EastEnders is poised for an “explosive impact” this summer, as a new family, the Hawkins, and a host of stars join the BBC soap.
Jamie Bamber, Marian McLoughlin, and Patricia Potter are among the notable additions to the cast, alongside Felix Uff and Anna Constable.
The Hawkins clan are the estranged relatives of Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington), and their arrival will be accompanied by “old wounds” and “complicated family dynamics”.
The family will comprise Nicola’s mother, Rose, portrayed by Marian McLoughlin, and her sisters Gemma and Jodie, who will be played by Patricia Potter and Anna Constable respectively.
Bamber is also among the newcomers and will feature as Ned, the husband of Gemma, and the couple will be joined on the Square by their son Ryder (Uff).
Ben Wadey, executive producer, said: “The Hawkins family are a fantastic addition to Walford.
“While the family share a fierce loyalty to one another, decades of complicated history and Nicola’s estrangement from them has left fractures within the family that are far from healed.
“We’re all very excited for what we have planned for the family, and we can’t wait for the audience to meet them.”
Potter, who has appeared in medical soaps such as Holby City and Doctors, expressed how “delighted” she is to be joining the “iconic show”.
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“What a joy and a privilege to be working with such talented actors and wonderful people. I couldn’t be more excited and grateful,” she added.
Bamber said: “When 12-year-old me rushed home from school in 1985 to catch the very first episode of EastEnders, I could never have dreamed that one day I’d be walking onto the iconic Albert Square as a character myself.
“It’s a privilege I don’t take lightly, and I’m thrilled to be making my mark on this crown jewel of my beloved BBC.”
The actor is known for TV roles in shows such as NCIS, Beyond Paradise and Battlestar Galactica – and has also appeared in films including The Lair and Before I Sleep.
McLoughlin, who will be playing his mother-in-law, said: “I feel so lucky to be joining such a brilliant cast and I can’t wait for the viewers to meet the Hawkins family.
“Now in my 70s, this is an opportunity I never expected, and I am incredibly grateful to be part of such a cherished drama.”
The actress has appeared in soaps such as Doctors, Hollyoaks, Casualty – and she had a minor role in EastEnders in the 1990s.
Constable added: “Growing up watching EastEnders I never thought a disabled actress like me could ever land a role like this.
“But here I am loud and proud and taking no prisoners in mine or Jodie’s wake.”
The actress has Noonan Syndrome, which is a rare genetic condition that can impact appearance, and cause a range of problems including with vision and hearing, according to the NHS.
Uff added that it is a “real privilege” to join the long-running soap, which he described as “a staple of British”.
Little is known about the Hawkins family besides their relationship to Nicola, who made her first appearance in Walford in 2024 and is the recent ex-wife of Teddy Mitchell.
The formidable matriarch, who is the mother to Barney and Harry Mitchell, is currently dating George Knight (Colin Salmon). Their daughter Ivy was born in April.
Over the past weeks, viewers have seen their relationship put to the test as Nicola struggles with raising a newborn while George battles deep emotional turmoil tied to the recent death of his abusive adoptive father.
EastEnders is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.