The Hawkins family have only just arrived in EastEnders – but there’s already plans in place to introduce another member of the clan.
Earlier this week, Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) was less than impressed to see sisters Gemma (Patricia Potter) and Jodie (Anna Constable) roll onto her turf.
They immediately ruffled feathers with her neighbours, before revealing that they were holding a man hostage in the boot of their car.
When the siblings’ mother Rose (Marian McLoughlin) arrived, she ordered them to free him before making it clear that she wasn’t willing to forgive Nicola after years of estrangement.
The fella, Leo, was introduced as the abusive boyfriend of Megan, Gemma’s daughter. She wasn’t part of the pre-announced line-up, and although Gemma’s partner Ned Roper (Jamie Bamber) and his son Ryder (Felix Uff) will complete the family within the coming weeks, there’s no sign of Megan… yet.
Nicola Mitchell’s (Laura Doddington) niece will arrive in Albert Square. BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron
Eexecutive producer Ben Wadey has now confirmed that once the Hawkins-Ropers are established, we’ll eventually meet her.
Speaking to Radio Times and other media at a recent press event, Wadey revealed: “Megan is out there, and we will meet her down the line – but not for a little bit.”
“She’s got her own storyline happening currently off screen, but in time it will very much be on screen.
“As we were constructing this family, there’s stories about what gets passed down through generations. It means that we have established a character and done quite a lot of work actually already on what that’s going to look like.”
He added: “But I don’t think [the other actors] even know all the details of it yet. That’s an exciting, probably post-Christmas arrival for us.”
Executive producer Ben Wadey teased that Megan will arrive after Christmas. BBC
There’s a multitude of comings and goings in Walford over the coming months. The soap has confirmed that Michelle Ryan, Kellie Bright and Charlie Suff will depart their Zoe Slater, Linda and Johnny Carter roles, while it has been reported that Aaron Thiara is also leaving Ravi Gulati behind after 4 years.
Meanwhile, Robert Kazinsky is reprising his Sean Slater role on a permanent basis, and it’s been tipped that Charlie Brooks could be heading back to Albert Square as devious Janine Butcher.
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