Carly arrived in Albert Square on 17 February 2006, joining her father Kevin and brother Deano. She also had a husband called Nico, with whom she split up after his father, Yanis, gave Nico a restaurant in Cyprus and Carly refused to go and work there.

She previously worked at The Arches alongside characters Garry Hobbs and Minty Peterson. Initially, Garry and Minty agreed to a three-hour 'trial' after being persuaded by Kevin, despite not having the authority to employ her. They were unable to find fault with her workmanship and hence had to employ her. She has proven herself as equally mechanically-able in the garage, much to the initial distress of Garry and Minty. Upon his return, Phil Mitchell sacked Carly, but he later agreed to her permanent employment and sponsored her to attend college one day per week.

Carly had a feud with Albert Square beauty, Dawn Swann. Carly has proved herself rather clever, having deduced that Dawn was lying about her modelling job. Carly threw a drink in Dawn's face and Dawn's 'black eye' (which was really make-up) began to run, branding Dawn publicly. However, the girls have made up and are now friends.

Carly also took Martin Fowler's side of the feud between him and his wife Sonia. Martin and Carly then began a relationship, which appeared to stir some jealousy in Sonia. Martin's daughter Rebecca came to live with the Fowlers following her adoptive grandmother's death in May 2006. This prompted Martin to call time on his blossoming relationship with Carly, in order to concentrate on being a full-time father. However, Carly convinced him that the relationship was too good to give up on, and the two reignited their romance for a brief time. Carly was in a secret and highly sexually charged relationship with Jake Moon, after breaking up with Martin, but Jake ended it after a week.

[edit] Shirley's return

In December 2006, Kevin took his children, along with Denise and her family, and Patrick and Yolande Trueman on holiday to Dorset. Carly's mother and Kevin's ex-wife Shirley was tipped off that they were there by Kevin's old friend Dylan. Shirley broke into Kevin's minivan, discovering where Kevin, Deano and Carly were now living. She deliberately bumped into her children and pretended to be a stranger, as they had not seen her since they were children. She later came to the holiday house and Kevin was surprised to see her. He told her to leave him, Deano and Carly alone.

On 1 January 2007, Shirley came to Walford to see Carly and Deano. She walked into Kevin, and he dragged her into the men's public toilets, where he made her beg to see the children. Carly saw them fighting outside and worked out that Shirley was her mother. Carly followed her and purposefully bumped into her. Although Carly knew by this point that Shirley was her mother, she kept the pretence that Shirley was the woman who she met in Dorset. Shirley introduced herself as Sue, and Carly took her for a drink, and later took her back home. Kevin and Denise returned home, and while Shirley took a bath, Carly forced Kevin to admit that Shirley was their mother. When Shirley returned downstairs, she asked Carly and Deano if they had a hug for their mother. Carly threw her out.

Shirley returned when Deano was in hospital, following a car crash. When she was met with a cold reception, Shirley decided to leave her family again, but when Deano told Kevin that he thought Shirley had left seventeen years previously because of him, Kevin made Shirley stay to put things right with Deano. She then got a job and a flat locally, saying she was staying around. She bribed Kevin with a secret that he was keeping from Deano and Carly. Shirley later told the secret to Pat Evans, and when Carly was suspicious, she and Deano forced Kevin to tell them the truth — that he was not their biological father. Shirley revealed that both Carly and Deano had been the products of one-night stands, and that Carly's biological father was a man named Daniel. This revelation caused Carly and Deano to become incredibly upset and angry, more so Deano. Kevin managed to talk Deano into making up with him after he contemplated suicide, but Carly was not quite so forgiving. Kevin decided to make a special dinner in honour of his deceased son Jimbo's birthday and Carly agreed to help him out with the cooking. Despite Kevin's attempts to bring up family history and happy times, Carly was very moody and curt with him and she eventually snapped and raged at Kevins for being a phony and a liar while smashing up the plates that had been set out. The two continued to argue and Carly eventually told Kevin to leave as he had always wanted to, which he did inside one of the cars at the car lot. Despite being racked with guilt over Kevin's disappearance, Carly did not tell anyone about her row with Kevin, although Deano suspected she was the reason he left. Over the next few weeks Carly tried to take control of the car lot and refused to give up hope that Kevin would come back even although everyone else had. As time went on Carly became more frustrated and rejected everyone who tried to get through to her and eventually she gave up hope of Kevin coming back after Pat informed her about Kevin purchasing tickets for abroad. After the realisation that Kevin wasn't coming home she shocked Deano and Shirley by asking Shirley for a night out. On 9 March Carly spent a night with Shirley in The Vic where she drank too much and yet again ended up arguing with Shirley and eventually became sick. Carly's hostility to Shirley mellowed when she looked after her and reminisced to her about old times. Carly staggered out of The Vic laughing with Shirley, unaware that Kevin was watching them from The Square. Kevin went to the car lot and the lights attracted Carly's attention and when she went to investigate she was stunned to find Kevin. Initially she was pleased to see him and embraced him tightly, but soon after pushed him away and rejected his attempts to explain why he left. Carly yet again attacked Kevin with harsh words, telling him that none of them needed him anymore before she left him in the car lot alone. When she got back to the house Carly managed to hide her upset from Pat and Deano and didn't mention that she had seen Kevin, but burst out in tears when alone in the kitchen. The next morning Kevin set out to re-build his family and relationship with Denise after he slept with Shirley. Kevin made his presence known to Pat and Deano first before trying Carly again. Deano hid away to get a picture of Carly's reaction to Kevin's re-appearance but she again rejected him and mentioned seeing him the night before. This caused Deano to rage at Carly and work out that she was responsible for Kevin's exit, but Kevin managed to make Deano back off and Carly was left alone after the two walked away. Later she joined Kevin, Deano and Pat in The Vic for a drink where she apologised for her deception and they all agreed to be a family again.

Kevin got engaged to Denise but caused a stir when Denise chose 26 April as their wedding day, the anniversary of Carly and Deano's deceased half brother Jimbo's death. Carly did not mind but Deano had a much stronger reaction, refusing to come to the wedding and moving in with Shirley. Carly attempted to talk to Deano but he refused to leave Shirley's flat despite her phone calls, causing her to rage that he was a coward. Later Carly found Deano drunk in The Square and she berated him for being so selfish, to which Deano retaliated that Carly was a traitor for not respecting Jimbo's memory. Shirley watched the argument from the sidelines and made a remark to Carly about her temper. Carly responded to Shirley by spitting in her face, accusing her of poisoning Deano's mind and declaring she could do nothing to ruin her dad's happiness. Carly attended Denise's hen night where Pat learned of Kevin's night of passion with Shirley and also of her plans to reveal all to Denise on the big day. Despite Denise hearing the revelation from Kevin himself at the registry office, the wedding went ahead and the family happily celebrated back at Pat's, leaving Shirley wounded and defeated.

[edit] Relationship with Sean Slater

On 30 May, Carly's stepsister Chelsea Fox set her up with a date with Warren Stamp, a salesman. Chelsea knew that her friend Preeti Choraria had a horrible time on the date with Warren, but thought of the date as a way of 'getting back at Carly' because Sean Slater, Chelsea's boyfriend had been flirting with her. Soon after, however, Preeti revealed that the date had in fact turned violent, and showed Chelsea a bruise on her arm. Scared, Chelsea and Preeti went looking for Carly. Carly was almost raped by him in Pat's house, before Sean rescued her. Carly and Sean later had sex in the Portakabin office at the car lot.

After their one-night stand, Carly confessed to Chelsea about her night of passion with Sean, but Chelsea didn't believe her, saying that there was no way Sean would look at Carly when he had her, saying that Carly was pathetic for making it up. Sean continued to advance on Carly, and despite several attempts, she failed to prove to Chelsea what Sean was like. Sean eventually dumped Chelsea, and him and Carly have since been in a relationship. Their relationship has caused many disputes, as Deano believes that Carly shouldn't be with Sean, and Chelsea hates him for cheating on her.

In August 2007, Patrick Trueman was attacked by an unseen man from behind, whilst working in the Minute Mart. Chelsea and Deano, used this to get their revenge on Sean and told the police that he was the one who attacked Patrick. Sean was later arrested and admitted that he found Patrick on the floor but instead of helping him walked out the back door. Sean's solicitor was confident that they would let Sean go as they did not have any witnesses except for Chelsea and Deano's testimony. Carly later discovered Sean's blood-stained shirt, a vital piece of evidence. Sean was then charged with the attempted murder of Patrick due to another witness coming forward. Carly and Stacey were convinced that he had been set-up by Chelsea and Deano. Under Sean's instructions, Carly began to put pressure on Deano about his testimony but Patrick defended him and told Carly that Sean was guilty.

Sean, whilst in prison, got two men to attack Deano, thinking this will get him to withdraw his statement. He was sent a picture of Deano lying on the ground after the beating. On 30 August, Sean confessed to Carly that he was the reason that Deano had been beaten up. Carly was horrified with Sean and ended her relationship with him, now believing that he must also be responsible for the attack on Patrick.

On 31 August, it was revealed that Sean was not the one who attacked Patrick. It was in fact Craig Dixon. Carly was given Chelsea's bag, after she was mugged, which contained the CCTV footage showing Patrick's attack. Kevin Wicks thought it was a film, and while Carly was out getting popcorn, he played it, and it turned out that Sean was not the attacker. As Carly and Kevin found out about what's going on, he decided to come clean to Denise, but from the fact we didn't know of her whereabouts at the time. He still didn't know how to come clean to her. Chelsea persuaded Kevin not to tell her mum but he is also wracked with guilt because of the secrets and facts. Although Kevin destroyed the tape, Carly made a copy and gave it to the police. When Chelsea and Deano were imprisoned for the events of lies, Carly prepares to leave the Square, even if her younger brother Deano is in trouble-although she realises she can't be needed anymore because of his responsibility and his mess. So she got into a taxi, kissed Kevin goodbye and left.

In 5th September 2007, Carly reappeared in a house with her friend. This includes Deano after secretly running away from home. Sean came looking for him, but Carly was in his way. So when she kissed him, he gave up looking for him. Carly was shocked to have heard that Deano's court appearance is the next day.

Carly later returned to the Square, and in December 2007 rekindled her relationship with Sean. However, the relationship had little essence, as Sean barely turned to give Carly a last look upon hearing that she was leaving the Square.

[edit] Departure

On New Years Eve, Carly found out from Denise that Kevin had died in a car accident. When it was her turn to see Kevin's body, she got scared and asked Shirley to come in with her. The two women hugged each other and entered the room together. On seeing Kevin's body, Carly screamed.

Shortly after Kevin's funeral, Carly and Denise left Walford to travel around the world to scatter Kevin's ashes. Carly used some of the money she received in the settlement of her divorce for Deano to join them on his release from prison. This was Carly's last appearance as she said she would not be coming back.

On 9 June 2008, Denise said Carly had decided to stay in Thailand.