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EastEnders is a BBC soap opera that first aired on 19 February 1985. [1] This is a list of characters that have or will debut in 2026. The first character to be announced to be debuting in 2026 was Bea, played by Ronni Ancona.
Bea, played by Ronni Ancona, will make her first appearance in early 2026. [2] Her character and casting was announced on 6 December 2025, with it being reported that Ancona had already began filming on the soap. [2] Bea is introduced as an old school acquaintance of established character Linda Carter (Kellie Bright); the pair meet at a school reunion and it is revealed that the pair have very different recollections of their experiences at school. [2] It was also teased that Bea would settle into Walford and would end up being at "the heart of the drama" and leaving a "lasting impression" on the characters she encounters. [3] It was also reported that Bea would be a "a force to be reckoned with". [4] Nikki Onafuye from The Mirror speculated that Ancona's casting would send fans of the soap "into a frenzy". [5]
Ancona spoke of her casting: "I am honoured to have been invited to join the iconic institution that is EastEnders, and to go on this whirlwind of a journey with such an unpredictable, nuanced and complex character as Bea. I hope audiences have as much fun watching her as I have had bringing her to life". [6] Executive producer, Ben Wadey was "delighted" to welcome Ancona onto the soap, teasing, "Bea's character is mysterious, and we're thrilled to have an esteemed actress and comedian like Ronni playing her". [2] Ancona had previously mimicked other EastEnders characters, including Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) and Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor), on the sketch show The Big Impression . [7]