Caroline McKenzie-Dawson (also Caroline Elliot and Caroline Dawson) is a fictional character in the BBC1 drama series Last Tango in Halifax portrayed by Sarah Lancashire. The character was created by lead writer and executive producer Sally Wainwright and appears from the first episode of the series broadcast on 20 November 2012. Lancashire was initially unavailable to commit to the series, but was cast after the production of Betty Blue Eyes she had been starring in closed early.