EastEnders aired a surprise announcement for Suki Panesar’s estranged daughter Ash on Monday (June 30), that coincided with the actress’s real life update.

While shopping at the Minute Mart, Eve Unwin (Heather Peace) noticed a social media update from step-daughter Ash that confirmed she is now engaged while flashing a huge ring.

But the news didn’t go down well with Suki (Balvinder Sopal), who wasn’t impressed with her daughter marrying a surgeon in their fifties.

“She’s old enough to be her mum!”, Suki exclaimed, “Ash has made it pretty clear that she doesn’t care about me. So why should I bother about anything she does?”.

Actress Gurlaine Kaur Garcha arrived in Walford as Ash Panesar back in 2019, but the character left in 2023 after accepting a job offer in Canada.

The news of Ash’s on-screen engagement comes only days after Gurlaine, 31, announced she is getting married in real life.

Taking to Instagram to share her happy news, Gurlaine posted a stunning snap while holidaying in Ibiza, and she looked a world away from her EastEnders altar-ego.

The actress sported a short bob hairstyle separated in the middle and slicked to the side. She wore an elegant black outfit teamed sunglasses and gold jewellery as she flashed an engagement ring.

Gurlaine wrote in the caption: “v happy & v engaged!!!!!!”, as her former EastEnders co-star rushed to the comments section to share their well wishes.

Suki star Balvinder Sopal wrote: “Oh my days!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS BABY”, while Nish star Navin Chowdhry added: “So much love G! The most beautiful news!!!.”

Vinny star Shiv Jalota stated: “Ahhhhhhhh CONGRATS XX”, Bernie Taylor star Clair Norris exclaimed: “Congratulations G!!!”, while Ruby Allen actress Louisa Lytton added: “CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!”.

Isaac Baptiste actor Stevie Basaula simply added a string of celebration emojis.

Meanwhile, one fan wrote: “Omggg Ash from Eastenders is getting married irl CONGRATS!!!!.”