 storyline between Karen and Joe Carter was a ratings winner with over 15 million viewers tuning in, maintaining the high ratings of the highly successful Richard Hillman murder storyline.Karen and Steve's (second) wedding in February 2004, ruined by Tracy Barlow's revelation that her daughter Amy Barlow was Steve's love child, received 16.3 million viewers.After the announcement of her departure, Selina Scott of the "Sunday Mail" stated that Suranne Jones had "done as much as any of the ["Coronation Street"] cast to see off the challenge of "EastEnders"".