EastEnders boss teases return of string of legendary characters as soap gets set to celebrate 40th anniversary
IAN and Cindy Beale’s return to Albert Square sent EastEnders fans into a spin – but the soap’s boss Chris Clenshaw does not intend to stop there.
He teased viewers can expect the appearance of more familiar faces in Walford during the run-up to the BBC One show’s 40th anniversary next year.
Executive producer Chris told me: “As we head towards our 40th year, I think the nostalgic element means a lot.
“Into the autumn and the end of the year, we’ve got quite a few treats coming up.”
Asked if that meant a return for long-departed characters, Chris replied: “Maybe. It all depends on the story and where the characters are.
“But it has to come from character, it has to come from story.”
Eagle-eyed fans might already have spotted clues about who could return.
Asked if he had been planting hints in scripts, Chris added: “It would depend when they’re looking back from, but probably.
“The 40th has been in the works for quite some time and Christmas is well under way.
“In the story office there is a board and it all connects.
“I compare it to a tapestry board, everything has to fit together.”
There has already been a back-from-the-dead return for Cindy, played by Michelle Collins, who had actually been living in France with Ian (Adam Woodyatt).
Other ex-cast members re-appeared for Dot Cotton’s funeral on 2022.
Jacqueline Jossa was among those who returned and she has remained on the soap, which is riding high since its murder whodunnit storyline The Six last year.
Let’s hope these characters are not all returning just to be bumped off.
Look who’s with Olivia
OLIVIA COLMAN gets service with a smile as she films at the seaside – and it’s just what The Doctor ordered.
The Crown actress is pictured on the set of new movie The Roses, a reworking of 1989 film The War Of The Roses, with TV Timelord Ncuti Gatwa.
He is dressed in a crab shack uniform handing Olivia a glass of wine during scenes in Devon and later chats when she puts a coat on.
Benedict Cumberbatch is also in the remake of the movie that starred Danny Devito, Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.
Idris is on trail of gold
IDRIS ELBA’s growing reputation for making documentaries will see him turn his attention to the human cost of gold.
The actor’s latest feature-length programme has been picked up by Netflix to stream in the UK.
Luther star Idris goes on a journey across the globe, from Ghana to South Africa, Canada and London, to find out the story of the precious metal.
It explores how gold affects economies around the world and its importance in culture and history.
The actor has already been involved in projects that focused on the story of underground car racing, and the role of black soldiers in War War Two.
His new venture follows documentary series Human Playground, which explored the origins of play around the world and was shown on Netflix in 2022.
Gold: A Journey With Idris Elba will be available from July 24.
It’s Amma mamma for Char
BRIDGERTON’S Charithra Chandran is swapping Regency romance for stories about dual-heritage children in modern-day Britain.
The actress played Edwina Sharma, wife-to-be of Anthony Bridgerton in series two of the Netflix period drama.
But she will now provide the voice of mum Amma in animated sitcom Nikhil & Jay, which is coming to CBeebies later this year.
It is based on the books by Chitra Soundar and follows the lives of an Indian-British family through the eyes of youngsters Nikhil and Jay.
Charithra, who is also appearing in upcoming sci-fi series Dune: Prophecy, joins Janine Duvitski and Mark Benton in the cartoon’s cast.
She said: “It’s wonderful to see a show like this on the BBC and to see my culture specifically represented.
“I never had anything like this when I was growing up.”
Munya's after a bad 'un
MUNYA CHAWAWA is off to North Korea for the next instalment of his Channel 4 series How To Survive A Dictator.
The actor and comedian previously headed to Zimbabwe to find out more on Robert Mugabe.
Munya told Kathy Burke on her Where There’s A Will, There’s A Wake podcast: “After Robert Mugabe I thought, ‘You know what, we need some comedic relief, we need to go lighter’. So naturally we went with Kim Jong Un – it’s nice and light – and North Korea. It brings that apocalypse anxiety, this fear that, ‘Man, is the world going to end soon?’ I feel like a lot of that is synonymous with Kim Jong Un.”
He added: “I’m not going to spoil it, but all I’ll say is get your holidays in now.”
Time for mane feature
THE story of how a group of friends became unlikely racehorse owners is to be made into a film.
It’s Showtime became an ITV hit earlier this year.
The documentary told the story of eight friends from Darlington who, after one too many drinks, decided to club together to buy the gelding.
The horse, named Showtime Mahomes after their favourite American football player Patrick Mahomes, began winning races, since earning them more than £36,000.
The programme, which can be streamed in ITVX, is about how the bond as mates helped them through some of the toughest times of their lives.
It is now due to be adapted for the big screen by the Kennedy/Marshall Company, behind productions such as upcoming The Beach Boys and Twisters.
Frank Marshall, who also produced 2003 racehorse film Seabiscuit, described it as “the right story for today”.
l Netflix dating show Too Hot To Handle returns for its sixth series this month.
The streaming giant will drop the first four episodes on July 17, with the second batch following nine days later.
The new run promises “tricks up the sleeve” of virtual assistant Lana, who sets challenges for the randy contestants.