christmas Eve , Tracy was going to visit stepbrother Peter , and loaded Amy into the car . Leaving the engine running , Tracy ran into the house to get her handbag , when Karen , who had been watching on , jumped into the car and drove off . Steve and Tracy hurried to the Red Rec where Karen had arranged to meet him , only to find the car on fire . Tracy instantly assumed that Karen had killed Amy , and she returned to Coronation Street in Steve ' s taxi planning to kill Karen . She knocked Karen down and then crashed the taxi into the factory , following Karen inside . They fought inside , and a hysterical Tracy threatened to kill Karen , only backing down when it was revealed Roy Cropper was babysitting Amy . It was the worst possible Christmas for Karen and Steve . Steve told Karen that he had had enough of her and that he could not believe she would pull a stunt like she did - letting him believe that she had killed his own daughter . Karen pleaded with Steve to give her another chance but he said that she ’ d had too many chances already . Karen McDonald left the Street on Christmas Day 2004 . On Valentine ' s Day 2005 , Steve learned that Karen had filed for divorce . " Although Karen left Weatherfield on Christmas Day 2004 , her exit was seen in the episode first screened on Boxing Day . " Quotes . " Don ' t I get a kiss ? " ( Final line , to Steve McDonald )