EastEnders viewers may recognise a new face joining Albert Square, as actor Howard Saddler has joined the cast.
Howard, who has previously had roles in sitcoms such as The Office alongside Ricky Gervais, will take up the role of Pastor Clayton. The new Pastor will appear in episodes as early as next week, and a tense love triangle storyline is set to unfold between him, Yolande Truman and her ex-husband Patrick.
Viewers will watch as Yolande and the Pastor meet and grow close after they start working together at the local soup kitchen. Their romantic connection causes bad feeling though, with Denzel Danes angered by the chemistry between them. So much so he pours hot curry over them and accuses Yolande of cheating on Patrick, who he stays with.
Eagle eyed viewers may also have noticed that the role of Pastor Clayton isn't the first time Howard has appeared in the BBC soap. He's previously appeared in 2002 as Doctor Daniel Rodford for one episode. The doctor played a small part in one of the most memorable storylines of the BBC soap, as he treated Jamie Mitchell after Martin Fowler knocked him down with his car.
Howard's acting career spans across almost 30 years with early roles in Grange Hill, The Bill, Footballer's Wives and Doctors. His bigger roles came in Family Affairs as Lesley 'Les' Boulter between 2003 and 2005, and as Oliver in The Office on BBC.
Howard joins EastEnders at a tumultuous time as Yolande returned to Watford in August of this year. Within weeks of her return, her ex Anton arrived and was desperate to win her back but was angered to see she'd rekindled her relationship with her former husband Patrick.
Anton exited after Yolande and Patrick but their heads together and blackmailed him over money he stole and with the threat of turning him in. This prompted Patrick to take action and urge him to leave her alone if he didn't want to face legal troubles.
Iconic actor Alan Ford is also set to star in EastEnders in the New Year playing Billy Mitchell's dad Stevie Mitchell. Swapping his glittering film career for the popular BBC soap, Alan heads to Walford to pay his respects to the late Aunt Sal, who was the sister of Peggy Mitchell.
But his attendance at the funeral sparks speculation that there is more to Stevie than meets the eye, after receiving a cold reception by the existing Mitchell clan. Billy grew up in care at the age of ten after Stevie took sole custody of his brother Charlie and the pair last saw each other off screen twenty-five years ago.
Alan's career has gone from strength to strength over the years and he is probably best known for his roles in Guy Ritchie's films Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch - playing a feared London gangster. Speaking about joining the coveted BBC cast Alan, 85, said: "I feel highly delighted to be playing a character close to my own age in this extremely popular television drama series."
And Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw added: "It’s an honour to welcome the immensely talented Alan Ford to the cast of EastEnders as he takes on the role of Stevie Mitchell. Whilst Billy has been a stalwart in the show for over 25 years, viewers know very little about his complicated childhood and the events that led him to grow up in care. Alan arrives in Walford as the Mitchell family prepare to say goodbye to their beloved Aunt Sal but it soon becomes apparent that he is not welcome in the family fold."
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