There is more between Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) and brother-in-law Ned Roper than mets the eye, with EastEnders newcomer Jamie Bamber confirming an ‘unspoken’ secret.
Ned makes his long-awaited Albert Square debut on Monday (August 31), arriving in Walford with mum-in-law Rose Hawkins (Marian McLoughlin), much to the chagrin of Nicola.
Nicola, as viewers know, received a visit from sisters Gemma (Patricia Potter) and Jodie (Anna Constable) earlier in the month, which led to estranged mum Rose showing up too.
There is no love lost between Rose and Nicola, who have a fractured relationship due to things that happened in the past.
When Gemma arrives on her doorstep on Monday, Nicola agrees to let her, Jodie and nephew Ryder (Felix Uff) stay – but only on the condition that Rose doesn’t come along too.
Gemma agrees to such terms but when her husband Ned shows up with Rose in tow, it leaves Nicola irate.
‘Ned is somebody who appears very put together,’ said actor Jamie, describing his Albert Square alter-ego ahead of his debut scenes.
‘He dresses well and is naturally charming and confident. He’s enjoyed a great deal of success in life, but when we meet him, everything has fallen apart and he’s having to start again.’
The actor, known for his roles in Battlestar Galactica and Law and Order: UK, admitted that Ned is someone who places a ‘great deal of importance’ on appearances – but that we might soon see another side to him.
‘There’s a real depth to him, and as the weeks go on, we’ll start to peel back those layers and discover that Ned is a far more complex character than he first appears.’
Ned’s dynamic with Nicola will also be one of interest, with Jamie confirming that there is something ‘unspoken’ there.
‘It’s clear that Ned and Nicola know each other extremely well, but there’s also something unspoken between them,’ he added. ‘There’s a fascinating push-and-pull dynamic at play.
‘You get the sense that there’s something that binds them together just as strongly as something keeps them apart. There are secrets and a history that neither of them is willing to talk about openly. Over time, viewers will discover exactly what lies behind that complicated relationship.’
Viewers will recall that when Teddy (Roland Manookian) called Nicola from prison on the anniversary of her dad’s death, he was intrigued to discover that the Hawkins’ had landed in Walford, taking particular interest in knowing if Ned was there.
The question is: why? And is his interest in Ned related to this unspoken secret shared between he and Nic? We’ll just have to wait and see!
On the subject of joining EastEnders, Jamie couldn’t be happier.
‘I’ve seldom worked in an environment where people seem so happy, relaxed and comfortable,’ he enthused. ‘Everyone has been incredibly supportive and welcoming, which has made settling in so much easier.’
