The BBC soap has confirmed that Nicola Mitchell's estranged relatives, the Hawkins family, will be arriving in Albert Square this summer.
Nicola has kept her family at a distance, setting up what the show describes as "old wounds" and "complicated family dynamics."
>>> Youth Soccer Events Across Utah and Washington Draw Thousands
Who Are the Hawkins?
The group includes Gemma Hawkins, her husband Ned Roper, and their son Ryder, along with Rose and Nicola's youngest sister Jodie.
Patricia Potter will play Gemma, Jamie Bamber takes on the role of Ned, and Felix Uff portrays Ryder.
Marian McLoughlin and Anna Constable round out the cast as Rose and Jodie.
Executive producer Ben Wadey said the family's arrival brings intense loyalty alongside decades of unresolved history stemming from Nicola's estrangement.
"The Hawkins family are a fantastic addition to Walford.
While the family share a fierce loyalty to one another, decades of complicated history and Nicola's estrangement from them has left fractures within the family that are far from healed," Wadey said.
>>> Commanders Keep Eye on Stefon Diggs While Building Receiver Depth
Potter described joining EastEnders as an opportunity to work with a new family and a talented ensemble, expressing enthusiasm for the role.
Bamber tied his casting to childhood memories of watching the show, calling the chance to walk onto Albert Square a privilege he does not take lightly.
McLoughlin said the casting was an unexpected opportunity and that she can't wait for viewers to meet the Hawkins family.
Uff called the soap a staple of British culture and said he is eager to see how the family changes dynamics in Walford.
Constable, who is disabled, said she never expected to land such a role while growing up watching the show.
The new cast members have begun filming scenes expected to air later in the summer, following a teaser montage of boxes and suitcases arriving at No. 1.
>>> AZ Alkmaar Rejects Club Brugge's Increased Bid for Koopmeiners
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One, with most episodes streaming early on BBC iPlayer at 6am.
