User:FishLoveHam/Jags Panesar

Jags Panesar is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Amar Adatia. Jags was introduced alongside brothers Kheerat Panesar (Jaz Deol), and Vinny Panesar (Shiv Jalota) in episode 6001, broadcast on 4 October 2019.

Storylines
Jags and his brother Kheerat (Jaz Deol) first arrive in Walford to confront Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) after he steals Kheerat's car. They threaten him with retaliation unless the car is returned to them. When Ben fails to deliver, Jags kidnaps Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold), though he is berated by Kheerat for this and later lets her go after Ben comes to meet them and promises to repay them. A few weeks later, Jags and Kheerat, joined by their other brother Vinny (Shiv Jalota) arrive on the Square in search of their sister Ash Panesar (Gurlaine Kaur Garcha). While there, Jags reckognises Chantelle Atkins (Jessica Plummer) stood at a bus stop, and tells Kheerat that he used to have a crush on her at school, and that they once went on a date. The Panesar siblings later move to Walford and are eventually joined by their mother Suki (Balvinder Sopal). When Suki is revealed to have lied about having cancer, Jags is the first of the family to forgive her.

Jags gets close to and eventually enters a secret relationship with Habiba Ahmed (Rukku Nahar), though he fears Suki's reaction as Habiba is Muslim and Jags is Sikh, ultimately deciding against going public. In September 2020, Vinny attacks Martin Fowler (James Bye) in a botched staged robbery, and Jags helps to clear up the evidence. After challenging his family's treatment of their tenants, Jags goes public about his relationship with Habiba. Enraged, Suki hands Jags' bloody jeans into the police, telling them he attacked Martin. Jags is wrongfully arrested and reluctantly agrees to plead guilty for the crime. He is sentenced to 4 years in prison. Months later, the Panesar family learn that Jags has gotten on the wrong side of a gang in prison, and Kheerat makes an agreement with Ben to arrange protection for him. Meanwhile, Habiba gives birth to Jags' son, Tyrion, off-screen. Kheerat remains hopeful for Jags' welfare, however Ben later cancels the protection in an act of rage. Shortly afterwards, in June 2021, the Panesars learn that Jags had been beaten to death in an attacked in his cell.

Casting and introduction
On 21 August 2019, it was announced that the Panesar brothers, consisting of Jags (Amar Adatia), Kheerat (Jaz Deol), and Vinny (Shiv Jalota), would join the soap in the upcoming Autumn. The brothers were teased to arrive with "score to settle" with another family and were billed by show bosses as "charming by nature but still a force to be reckoned with". Jags, along with Kheerat and Vinny, were the first Sikh characters to appear on the soap. Executive producer Jon Sen teased that the brothers would "bring their own unique blend of charm and chaos onto the Square". He continued by promising they would arrive to "settle the score" with another family, but "fate quickly takes a hand" and results in the brothers settling in Walford. Speaking on the news of his casting, Adatia was excited to join: "My younger self would never have believed I'd be on EastEnders. It's pretty amazing to be part of one of the most iconic television shows alongside some of the best actors in the business. I really am so grateful". The brothers were created to be new regular characters for the soap.

Ahead of their arrival, Sen disclosed that the brothers would "turn up" in Walford "with a mission that will become apparent". Sen enthused about being "thrilled" to introduce the "vibrant" siblings, especially excited to explore their storylines. He was also keen to introduce the show's first Sikh characters, explaining: "EastEnders is a show that prides itself on diversity, representing modern London and modern Britain. We were really keen at finding a way of telling stories from the Sikh community". Jags and Kheerat were set appear first and be followed by Vinny. Spoilers and teasers leading up to their arrival showcased that the brothers would be "gunning for" Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden), Jags and Kheerat arriving to threaten him for stealing Kheerat's car. The dispute would result in Jags abducting Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold) as revenge on Ben for crossing his brother. Jags and Kheerat made their first appearance in episode 6001, broadcast on 4 October 2019.

Characterisation
Upon his introduction, Jags is 27 years old and the middle child of the three brothers. Jags was said to be envious of Kheerat's lifestyle as Kheerat was a successful businessman, having "always" had difficulty to step out of his shadow. Despite this, it was said that Jags "idolised" his older brother. He was billed as being "no-nonsense", a "try-hard", and often leaving his brothers and the rest of his family "unimpressed" as none of his plans would ever come to fruition, "despite his best intentions". The brothers would have a "strong dynamic", including "a lot of mischief" and "just a hint of jealousy".

"They arrive, these three siblings who are very different in and of themselves. One of them has a past fascination with one of our characters on the Square already. They arrive with a little bit of a bang.

"Looking at that camaraderie they are loveable rogues and entrepreneurs. We're keen that they're not part of the criminal element that sometimes comes to EastEnders because that's the territory of the Mitchells. But if they can make a pound, they will.

"They are wheeler dealers in a classic Punjabi style. They're great, they bring a completely different tone and flavour to the show."

"very different"

Reception
https://metro.co.uk/2019/10/29/eastenders-spoilers-jags-panesar-to-save-chantelle-atkins-from-domestic-abuser-gray-11004763/