EastEnders legend Pam St Clement is reportedly set to make her TV comeback in the new series of Rivals this month. Based on Dame Jilly Cooper's 1988 novel, the comedy-drama debuted on Disney+ in October 2024 and immediately became a huge hit.
The eight-episode first series ended in December 2024 and was soon renewed for a second outing. Ahead of the show's return on May 15, The Sun reports that Pam, 83, known for playing Pat Butcher on the BBC soap, will make a surprise cameo.
A source told the publication: 'Pam's character comes face to face with a naked Aidan Turner, who plays telly star Declan O'Hara. She thinks she recognises him as a famous Irish TV interviewer and, because the show is set in the 1980s, she does a double take and asks: 'Is that Terry Wogan?' It's a moment that will delight fans of Rivals as well as devotees of EastEnders.'
The newspaper goes on to claim she was persuaded to take part by the show's executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins, a former EastEnders writer and producer.
The second season of Rivals looks set to be even raunchier than the show's debut, with Danny Dyer claiming viewers 'are rooting for infidelity' and Aidan Turner sharing details of a particularly steamy scene. This week multiple cast members addressed what's in store for viewers.
Danny plays electronics businessman Freddie Jones, who is having an affair with romance author Lizzie Vereker (Katherine Parkinson). The actor explained: 'We're delving into the complications of two people who are madly in love but married with children to other people. There are a lot of people rooting for infidelity, which is quite rare.'
Aidan stars as TV journalist Declan, who has faced a struggle balancing work demands with former actress wife Maud (Victoria Smurfit). He described a steamy shower sex scene between the couple as 'fun' to film, telling the Daily Mirror: 'Victoria and I are very comfortable with each other. We've worked together quite intimately since the first series and we just clicked straight away – it might be the Irish thing.'
Emily Atack, best known for playing Charlotte Hinchcliffe in The Inbetweeners, plays the role of saucy seductress Sarah Stratton. She opened up about a complex dinner party scene and how it pushed her acting skills, explaining: 'You've got to know the lines inside out, know every bit of the rhythm of it.' The actress went on to say how the show 'did it all in one go', which was a new experience for her. She described a moment in the scene where her character has to 'break down' and added it was genuine, having had a feeling of 'I've done it'.
Emily recently reflected on playing 'flawed' women ahead of the raunchy new series being released next month. In an interview, she described 'promiscuous and naughty' Sarah as 'an absolute f***ing nightmare'. She told The Times: 'People in the past never wanted to admit that they identify with characters like Sarah as she's promiscuous and naughty. Now, characters like her, people are going, 'Why am I rooting for them?' I'm all for that. I want to play a flawed woman in a right bl**dy pickle.'
Rivals returns on May 15 on Disney+.
