Some new will soon be seen behind the bar at the Queen Vic (Picture: BBC)
Ever since Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) vanished at sea over Christmas, we’ve all been wondering what’s going to happen to EastEnders’ Queen Vic pub – meet the new family destined to take over this summer.
They’re called the Knights and they’ve got big shoes to fill – ever since Dirty Den Watts (Leslie Graham) and his downtrodden wife Angie Watts (Anita Dobson) ran the pub back when the soap launched in 1985, it’s had its fair share of unforgettable landlords and landladies.
Now we know who Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) has been secretly calling in her plan to keep hold of the pub and secure a co-owner – she’s teaming up with her mum Elaine to take over the Vic.
And, she will be bringing along who will bring her new lover, George and his daughters Gina and Anna to the square.
In a major cast shake-up, sharp-eyed fans will notice Elaine – who last appeared in 2016, is now played by a different actress.
With TV and movie legend Colin Salmon in the line-up, along with famous faces from Absolutely Fabulous and Strictly, the new family are sure to make an impact.
So who exactly are the new cast joining EastEnders this summer and where have you seen them before?
Here’s what you need to know.
Colin Salmon
Colin Salmon, 60, will be taking on the role of George Knight, the new lover of Linda’s mum Elaine. He’s described as ‘a tough-talking and fiercely protective doting dad who heads up the Knight family’.
Colin Salmon is a familiar face on TV and movie screens (Picture: Mary Clavering/Young Hollywood/Getty Images)
His first appearance in Albert Square was teased at the British Soap Awards in a video looking at the past and the future of the beloved BBC soap drama.
Born in Bethnal Green, London, and brought up in Luton, Colin made early TV appearances in the ITV comedy-drama Shine on Harvey Moon from 1982-5 but his breakthrough came in 1992 as Sergeant Robert Oswald alongside Dame Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect 2.
This was followed by appearances in ITV’s Soldier, Soldier and the BBC’s Silent Witness.
Colin starred as Charles Robinson alongside Pierce Brosnan in The World Is Not Enough (Picture: Keith Hamshere/Getty Images)
He went on to play M’s chief-of-staff Charles Robinson in three James Bond movies – Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), The World is Not Enough (1999) and Die Another Day (2002). Other movie credits include Resident Evil and Alien vs. Predator.
He went on to play Zod in the 2018-19 TV series Krypton (Picture: Steffan Hill/SYFY/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
In 2012 he appeared on Strictly, partnered with Kristina Rihanoff, being voted off in week five.
Fans of No Offence will recognise Colin as DSU Darren Maclaren from series one in 2015, and he also starred in US comedy-drama Limitless. Recently, Colin starred alongside David Schwimmer in Sky One’s comedy Intelligence.
He is married to Northern Irish artist Fiona Hawthorne and they have four children.
Colin said: ‘I’m thrilled to be joining the cast of EastEnders to take on the role of George Knight. I’m excited to explore the character of George, a true East End gentleman having been born in the East End myself. I have a great affinity and love for the show and I look forward to being part of the great legacy.’
Harriet Thorpe
Harriet Thorpe, 65, has taken over the role of Linda’s larger-than-life mum Elaine, who was previously played by musical theatre star Maria Friedman.
Elaine is described as ‘a powerhouse of a landlady who knows just how to have fun’.
Harriet is perhaps best-known for her role as Fleur in Absolutely Fabulous (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
She has already made her debut in the role in dramatic fashion, breaking up a vicious argument between Sharon and her daughter Linda, with the character being reestablished before the rest of the Knight family move to the square.
Harriet’s TV breakthrough came with sitcom The Brittas Empire during the 1990s, and she went on to appear in the movie Calendar Girls.
Actress Maria Friedman previously played Linda’s mum Elaine (Picture: Bruce Glikas/WireImage)
Harriet with Absolutely Fabulous stars Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley (Picture: Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)
Harriet has guest starred in various TV series, including Midsomer Murders, Doctors, Casualty and Hollyoaks.
Many people will recognise her as Fleur in Absolutely Fabulous, a role she played in the TV series and movie. On joining the cast, Harriet said: ‘I’m thrilled to be playing Elaine who is an ultimate matriarch with a huge and vivid personality with a heart of gold who takes no prisoners and fights with all she’s got, but has a vulnerable side that she only shows a select few.
‘The Vic needs strong women running it, and I want to honour the incredible, iconic queens who define EastEnders since the beginning. The East End is where my family started out, so for me this feels like coming home!’
Molly Rainford
Molly Rainford, 22, plays George’s daughter Anna, who is described as ‘fun, loveable, and big-hearted, but don’t underestimate her’.
Singer Molly Rainford joins the cast (Picture: NIKLAS HALLE’N/AFP via Getty Images)
She took part in the latest series of Strictly, and – despite being in the bottom two four times – deservedly made it to the final with partner Carlos Gu.
London-born Molly finished sixth in Britain’s Got Talent back in 2012, when she was 11, and went on to star in CBBC’s series Nova Jones.
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On joining EastEnders, Molly said: ‘I’m super excited to be joining the cast of EastEnders. It’s such an iconic show which myself and my family love, so it’s an honour to bring the character Anna Knight to life who is set to stir up drama upon her arrival. I’ve already met a few familiar faces from my time on Strictly and I can’t wait to meet and be a part of the EastEnders family.’
Francesca Henry
Francesca Henry plays George’s other daughter, Gina, described as ‘feisty, determined and demanding, as sharp and cool as cut diamonds but with a temper that blazes like fire’.
Francesca Henry joins the new line-up (Picture: PA)
You might recognise newcomer Francesca from two episodes of Sky’s drama series A Discovery of Witches, and she also appeared in an episode of Doctors and the History episode of Silent Witness in 2022.
She said: ‘I wish I could tell younger me that one day I would be joining the show that I watched religiously every night with my Grandma. It’s very surreal and a true privilege to be trusted to bring Gina to the Square, and to be a part of such an exciting, tight-knit new family.’
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