List of EastEnders characters (2024)



The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the British soap opera EastEnders in 2024, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the show's executive producer, Chris Clenshaw. The first characters to be introduced are Eddie Knight (Christopher Fairbank) and Gloria Knight (Elizabeth Counsell), the adoptive parents of George Knight (Colin Salmon). Harold Martin (David Sterne), the husband of Aunt Sal (Anna Karen), and Logan (Liam Hatch), a bully who attacks Denzel Danes (Jaden Ledega), appear in one episode each during January. Britney Wainwright (Lola Campbell), a teenager who is supported by Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty), joins the recurring cast in March. Warren Finn (Neil Roberts), a barrister, appears in two episodes in April. The following month, Junior Knight (Micah Balfour), the estranged son of George Knight, is introduced. Additionally, multiple other characters were featured during the year.

Eddie Knight
Eddie Knight, played by Christopher Fairbank, first appears in episode 6831, originally broadcast on 1 January 2024. The character and Fairbank's casting details were announced on 10 December 2023. Eddie is introduced with his wife, Gloria Knight (Elizabeth Counsell), as the adoptive parents of established character George Knight (Colin Salmon). Fairbank and Counsell were contracted for a short stint. The characters' backstory states that Eddie and Gloria have not seen George for over a decade. Chris Clenshaw, the show's executive producer, explained that it would "[become] apparent why George has kept his distance".

The characters' arrival proves a surprise for George and they are introduced with a secret. Clenshaw teased that Eddie and Gloria would be "thrust into the heart of the drama" upon their introduction. Fairbank expressed his joy at joining the show and working with the cast. Clenshaw was excited about the casting of the "legendary and immensely talented" Fairbank and Counsell. Producers used the characters of Eddie, Gloria and George to explore the topic of baby farming. To ensure the story was portrayed sensitively and accurately, the show worked with experts and those with lived experiences of farming. Through the story, Eddie's "racist ideologies" are also examined and result in clashes with his family. Clenshaw opined that the story follows EastEnders' tradition of "telling challenging yet truthful stories". He added that the story would challenge George "to question the identity his parents gave him from childhood as he discovers the true means by which he was adopted".

Gloria Knight
Gloria Knight, played by Elizabeth Counsell, first appears in episode 6831, originally broadcast on 1 January 2024. The character and Counsell's casting details were announced on 10 December 2023. Gloria is introduced with her husband, Eddie Knight (Christopher Fairbank), as the adoptive parents of established character George Knight (Colin Salmon). Counsell and Fairbank were contracted for a short stint. The characters' backstory states that Gloria and Eddie have not seen George for over a decade. Chris Clenshaw, the show's executive producer, explained that it would "[become] apparent why George has kept his distance". Counsell expressed her joy at joining the show and working with the cast and crew. She was looking forward to working with Salmon again, having previously worked together almost thirty years prior. Clenshaw was excited about the casting of the "legendary and immensely talented" Counsell and Fairbank.

The characters' arrival proves a surprise for George and they are introduced with a secret. Clenshaw teased that Gloria and Eddie would be "thrust into the heart of the drama" upon their introduction. Producers used the characters of Gloria, Eddie and George to explore the topic of baby farming. To ensure the story was portrayed sensitively and accurately, the show worked with experts and those with lived experiences of farming. Clenshaw opined that the story follows EastEnders' tradition of "telling challenging yet truthful stories". He added that the story would challenge George "to question the identity his parents gave him from childhood as he discovers the true means by which he was adopted". The character was written out of the series in episode 6890, originally broadcast on 11 April 2024. Gloria was killed off after suffering a heart attack, having reunited with George.

Harold Martin
Harold Martin, played by David Sterne, first appears in episode 6839, originally broadcast on 15 January 2024. The character and Sterne's casting details were announced on 8 January 2024. Harold is introduced as the husband of established character Aunt Sal (Anna Karen), the aunt of Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) and Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf). Aunt Sal appeared on the show sporadically across 21 years with Harold being referenced throughout her appearances but never appearing. Sterne was contracted for a short guest stint. Chris Clenshaw, the show's executive producer, expressed his joy at casting Sterne and described the character as "elusive".

Producers introduced Harold to the show as part of a set of episodes portraying Aunt Sal's funeral. The character of Aunt Sal was killed off, off screen, following the real life death of Karen in early 2022. Clenshaw opined that it was "imperative that we gave Aunt Sal the send-off she deserved". Sterne enjoyed playing the character of Harold and recognised that the character was "important in the context of the show". He added, "The writing was brilliant, so he was a joy to play."

Logan
Logan, played by Liam Hatch, appears in episode 6847, originally broadcast on 29 January 2024. The character was announced on 24 January 2024. Logan is introduced as a school bully who has a fight with Denzel Danes (Jaden Ladega). Hatch used his own personal experiences of school to prepare for the role of Logan, but recognised that society had changed since he was at school. In light of this, the actor aimed to "modernise [himself] in a way" through his mannerisms and body language. Hatch's casting received criticism from viewers of the show as he is 10 years older than his character. The actor found the comments amusing and admitted that his friends had contacted him to check how he was feeling. Nadia Khomami, writing for The Guardian, opined that Logan had become "the most talked about bully of the week". Dan Seddon from Digital Spy described the character as someone "making Denzel Danes' life a misery on screen".

Logan first appears when he cuts the queue at McKlunky's fast food restaurant and insults Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd), who leaves, upset. Amy's boyfriend, Denzel Danes, sees Logan and confronts him in the market. Denzel receives support from the market traders, so Logan leaves. That night, Logan and his friends corner Denzel in a back alley and attack him, filming the attack. Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter) finds the gang attacking Denzel and runs to intervene, but falls over; they begin filming her and laughing. Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James) sees the attack and threatens them with a metal pipe, so they all run away.

Britney Wainwright
Britney Wainwright, played by Lola Campbell, first appears in episode 6867, originally broadcast on 4 March 2024. The character and Campbell's casting details were announced on 26 February 2024. Britney is introduced as a neglected child who bonds with established character Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty). McGarty likened Britney to a younger version of Whitney, which she said Whitney recognises. Britney is introduced during two special episodes of the show. The episodes were set across five weeks in Milton Keynes and feature the return of Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer). Filming took place from January 2024 with some on-location filming captured in paparazzi photography.

Writers devised the character of Britney as part of McGarty's exit from the series. Chris Clenshaw, the show's executive producer, was excited for Campbell to join the cast and teased that Whitney would be "thrust into the heart of the drama" with Britney's arrival. The character's backstory states that she and her brother, Taylor Wainwright (Mason Godfrey), are being neglected by their mother, Keeley Wainwright (Kirsty J Curtis), who is battling with addiction. Britney and Taylor live on the same estate as Bianca and are being supported by her. McGarty observed that Whitney feels "incredibly sorry" for Britney when they meet and resolves to "take her under her wing". Britney has not been attending school at all since the COVID-19 pandemic, which annoys Whitney. Keeley is later arrested, leaving Britney alone. Whitney then decides that she and her partner Zack Hudson (James Farrar) will foster her. McGarty told Sarah Ellis of Inside Soap that Whitney begins to make Britney "her main priority" instead of Zack and her unborn baby, which she opined was "quite sad".

Warren Finn
Warren Finn, played by Neil Roberts, first appears in episode 6889, originally broadcast on 10 April 2024. The character and Roberts' casting details were announced on 4 April 2024. Warren is introduced as the barrister hired to represent Eddie Knight (Christopher Fairbank) at his trial for historic racially motivated murder. Roberts was contracted for a guest stint. The actor expressed his excitement at guest starring in the soap. He was pleased to be part of the story and wanted to ensure it was portrayed "accurately and sensitively". The character appears in two episodes and departs in episode 6890, originally broadcast on 11 April 2024.

At Eddie's trial, Warren questions his adopted son George Knight (Colin Salmon) about his witness statement, his upbringing and the character statement he was prepared to share at the pre-trial. Warren suggests that George is doing this in spite after learning that he was subject to baby farming as an infant. Eddie and Charles Dunlane (Jack Chissick) are then found guilty.

Junior Knight
Junior Knight, played by Micah Balfour, first appears in episode 6906, originally broadcast on 13 May 2024. The character had been referenced before his introduction, but further details about the character and Balfour's casting details were announced on 2 May 2024. Junior is introduced as the estranged son of George Knight (Colin Salmon). Balfour described Junior as "a complex man". The character's backstory states that Junior and George have been estranged for decades, however, the reasons were not disclosed prior to his arrival. This was then explored in the character's early episodes.

Details surrounding the character's introduction were kept embargoed, but Chris Clenshaw, the show's executive producer, warned that Junior would be "thrust into the heart of the drama". In his early episodes, writers established the character as having secrets and paired him in a one-night stand with Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer). A twist was incorporated into the story when Junior is revealed to have a wife and son; Monique Knight (Busayo Ige) and Xavier Knight (Chase Dean-Williams) are then introduced to the series. A specially-made trailer was released on social media to promote Junior's introduction. Balfour expressed his excitement at joining the cast and working with his on-screen family. He called walking on the set "the most surreal experience of my career". Clenshaw was pleased about Balfour's casting and teased that there would be "more to Junior than meets the eye".

Monique Knight
Monique Knight, played by Busayo Ige, first appears in episode 6907, originally broadcast on 14 May 2024. The character and Ige's casting details were announced on 14 May 2024. Monique is introduced as the wife of Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) and arrives with their young son, Xavier Knight (Chase Dean-Williams). Monique is of Ghanaian heritage, which helps her bond with Junior's father, George Knight (Colin Salmon), whom she offers to help reconnect with his Ghana roots after being invited to stay. Producers wanted the characters of Monique and Xavier to be a surprise to the audience, especially as Junior has had sex with Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) after his introduction. This twist led to Monique and Xavier's departures from the series after she learns the truth. The character departs in episode 6922, originally broadcast on 6 June 2024.

Xavier Knight
Xavier Knight, played by Chase Dean-Williams, first appears in episode 6907, originally broadcast on 14 May 2024. The character and Dean-Williams' casting details were announced on 14 May 2024. Xavier is introduced as the young son of Junior Knight (Micah Balfour) and arrives with his mother, Monique Knight (Busayo Ige). Producers wanted the characters of Monique and Xavier to be a surprise to the audience, especially as Junior has had sex with Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) after his introduction. This twist led to Monique and Xavier's departures from the series after she learns the truth. Whilst in Walford, Xavier meets his grandfather George Knight (Colin Salmon) and his aunts, Gina (Francesca Henry) and Anna Knight (Molly Rainford) for the first time. He briefly moves in with the Knights and Anna bonds with him by reading his favourite book to him. The character departs in episode 6922, originally broadcast on 6 June 2024.

Dolly Dean-Hudson
Dolly Dean-Hudson is the daughter of Zack Hudson (James Farrar) and Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty), born on episode 6910, which aired on 16 May 2024. Prior to Dolly's conception, Zack and Whitney had lost their baby daughter Peach, who had Edwards syndrome. Whitney is terrified of losing her second child and so busies herself illegally fostering Britney Wainwright (Lola Campbell), which puts a strain on her relationship with Zack. Whitney goes into labour when trapped in a taco van with Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa). They eventually alert Whitney's adoptive mother Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) to their whereabouts, who manages to free them both and get Whitney to hospital, where she safely delivers her baby daughter with Bianca by her side. Zack arrives moments after the birth and they announce to Bianca and Britney that they have named her Dolly Dean-Hudson.

Jossa, who plays Lauren, had previously said that those scenes would be "hugely awkward". Jossa also continued, "It's one of those situations where you think, 'I can't be here, this is wrong," she admitted. "Lauren loves her friend and wants to make her happy, and if she acts too weird, Whitney will notice, so she has to play along. But ultimately, Lauren probably wants to move back to New Zealand at that moment." After finding out that Zack had cheated on her with Lauren, Whitney decides she needs a fresh start away from Walford and so moves to Wakefield to live with her brother Ryan Malloy (Neil McDermott), taking Britney and Dolly with her, in scenes that aired on 23 May 2024 in Episode 6913.

Maya Houssain
 Maya Houssain, portrayed by Bharti Patel, first appeared on 29 May 2024 as a new friend for Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman). Patel's casting was announced on 20 May 2024. Maya and Harvey are set to "bond over a mutual love of football" and Harvey is going to be "delighted". After Harvey meets Maya and they bond over their love for Tottenham Hotspurs, he loses her number so he tries to track her down on social media, with the help of Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall), but this doesn't go down well with her as she doesn't appreciate being 'stalked' on social media. In Episode 6920, which originally aired 4 June 2024, Maya revealed to Harvey that she had a husband, who was also a taxi driver, that passed away in 2023. This was why she then deleted her social media profiles, which Harvey previously realised when trying to contact her as she left her hat behind, as being a widow it made her more vulnerable to scammers.

It is later revealed that Maya has been trying to get money from Harvey, a plan which fails after she drops a letter revealing that she doesn't live in a small flat like she had said before. Harvey then decided to investigate and goes to Maya's address, which he enters after knocking and being left unanswered. Harvey then enters the property to find a terrified man inside. He tries to calm him down before Maya arrives home, but when she does she puts the man to bed, revealing that he is in fact her husband, Abdul Houssain (Sanjiv Hayre). As Maya had also previously lied about her husband being dead, Harvey demands for answers, Maya reveals that Abdul is the man Harvey's son Aaron Monroe (Charlie Wernham) tried to murder in a racially motivated attack. Maya feels that Harvey is partially accountable as he gave Aaron a false alibi on the night of the attack, but feels bad for trying to take money from him because she thinks she's a genuinely likes him as he is a nice man.

Teddy Mitchell
Teddy Mitchell, portrayed by Roland Manookian, first appeared on 26 June 2024. The character and Mankoonian's casting details were announced on 6 June 2024. Teddy is introduced as part of the Mitchell family, as the estranged son of Stevie Mitchell (Alan Ford), and long-lost half-brother of established character Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick). Teddy is set to arrive alongside his two sons, Harry (Elijah Holloway) and Barney (Lewis Bridgeman).

Manookian also commented on his casting by saying "I've been watching EastEnders my whole life, so being part of it is amazing... Coming in as a Mitchell means you've got big shoes to fill, but it's a challenge that I'm happy to accept." He also expressed his delight to be working with other EastEnders actors. "It's a privilege to have the chance to work with the likes of Perry Fenwick [Billy], Steve McFadden [Phil], and the legendary Alan Ford [Stevie] – what amazing company to keep. Teddy is an enigmatic sort of fella with old-school principles, but he's tuned into modernity, too. It's a lovely part to get my teeth into."

Executive producer Chris Clenshaw also said he was "delighted" about the intoduction of "a new branch of the iconic Mitchell family to the Square".

Harry Mitchell
Harry Mitchell, portrayed by Elijah Holloway, first appeared on 26 June 2024. The character and Holloway's casting details were announced on 6 June 2024. Harry is introduced as part of the Mitchell family, and is the eldest son of Teddy Mitchell (Roland Manookian), who is introduced as the estranged son of Stevie Mitchell (Alan Ford), and long-lost half-brother of established character Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick). Harry is set to arrive alongside his father, and younger brother Barney (Lewis Bridgeman).

Holloway discussed being cast as Harry by saying "It's a massive privilege to join a British institution like EastEnders, and to be playing a Mitchell makes it even more exciting. We've been given such a warm welcome, and it's unbelievable to be turning up to work in Walford every day." He also discussed Harry's character: "Harry has a lot of charm and swagger, but he's got a bit of a temper, too. He can't resist trouble, or the ladies, so he's ready to shake things up in typical Mitchell style!"

Executive producer Chris Clenshaw also said he was "delighted" about the intoduction of "a new branch of the iconic Mitchell family to the Square".

Barney Mitchell
Barney Mitchell, portrayed by Lewis Bridgeman, first appeared on 26 June 2024. The character and Bridgeman's casting details were announced on 6 June 2024. Barney is introduced as part of the Mitchell family, and is the youngest son of Teddy Mitchell (Roland Manookian), who is introduced as the estranged son of Stevie Mitchell (Alan Ford), and long-lost half-brother of established character Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick). Barney is set to arrive alongside his father, and older brother Harry (Elijah Holloway).

Bridgeman commented on his casting by saying "Joining the EastEnders cast has been very exciting and such a great opportunity, which has been made even better by working with a wonderful cast and crew." He also discussed what Barney's character would be like. "Barney is an interesting character to explore because of his more introverted nature compared to the other members of his family, and I'm looking forward to seeing how he grows and develops in Albert Square."

Executive producer Chris Clenshaw also said he was "delighted" about the intoduction of "a new branch of the iconic Mitchell family to the Square".