![\"Comedian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_EastEnders.jpg\")
Comedian and actress Ronni Ancona has revealed all about joining the EastEnders cast(Image: PA)<\/p>\nEastEnders newcomer Ronni Ancona famously impersonated characters on the BBC soap years before the news she would join the cast as Linda Carter\u2019s old classmate Bea<\/p>\n
07:30, 30 Dec 2025Updated 07:41, 30 Dec 2025<\/p>\n
Comedian and actress Ronni Ancona has revealed all about joining the EastEnders cast(Image: PA)<\/p>\n
Comedian and actress Ronni Ancona has revealed all about joining the EastEnders<\/a> cast, teasing twists and turns ahead.<\/p>\n The star, who famously performed impressions of the soap\u2019s characters and cast in the Big Impression show, will take on the role of Linda Carter\u2019s old schoolfriend Bea. Viewers will see her debut at a school reunion where she and Linda come face-to-face for the first time in years.<\/p>\n We\u2019re set to find out more about Linda\u2019s time at school, as Bea is left gutted by their different perspectives. Teasing the scenes, Ronni shared: \u201cBea was in a more senior year at school than Linda, but that didn\u2019t stop her being intimidated by her. They have both got very different perspectives on what happened at school, and initially she is very upset and slighted by that.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are lots of twists and turns and lots of unexpected developments. She\u2019s a mercurial character who is witty, and charismatic, yet vulnerable as well.\u201d Teasing what fans can expect from her character, Ronni shared: \u201cBen [Wadey, Executive Producer] loves comedy and wanted to bring in a character who was both tragic and funny.<\/p>\n READ MORE: EastEnders legend Pam St Clement admits struggle with emotional return<\/a>READ MORE: Coronation Street stars tease Becky’s downfall as they share Corriedale spoiler<\/a> \u201cBea is misunderstood, and there\u2019s a touch of desperation about her. When she feels cornered, she can become rather dangerous. Deep down, she just wants to be loved and to fit in. She\u2019s the sort of person who \u2018window-shops\u2019 other people\u2019s lives, trying to reshape herself into whoever she thinks others want her to be.<\/p>\n \u201cIn her mind, that\u2019s the only way to earn love and attention \u2013 which is, unfortunately, quite misguided. Bea is intelligent, but she\u2019s never achieved what she hoped for, so there\u2019s an underlying frustration that her life hasn\u2019t lived up to her potential.<\/p>\n \u201cShe has shades of a Walter Mitty\u2013type character; you\u2019re never entirely sure how much of what she says is real. She\u2019s complex, nuanced, and unusual \u2013 someone who has become convinced by her own narrative.\u201d Ronni confessed it was \u201cbizarre\u201d to step onto the soap after years of impersonating its legendary characters. She revealed: \u201cIt all felt rather bizarre and completely surreal.<\/p>\n \u201cWe always made those sketches with real respect and affection for the show and its cast, so stepping onto the actual set for the first time was an especially strange experience. Although thinking about it I think they let us film our \u2018EastEnders the Musical\u2019 on the outside lot, which would have been the old set.<\/p>\n \u201cMy first scene was on the bench in the middle of Albert Square – exactly where Alastair [McGowan] and I had once filmed our sketch \u2018The Bench of Tears.\u2019 That moment was so surreal I immediately phoned him to say, \u2018I\u2019ve just done a scene on the bench of tears,\u2019 and he practically shouted, \u2018NO WAY!\u2019<\/p>\n Get the latest drama from the Dales by joining our Emmerdale WhatsApp group<\/p>\n As drama continues to unfold in the Yorkshire Dales, the Mirror has launched its very own Emmerdale WhatsApp community where you’ll get all the latest breaking news, secrets, and spoilers delivered straight to your phone.<\/p>\n Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link<\/a>, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group.<\/p>\n We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice<\/a>.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO JOIN<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cTo add to the oddness, several members of the crew had worked with me years ago on Big Impression and The Sketch Show with Lee Mack, so it felt like past and present were colliding. Filming in the Vic for the first time was unexpectedly emotional. I couldn\u2019t help remembering my impression of Peggy Mitchell, played by the much-missed Barbara Windsor.<\/p>\n \u201cI adored her, and I know she enjoyed the impression, so walking into her domain properly was a real moment. I\u2019ll admit I was a bit nervous about meeting some of the cast I\u2019d impersonated, but they all have a brilliant sense of humour.<\/p>\n \u201cJessie Wallace<\/a> even did my impression of her back at me, which was hysterical. I may now have to do my impression of her impression, it could become an endless loop.\u201d<\/p>\n EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok <\/a>, Snapchat <\/a>, Instagram <\/a>, Twitter <\/a>, Facebook <\/a>, YouTube <\/a>and Threads <\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"EastEnders](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_543489TITLEEastenders.jpg\")
EastEnders newcomer Ronni Ancona famously impersonated characters on the BBC soap years before the news she would join the cast(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC\/Jack Barns\/Kieron McCarron)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_543511TITLEEastenders.jpg\")
The star, who famously performed impressions of the soap\u2019s characters and cast in the Big Impression Show, will take on the role of Linda Carter\u2019s old schoolfriend Bea(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC\/Jack Barns\/Kieron McCarron)<\/p>\n