Ann Patterson (Heather McHale) 1999-2000, 2001

First Regular Appearance: 3.1 (#141)  Tuesday 21st September 1999

Last Regular Appearance: 4.2 (#204)  Sunday 8th October 2000

Returned: 4.21 (#223)  Sunday 11th March 2001

Duration: 141 - 204, 223  |  SE: 3.1 – 4.2, 4.21

Occupation: Owner of Patterson PR Agency

Last Seen: Returning with baby Sam from living in Bristol, then joining Scott as he signs for Chelsea.

Meeting her long-term partner, Bristol Rovers defender Michael Dillon at the age of sixteen began Ann's direction into the business of football PR. Over the following years she learnt her trade following him through club moves across the country. By the summer of 1999 Ann had set up her own business, Patterson PR, representing professional footballers. It was at this time that Michael transferred from Blackburn Rovers to Harchester United, and with a strong squad bursting with new talent, Ann decided it would be a great opportunity to relocate her agency to the Midlands town. She proves her efficiency when shortly into she and Michael’s first season at the club, a plane crash kills four of the first team and Ann's new friend Julie Alexander.

One of Ann’s new clients is cocky trouble-maker Scott Lucas, who many would consider a tough challenge, but there is an immediate connection between he and Ann. After getting to know Scott, Ann begins to realise she may have stayed with Michael for so long due to loyalty. It is this guilt of betraying Michael that causes Ann to accept his marriage proposal, but realises they don't want the same things in life anymore. After sleeping with Scott, he pleads with Ann not to go through with the wedding, and she makes the decision to end things with Michael. Michael’s time in Harchester comes to an end and he is transferred to Charlton Athletic, leaving without Ann.

Ann sees a lot of potential in Kelly James, and takes her on in the business. She and Scott then take their relationship to the next stage with Ann moving into his bachelor pad flat. With Ann, as always, comes her business, and Scott comes to learn how Michael often felt second in its place. He soon gets annoyed at his fellow team mates, notably Didier Baptiste coming round not to see him, but to talk business with his girlfriend, and it leads to a big argument. Scott cheats on Ann and she finishes with him. At this same time, Kelly causes scandal when she is blackmailed into bed with Karl Fletcher, and Ann puts the business’s interest and image first, letting Kelly go. When Scott says he’ll do anything to win Ann back, she tells him he has to sort out his demons and Ray Wyatt organises a therapist, which gives an insight into why Scott has behaved as he has.

Over the summer, Ann realises she has been working so hard that she has been pregnant for several months without realising! The baby is Scott’s but Ann isn’t sure about them getting back together. Their son Sam is born shortly into the 2000-01 season, and wanting to take time out to be a mom, Ann goes back to live in her old home of Bristol. Before going away, Ann does a deal with the devil and allows Victoria Baptiste to invest in Patterson PR, thus changing its name to Patterson-Palmer. Later in the season, Ann comes back to Harchester and sells her remaining share to Victoria. Spending time with an out-injured Scott who has now matured, she reveals she is open to them being a proper family. Scott signs for Chelsea shortly afterwards and Ann and Sam go with him.

A-year-and-a-half later Scott is still with Chelsea, and on a brief return to Harchester reveals that he and Ann didn't last, though he has regular access to Sam.