It seems like we should be expecting the unexpected in EastEnders over coming months, with new soap boss Ben Wadey warning fans that the show will soon be wandering into ‘unusual territory’ as it hits us with a few soap firsts. Intriguing…
Despite being on air for over 40 years, it seems there are still some fresh ideas in the Walford soap’s arsenal, even if Ben – who formerly headed up the team at Channel 4’s Hollyoaks during a successful tenure and then took over EastEnders from Chris Clenshaw – was keeping the exact details under wraps.
It comes after the soap celebrated another wave of wins, landing both the Best Serial Drama gong at the National Television Awards, while Steve McFadden deservedly netted the Serial Drama Performance prize for his achingly brutal performance as Phil Mitchell.
Taking to the stage to accept the trophy on behalf of his colleagues, acting legend Rudolph Walker MBE urged us all to ‘watch this space’, as big things are coming – a vibe that matches Ben’s coy but enthusiastic hinting.
‘We’ve got Zoe back in the show, and we’ve got Max, we’ve got so many amazing clans right now,’ he teased.
‘We’re really trying to just put heartfelt stories and actually some slightly unusual territory for us – and some soap firsts – at the forefront of the show.
‘So I think watch this space. We’ve got some really interesting stories.’
Asked also by Radio Times whether we could expect more returns, Ben refused to rule any out with the classic ‘never say never!’ although he added that we should focus on Max and Zoe for now, given the mega twists looming in that storyline.
It feels likely that one of Ben’s soap firsts may connect to the ongoing chilling incel storyline led by teenager Joel, which has sparked a lot of discussion already and promises to reach a darker peak soon.
But it’s just one of many stories Ben has on the burner ahead of his ‘past, present and future’ themed Christmas specials this year.
Lauren Branning and Peter Beale’s relationship will remain under the spotlight, with some surprise developments coming on the way which could place them under fresh jeopardy as they approach the wedding planning stage.
And Metro can confirm that several new characters loom too, many who seem pretty fascinating on paper.
Ben told us: ‘We’ve got Joel’s story that will come to a head in the next couple of months, we’ve got Lauren, Peter and Oscar, with plenty of drama to unfold there.
‘And of course, Zoe is now back in The Square. Zoe and Kat’s relationship is really complicated. 20 years there for them to recover and try to get to know each other.
‘Kat has been expecting one thing when Zoe would come back, but to meet your adult daughter is more complicated than Kat thinks.
‘There’s a lot for them to get to understand about each other. Zoe’s got a lot of secrets that she’s going to bring into The Square with her. The Slaters are in for a whole ride this autumn.’
Max Branning star Jake Wood added: ‘There’s so much, isn’t there? He’s got a son he hasn’t seen in a few years, he hasn’t seen Lauren, Annie that he doesn’t know about, Stacey might be there, might not be.
‘The relationship with Zoe. As Ben mentioned, the Brannings interact with so many characters and pull so many others into their stories.
