EastEnders star Laura Doddington has confirmed that Nicola Mitchell and Sharon Watts will have a major clash.
Doddington will make her debut on the BBC soap next week (November 11), with Nicola causing a stir as she searches for
her ex-husband, Teddy, and sons Harry and Barney.
Ahead of the character’s debut, Doddington described Nicola as “bombastic” in an interview, sharing that she would have plenty on the agenda as she sets foot in Albert Square.
“Nicola is a woman who knows her mind and isn’t intimidated by anyone or anything,” began the actor. “What I love about her is that she is an intelligent woman and quite witty. So, you can expect a woman who is not afraid to make her mark.
“Nicola has been away in Bali, and she’s got back and had a tip-off that Harry is going to be arrested. She comes to Walford to help deal with that – in her unique, bombastic Nicola Mitchell way!
“Nicola loves Teddy, and she wants him back. But they were definitely not what we would call a functioning couple. Nicola is quite manipulative with most people, but she can’t manipulate Teddy as well as she used to, and that infuriates her.
“They got together when they were young and went from being kids to being adults together and finding out who they were while in a relationship with each other. From that comes this ability to press each other’s buttons very quickly and know before they press them what’s going to happen.
“I think the divorce is heartbreaking and infuriating. Nicola is used to getting what she wants. There is a human trait that we all have of, ‘I want it. Why can’t I have it?’ As children, we learn to curb that instinct, but Nicola hasn’t. So, with Teddy, her thoughts are, ‘I want him. Why can’t I have him?’”
Given Nicola’s fiery personality along with Teddy and Sharon’s flirty bond, it seems a matter of time before the newcomer exhibits signs of jealousy towards her ex-husband, and Doddington confirmed that Sharon will soon be in Nicola’s sights.
“The scene is so much fun because they clash right away!” said Doddington. “Letitia Dean [who plays Sharon] is heaven to work with, and our first scene contains a line that’s my favourite I’ve ever said on screen!
“Nicola is not a woman’s woman, and she’s just not interested in women, not interested in female friendships, not interested in that support network. At that initial moment, it could be Sharon or any other woman that she’s being rude to.
“But once she finds out that Sharon and Teddy have a flirtation, she sees Sharon as an obstacle to overcome and starts thinking how to scupper things between them. Nicola will do whatever it takes to get Teddy back, so Sharon should watch her back.”
Though Nicola has some run-ins with Teddy and Sharon, she will of course come face-to-face with the wider Mitchell family in Walford, with Doddington admitting that her character will look to turn anything to “her advantage.”
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“Initially, she’s just sizing everyone up,” she teased. “She’s heard of Phil because of his reputation, and she’s intrigued by him and whether she can manipulate him. With Honey, she spots that this is a nice person who she can get her claws into if needs be.
“She knows Honey is too nice to say no to her, like when she invites herself to lunch. She didn’t know about Billy’s existence, so she wants to meet Teddy’s brother and get to know him. Mostly, she’s looking to see if she can turn any situation to her advantage.”
