EastEnders newcomer Jamie Bamber has confirmed an 'unspoken' secret between his character Ned Roper and Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington), as the Hawkins family makes its Albert Square debut.
Ned arrives in Walford on Monday (August 31) with mother-in-law Rose Hawkins (Marian McLoughlin), much to Nicola's annoyance. Earlier in the month, Nicola received visits from her sisters Gemma (Patricia Potter) and Jodie (Anna Constable), which led to estranged mother Rose showing up too. The relationship between Rose and Nicola is fractured due to past events.
When Gemma arrives 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. Gemma agrees, but when her husband Ned shows up with Rose in tow, Nicola is left irate.
Ned's hidden depths
'Ned is somebody who appears very put together,' said Jamie, describing his character 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 places a 'great deal of importance' on appearances – but that we might soon see another side to him.
'Often, when someone works that hard to keep up appearances, it's because there's more going on beneath the surface,' he teased. '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.'
Unspoken history with Nicola
Ned's dynamic with Nicola will also be one of interest, with Jamie confirming that there is something 'unspoken' between them.
'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 may 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 remains whether his interest in Ned is related to the unspoken secret shared between him and Nicola.
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.'
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One or streams from 6am on BBC iPlayer.
