Diane Valentine and her three children bought the home of Liz Burton and their arrival started off inauspiciously when they had to forcefully remove Liz's daughters Sophie and Mel from the house.
Diane was proud of her oldest son, Calvin, although she was upset about his plans to leave home once he graduated from the police force. Sonny was involved in various criminal activities Diane knew nothing about. Her daughter, Sasha was the youngest of the family and coping with growing up.
Diane was not watching when she crossed the road, not spotting Jake Dean speeding down the lane in his van. Jake struck Diane, who was killed. Jake fled the scene in a panic. On Calvin's first official day as a police officer, he was called to a scene of a hit-and-run, and he and partner Eddie Griffiths realised the victim was Diane. Diane's death shattered her family, as their absentee father Leo showed up to try to pick up the pieces.