EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders has announced some big casting news, as former Hollyoaks star Matthew James-Bailey has joined the cast for a new police storyline.
The actor previously played Ethan Williams on the Channel 4 soap between 2021 and 2024, and also starred as Tomasz in the Russell T Davies drama Cucumber in 2015.
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His EastEnders character DC Craig Ingram will arrive in Albert Square in the summer, as he is assigned to help Jack Branning out as his superiors suspect that he is struggling to balance his workload with supporting other half Denise Fox through her blood cancer ordeal.
The storyline, which has been described as a “major” one that will “unfold over the summer months”, has already started filming with James-Bailey on set.
“Joining EastEnders has been a dream come true,” he said.
“From it being the soundtrack to my childhood, always on in the background at home, to gathering around the TV with my family every Christmas, being able to play even a small part in such an iconic piece of British television is truly surreal.”
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“We’re delighted to welcome Matthew to EastEnders, and he has been a fantastic addition to the cast,” the soap’s boss Ben Wadey added.
“Craig’s presence in Walford forms part of a storyline involving the Brannings that will unfold this summer.”
James-Bailey was let go from Hollyoaks two years as part of the brutal cast and crew cuts that were part of its move to three episodes a week.
“It’s really bittersweet,” he exclusively told Digital Spy shortly after his exit aired. “It’s come to an end a lot sooner than I would have liked.
“In previous interviews, I’ve said that I’d happily stay at Hollyoaks forever. It wasn’t my choice to leave, but that’s just the way that the game works, unfortunately!”
EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
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