Axed soap star appears in EastEnders – but did you spot her?

Date: 2024-10-29

EAGLE eyed BBC viewers might have spotted a familiar soap actress making her debut in EastEnders.

Joining EastEnders, actress Joanna Bending is best known for playing Dr Michelle Walton in Doctors.

a woman in a blue paisley shirt sits at a table
BBC
Joanna Bending is best known for playing Dr Michelle Walton in Doctors[/caption]
a man and a woman are standing in front of a wall that says gamer
BBC
Joanna Bending plays one of the social workers who comes to assess Tommy Moon[/caption]

Doctors, which will air its last episode in December, is another BBC soap set in a fictional Midlands based GP practice.

It was announced earlier this year that the soap, which has ran for 20 years, will end at the end of the year.

BBC reasons for axing the soap put the blame on the show’s “increased expenses”.

Joanna joined the cast earlier this year, but has now swapped the doctor surgery for Albert Square.

She’s taken up the role of social worker Jackie Fairhurst, who is playing a part in the Tommy Moon storyline.

Tommy’s violent outbursts towards mum Kat Slater as well as his younger brothers has now escalated to the point that Jean called and reported him.

Following the report, social services have now arrived to speak to Kat and have concluded that the troubled teenager is a danger to his younger brothers.

To avoid Tommy being sent into care, Kat has managed to get him to stay at neighbour Zack, who is a registered foster carer.

Sharing her excitement at being included in EastEnders, Joanna shared a snap to her Instagram: “A new Social and a Handsome DC arrive in Albert Square tonight at 7.30pm…….”

She was flooded with supports from family, friends and fans as one commented: “Wohoooo go on Jo !!!”

Another shared: “Loving this!”

“Best reason to watch,” said a third.

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

two women are sitting at a table talking to each other .
BBC
Joanna shared her excitement at joining EastEnders in a recent Instagram post[/caption]
a woman with a red purse talks to a boy
PA
Tommy Moon’s violent outbursts towards mum Kat Slater have seen him reported to authorities[/caption]

Leave Your Comments