EastEnders has cast Holby City star Dawn Steele as part of the Zoe Slater and Jasmine Fisher family storyline. It comes as Zoe finally finds her long-lost son, with the previously revealed Joshua Vaughan now officially confirmed to play Josh.
The soap introduced Jasmine’s twin brother as a voice last month when Cindy Beale answered Jasmine’s phone while preparing to destroy it.
Josh will officially enter Albert Square this month after following adopted mother Sandra Goodwin (Steele) to Walford.
The latter turns up while “seeking answers about Jasmine”, who has been charged with the killing of Anthony Trueman, with her arrival “unveiling new details from her past and insight into Sandra’s version of events”.
“Meanwhile, and unbeknownst to Sandra, Josh has followed her to Walford looking for her, not knowing his birth family are closer than he realises,” the synopsis adds.
“I was thrilled to be asked to play the role of Sandra who arrives and throws a spanner or two into the Square!” Dawn, who famously played Ange Godard on Holby, said. “It was so great to go back to Elstree after the end of Holby City. Lots of the same crew (and a few cast!) are still there so it was joyful to see them all again.
“Everyone was so welcoming and I really enjoyed learning new ways of filming, it really is a well-oiled machine, and everyone works so hard.
“But it was Sandra’s storyline and character that really made me want to do it and I’m sure viewers will be thrilled with another piece of the puzzle ahead of the trial, Sandra’s timing couldn’t be better, or worse…”
Joshua added: “It has been incredibly humbling to join the cast of EastEnders and find myself at the intersection of the iconic Trueman and Slater families. Getting to work alongside such legacy actors is a masterclass, and I’ve learned so much from them.
“Josh is a big ball of love and I’m so excited for the audience to see the drama unfold as he arrives onto the Square.”
Show executive producer Ben Wadey said he was “thrilled to welcome” the pair, noting: “Since her return last year, Zoe has searched for her long‑lost son, and we’re excited to finally add the missing pieces to her story.
“As always with the Slaters and Truemans, nothing is ever straightforward, and the arrival of Sandra and Josh promises even more drama for Walford at a pivotal moment as Jasmine’s trial begins.”
