EastEnders confirms major new family that will make explosive impact

Brace yourselves. A brand spanking new clan is poised to arrive on Albert Square. Meet the Hawkins family, the estranged clan of Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington)… and they’re here to cause chaos.

Hours ago, the BBC released a sneak peak trailer on X, showing what appears to to be the doorstep of Peacock Palace, as various bags and boxes quickly stack up in a montage sequence.

While the iconic EastEnders ‘doof-doofs’ play, the final cardboard box appears on top of the pile, with the words ‘THE HAWKINS FAMILY’ written on the side.

Viewers are already aware that Nicola has a fractured relationship with her family and has kept them at arm’s length due to their complicated and troubled childhood. What we do know is that Nicola has at least one sister, Gemma, who was always their mother’s favourite.

They had an abusive father, and a mother who blamed Nicola for her husband’s rages. Gemma was apparently there with Nicola when their toxic father died, ‘screaming’ at Nicola and her sisters.

After numerous mentions of Gemma in the show, we finally get to see the most interesting EastEnders character we’ve never met, when Nicola’s never-seen sister arrives on the Square with her husband Ned and their son Ryder.

But they’re not coming alone. Also in the clan is their mother Rose, and Nicola’s younger sister Jodie.

Holby City star Patricia Potter will be playing Gemma, while Jamie Bamber, from BBC’s cosy crime drama Beyond Paradise will be taking on the role of Ned. Felix Uff, who starred in BBC historical drama Amadeus, will be playing their son, Ryder. They’ll be joined by Marian McLoughlin, from BBC comedy Trying, who will play Rose, and Anna Constable, from Imposter 22), who will play Jodie.

With old wounds and complicated family dynamics in tow, the Hawkins are set to make an ‘explosive’ impact on the Square. Executive producer Ben Wadey welcomed Walford’s latest family, as well as teasing plenty of upcoming drama for fan favourite Nicola.

‘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’.

The cast are also excited to make their debut in the big E20. Patricia, who will be playing Gemma, can’t wait to get started. ‘I am so delighted to be joining this iconic show as part of a new family. What a joy and a privilege to be working with such talented actors and wonderful people. I couldn’t be more excited and grateful!’

Jamie, who will be playing her husband Ned, reflects on his own personal history with EastEnders. ‘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.’

Felix, playing their son Ryder, teased that the Hawkins will bring a lot of changes to the Square. ‘EastEnders is a staple of British culture and it’s a real privilege to join the cast.’ He gushed. ‘I can’t wait for everyone to see the Hawkins family shaking things up!’

Patricia, Jamie, Marian, Felix and Anna have already started filming and their first scenes will air later this summer.

We’ve already had a sneak peak of the drama to come in last night’s episode, where Nicola opened up to George Knight (Colin Salmon), about the source of her dysfunctional family dynamic.

In a tragic heart-to-heart about their struggles with abusive parents, Nicola admitted to George that her father was absolutely vile towards their mother ‘until the day he died’, but her mum always put the blame on her.

‘My mum blamed me… before and after he died,’ Nicola admitted. ‘It’s easier, I guess, you know? Blaming your gobby daughter rather than the man you loved.’

Next, Nicola had do some damage control with Eve, who had heard George mothing off about letting his dad die. She made it quite clear she was prepared to use George’s secret against Nicola as part of her and her partner Suki’s (Balvinder Sopal) ongoing feud against her. After Nicola repeatedly targeted and badmouthed Suki during their stressful adoption process, Eve saw red and punched Nicola. Clearly, Eve is the last person Nicola wants armed with this information.

Maybe that’s why she reached out to the elusive Gemma at the end of the episode, declaring over the phone ‘Is it a crime to think about my sister?’She might have seemed cheery, but that textbook Nicola Mitchell look at the end suggested that she was up to something sinister… and fans are here for it.

Lovers of all things Walford took to Social media in gleeful anticipation of the Hawkins family, who already sussed that the Hawkins family would be connected to Nicola hours before it was even announced.

‘Yess Gemma about time too!’ wrote one fan. ‘I’ve heard Nicola mention her sister enough times now, Nicolas sister & family arriving very soon. Hope Gemma is as feisty as her sis, these sisters will rock the square I’m hoping’.

Another fan is clearly hoping that the new arrivals would be part of Nicola’s vendetta against #Seve.

‘Reinforcements in the war with Eve and Suki’.

One user even thought that Gemma might be set to get her paws on the ultimate jewel in the Walford crown, the Queen Vic itself!

‘Nicolas sister and new Vic owner is my guess’

One commenter hoped that the mother would be arriving too, which would certainly make sense given what a pivotal role she’s played in Nicola’s backstory lately.

‘Nicola’s sister and kids I’m guessing. Maybe her mum too which would be great as they are lacking an older feisty matriach’

Well, it sounds like we’ve got one now!