Nicola Mitchell

Last updated
Nicola Mitchell
EastEnders character
Nicola Mitchell.jpg
Portrayed byLaura Doddington
Duration2024–present
First appearanceEpisode 7011
11 November 2024 (2024-11-11)
Classification Present; regular
Introduced by Chris Clenshaw
In-universe information
Occupation
  • Beautician
  • Businesswoman
Family Mitchell
Husband Teddy Mitchell (until 2024)
Sons

Nicola Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders , played by Laura Doddington. Nicola was introduced by executive producer Chris Clenshaw in episode 7011, broadcast on 11 November 2024, as the recently estranged ex-wife of Teddy Mitchell (Roland Manookian) and mother of Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway) and Barney Mitchell (Lewis Bridgeman). Her storylines in the show included her arrival, helping Harry get revenge on those behind his prison sentence, attempting rebuild bridges with her family and get back together with Teddy, her past fling with Zack Hudson (James Farrar), gaining ownership of Walford's wine bar, a feud with Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) due to her growing relationship with Teddy, and attempting to seduce Sharon's ex Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) to drive a wedge.

Contents

Across her stint, Nicola has been portrayed as a headstrong and resilient mother, but with a more cunning and possessive side. Doddington grew up as a fan of the show, so was excited to be cast, with the announcement being released to press in early October 2024. Teasing how her character would arrive, Doddington commented that Nicola would come in "like the Tasmanian Devil". [1] After her introduction, Nicola received positive reception for her strong personality and Doddington's performance, with Helen Daly of Radio Times calling the character a "breath of fresh air". [2]

Storylines

Nicola arrives in Walford after being tipped off about her son Harry's (Elijah Holloway) arrest, and immediately confronts his girlfriend, Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine), suspecting her involvement due to her father, Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) being a police officer. Nicola quickly provides Harry with a false alibi, getting him released, but tensions escalate as Teddy Mitchell (Roland Manookian), her estranged ex-husband, reveals that she had lied about being abroad and was actually in prison for injecting unlicensed filler and stealing from him. This revelation turns their son Barney (Lewis Bridgeman) against her, and as she leaves, Nicola tells Harry that Penny played a role in his arrest. While plotting revenge against Penny, Nicola encounters Zack Hudson (James Farrar), a former fling, and they agree to keep their past relationship secret from Teddy. After some persuasion, Teddy reluctantly allows Nicola to stay in the basement of the house. Nicola later realises that Teddy is attempting to strike a deal with Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) to purchase the local wine bar, but she manages to beat him to it, securing the deal to Teddy's frustration. She chooses the name 'Harry's Barn' as a nod to her sons.

Development

Casting and creation

After being alluded to on several occations, [3] it was announced on 2 October 2024 that actress Laura Doddington had been cast as Nicola Mitchell, the ex-wife of recently established character Teddy Mitchell (Manookian) and mother of his sons Harry (Holloway) and Barney Mitchell (Bridgeman). [1] Doddington explained that she was working in automated dialogue replacement when she received the call from her agent to tell her she had been cast. [4] Having grown up as a fan, Doddington voiced her excitement to join the soap upon her character's announcement. She said she felt "like a kid at Christmas" to step onto the show's set, especially The Queen Victoria public house. [1] She noted the set being smaller than she had imagined, commenting that it was "bizarre" but "exciting". [4] Doddington considered herself lucky to be cast as a member of an extension to the soap's Mitchell family, as she enjoyed the company of her fellow actors. [1] She compared the working environment to that of a theatre company due to how encouraging the cast were to each other. [5] Executive producer Chris Clenshaw expressed excitement to introduce Nicola and explore her dynamic with Teddy. [1] It was confirmed that Doddington had begun filming prior to the announcement. [6] Nicola is Doddington's second role in EastEnders, having previously portrayed the minor role of Barbara, a woman leading an antenatal class attended by Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra) and Zainab Masood (Nina Wadia), for an episode in December 2009. [6]

Set to debut in late Autumn 2024, her arrival was teased as both "a shock" and an annoyance for Teddy, as Nicola was set to quickly make a name for herself in the show's setting of Walford and try to rebuild bridges with her sons. [1] Teddy's annoyance to be reacquainted with Nicola stemmed from his desire to have a fresh start with his sons, which her arrival would break the illusion of. [3] Teasing her character's introduction, Doddington said that Nicola "comes in like the Tasmanian Devil". [1] Spoilers teasing her debut said that she would create "a stir", [7] and take quick dislikes to Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) for flirting with Teddy, as well as Jack (Maslen) and Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine) for their respective roles in Harry's arrest. [8] She was also teased to be hiding many secrets. [9] The character went on to make her first appearance in episode 7011, broadcast on 11 November 2024. [10] [11]

Characterisation

Nicola, on introduction, is Teddy's ex-wife. Discussing Nicola's personality, Clenshaw said that, like other female members of the Mitchell family, Nicola is "feisty, strong and loves her family". [1] Laura-Jayne Tyler of Inside Soap billed Nicola as a "new mega-bitch" who would quickly have the remainder of Walford "at [her] mercy". [12] Press releases noted Nicola's determination to "stand her ground". [1] Lewis Knight of Radio Times called her a "dynamic newcomer" and a "feisty new Mitchell matriarch". [13] Colleague Laura Denby called the character "chaotic" and "fiery". [5]

Doddington detailed that Nicola was very "protective" over her children, [5] and was always ready and willing to "fight for them". [12] Doddington was vocal about her appreciation for Nicola being a "complex woman" who is "strong and completely unapolagetic about who she is". [1] She also described her character as a "witty" and "intelligent" woman who "knows her mind and isn't intimidated by anyone or anything". [5] Doddington noted Nicola's traits of preferring things to be easy and usually seeking opportunities to turn situations to her advantage. She concluded by detailing that "Nicola is not a woman's woman, and she's just not interested in women, not interested in female friendships, not interested in that support network". [5] She further noted that Nicola is "used to getting what she wants", having never learned as a child not to expect such. [5] Radio Times writer Helen Daly called the character a "fiery bombshell" [14] and was surprised by Nicola's tendency to be a "troublemaker", noting that she had many "tricks up her sleeve". [2]

Relationship with Teddy Mitchell

The character's backstory states that she and Teddy married young and discovered themselves while being together, before divorcing. Their lengthy history together lead them to gain the ability to "press each other's buttons" easily, being able to predict what would happen as a result. [5] Regarding the character's relationship with Teddy, Clenshaw commented that they had a "complicated history". [1] Doddington commented that their divorce helped Nicola examine her behaviour, and that she wanted "her family back as a unit". [5] She said that Nicola still harbored feelings for Teddy, despite the two being dysfunctional during their marriage, and Nicola's annoyance towards losing her ability to "manipulate" and stay "one step ahead [of]" Teddy. [5] After learning of Teddy's flirtation with Sharon Watts (Dean), Doddington confirmed the characters would engage in a rivalry, [15] explaining that Nicola and Sharon would "clash right away" as Nicola was determined to do "whatever it takes" to get Teddy back, so would try her best to "scupper" their growing relationship. [12]

Reception

Nicola's "highly anticipated" arrival was called "dramatic" by Helen Daly of Radio Times. [14] Her colleague, James Hibbs, agreed, writing: "Albert Square has seen a dramatic entrance of a fiery newcomer, as Teddy Mitchell's ex-wife made a big arrival in EastEnders". [16] Fellow writer Laura Denby similarly praised the character's "eventful" introduction, noting appreciation for a joke Nicola made about Teddy's outfit, and that Doddington "delivered a powerful performance", adding that she was excited to see what future stories were to come for the character. [17] Angie Quinn of Manchester Evening News reported that fans of the soap were "obsessed" with the character after her arrival, and noted examples of viewers "confessing their love" for the character via Twitter. [18] The reveal of Nicola's past affair with Zack was deemed "scandalous" by Lewis Knight of Radio Times. [13] Joe Anderton of Digital Spy billed the character as "Walford's new drama queen". [19] At the end of Nicola's first week on the show, Daly wrote that she had been "a breath of fresh air". [2] Laura-Jayne Tyler of Inside Soap labelled the arrival of Nicola a "bullseye", and deemed the character "bloomin' brilliant". [20] She continued by praising Doddington's casting and called Nicola "the shot in the arm the extended Mitchell clan had been needing". [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yolande Trueman</span> Fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders

Yolande Trueman is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Angela Wynter. She first appears in episode 2588, originally broadcast on 16 September 2003. The character is introduced as a love interest for Patrick Trueman. She is characterised as attentive, caring and "principled". Her stories have focused on her marriage to Patrick, and using their characters, producers explored fostering, a feud with Pat Evans, and suffering from racism. Wynter was written out of the series in 2008 and Yolande departs in episode 3658, originally broadcast on 3 October 2008. Wynter reprised her role for two guest appearances in 2017. The character is reintroduced in 2023 and returns in episode 6745, originally broadcast on 7 August 2023. The following year, producers used Yolande to explore the topic of sexual assault in the hands of her pastor Gideon Clayton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penny Branning</span> Fictional character from EastEnders

Penny Branning is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders. She was played by Mia McKenna-Bruce in 2008 and Kitty Castledine since 2024. She appears between 21 January and 1 February 2008, and returns from 15 to 18 April 2008. On 6 November 2023, it was announced that Penny would be returning to the show. She returned alongside her cousin, Lauren Branning, on 1 January 2024. Penny is the daughter of Jack Branning, making her the half-sister of Amy Mitchell and Ricky Branning.

The Mitchell family is a fictional family in the UK soap opera EastEnders. They were first introduced in February 1990, when brothers Phil and Grant Mitchell bought the local garage, the Arches. Their sister Sam was introduced later in 1990, and their mother Peggy shortly after in 1991, before being reintroduced as a regular character in 1994, with the role recast to Barbara Windsor. Since then, the family has been significantly expanded to include both the immediate and extended families. Phil has been the longest running Mitchell on the show, and the family has expanded significantly in the years since, remaining a large presence on the square.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keanu Taylor</span> Fictional character from EastEnders

Keanu Taylor is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Danny Walters. He was introduced in episode 5511, broadcast on 15 June 2017, as a member of the Taylor family. Keanu is the son of Karen Taylor and half-brother of Chantelle Atkins, Keegan Baker, Bernadette Taylor, Riley Taylor, and Chatham Taylor. He is described as a charming, hardworking, and happy-go-lucky man of morals. In his original stint, his storylines focused on being the breadwinner of his family, an affair with Sharon Mitchell, a relationship with Sharon’s stepdaughter Louise, a feud with Louise’s half-brother Ben and her father Phil. In November 2019, it was announced that Walters "bowed out" of the soap for the development of his storyline with Sharon, with his initial departure being depicted in episode 6084, which aired on 21 February 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kheerat Panesar</span> Fictional character from EastEnders

Kheerat Panesar is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Jaz Deol. Kheerat was introduced alongside brothers Jags Panesar, and Vinny Panesar in episode 6001, broadcast on 4 October 2019, with the trio becoming the soap's first Punjabi Sikh family. Kheerat's arrival was announced on 21 August 2019, billed as the dominant and successful leader of his brothers. Deol accepted the role after being impressed by what was pitched to him by the producers, and being excited to be a part of the show's first Punjabi Sikh family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freddie Slater</span> Fictional character from EastEnders

Freddie Slater is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by twins Alex and Tom Kilby from 2004 to 2006 and Bobby Brazier since 2022. Freddie is introduced as the son of Little Mo Mitchell, conceived after she is raped by Graham Foster, and makes his first appearance in episode 2826, broadcast on 1 November 2004. He departs with Little Mo in episode 3159, broadcast on 26 May 2006. Freddie's reintroduction was announced in July 2022, with Bobby Brazier taking over the role. Freddie returned in episode 6551, broadcast on 6 September 2022. The character departed on 5 October 2023, so Brazier could participate in the twenty-first series of Strictly Come Dancing. Freddie starred alongside his great-grandmother Mo Harris in a spin-off social media series named The Point of Mo Return before both characters returned to the main show on 20 May 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom "Rocky" Cotton</span> Fictional character from EastEnders

Thomas "Rocky" Cotton is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Brian Conley. He was introduced under the alias Terry Cant, the estranged father of Sonia Fowler in episode 6274, broadcast on 18 May 2021, after his casting details were announced in February of that year. He was initially billed as the "ultimate people pleaser" and a charmer. In his time on the show, his storylines focused on the exposure of his false identity, his relationship and eventual marriage to Kathy Beale, burning down the Bridge Street Café in an insurance scam, and being one of the potential victims in "The Six" storyline. In September 2023, it was announced that Conley had left the soap, with his last appearance being depicted in episode 6830, which aired on 29 December 2023.

Ravi Gulati (<i>EastEnders</i>) Fictional character from EastEnders

Ravi Gulati is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders and is portrayed by Aaron Thiara. Ravi made his first appearance in episode 6515, originally broadcast on 4 July 2022. Ravi was introduced as a fellow prisoner of Phil Mitchell and a former associate of Kheerat Panesar, though later revealed as the illegitimate son of Nish Panesar however viewers did not originally know this beforehand as there was no announcement prior to the plot-twist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nish Panesar</span> Fictional character from EastEnders

Nish Panesar is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Navin Chowdhry. After being mentioned multiple times beforehand, Nish made his first appearance in episode 6565, broadcast on 29 September 2022. It was confirmed that Chowdhry had begun filming before the announcement of his casting on 28 August 2022. Billed as "ice-cold" and "manipulative", Nish is introduced as the estranged mentally abusive and controlling husband of Suki Panesar and the father of Kheerat, Jags, Ash, and Vinny. He is later revealed to also be the father of Ravi Gulati in a twist. Since his introduction, Nish's storylines have focused on his attempts to rebuild relationships with his family, the crumbling of his marriage to Suki, a feud with Suki's lover Eve Unwin, becoming comatosed during "The Six" storyline, a fling with Kat Slater, suffering from viral myocarditis, learning the truth of The Six's murder, and falsely confessing to the crime before being arrested. In September 2024, it was announced that Chowdhry would exit the show ahead of the 40th anniversary special, with the character making his final appearance in episode 7006, broadcast on 31 October 2024. Nish made an unannounced return on 2 December.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gina Knight</span> Fictional character from EastEnders

Gina Knight is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Francesca Henry. Gina was introduced by executive producer Chris Clenshaw in episode 6708, broadcast on 1 June 2023. She was introduced as a member of the Knight family; the daughter of George Knight and older sister of Anna Knight. Her storylines in the series have included the reveal that her mother Rose is actually Cindy Beale, her cocaine addiction, her relationship with Dean Wicks, suffering racial discrimination from her adoptive grandfather Eddie, and supporting Anna through her abortion.

George Knight (<i>EastEnders</i>) Fictional character from EastEnders

George Knight is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Colin Salmon. George was introduced by executive producer Chris Clenshaw in episode 6708, broadcast on 1 June 2023, as the patriarch of the Knight family. Initially billed as a charismatic ex-boxer and protective father, the character debuted alongside his girlfriend Elaine Peacock and daughters Gina and Anna. His storylines in the serial have included his arrival and moving into The Queen Victoria, his proposal to Elaine, his friendship with Phil Mitchell, the reveal that his ex-wife Rose was actually Cindy Beale, discovering he was adopted through baby farming, his ensuing identity struggles, his complicated relationship with his adoptive parents, cheating on Elaine with Cindy, and meeting his biological brothers Kobina and Kojo Asare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Priya Nandra-Hart</span> Fictional character from EastEnders

Priya Nandra-Hart is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Sophie Khan Levy. Priya was introduced into the serial in episode 6789, originally broadcast on 16 October 2023. The character is devised as part of Ravi Gulati and Davinder "Nugget" Gulati's backstories in a plot-twist that would introduce Nugget's mother and a secret daughter for Ravi. Khan Levy's character and casting details were both announced on 21 September 2023. Priya is revealed to be looking after her estranged son Nugget, who had gone missing at the time after a dispute with his father and Priya's ex-boyfriend Ravi from what was described as a "bittersweet" break-up years prior, where she left Ravi and Nugget to provide for her unborn daughter Avani Nandra-Hart, also fathered by Ravi but was however unbeknownst to him or Avani. It was later revealed in a plot-twist Priya had not walked out on them – Ranveer Gulati, the adoptive father of Ravi, sexually assaulted Priya and enforced her exit from his family – Priya struck a cord with Suki Panesar as they have similar experiences with Ranveer prior to them meeting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teddy Mitchell</span> Fictional character from EastEnders

Teddy Mitchell is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Roland Manookian. Teddy was introduced by executive producer Chris Clenshaw in episode 6931, broadcast on 26 June 2024, as the head of an extension to the soap's Mitchell family. The character debuted alongside his sons Harry and Barney, and was initially billed as a charming and strong-willed, but cunning presence. His storylines in the series have included his arrival in search of his father Stevie Mitchell, his discovery that Stevie had another family, his protective nature over his sons, his relationship with Sharon Watts, igniting a feud between the Mitchells and the Panesar family, and the arrival of his estranged wife Nicola Mitchell.

The Six (<i>EastEnders</i>) Storyline in British soap opera EastEnders

"The Six" is a storyline from the BBC soap opera EastEnders. The storyline began in episode 6649, broadcast on 20 February 2023, which featured the show's first flashforward sequence at the end of the episode. The scene showed six female EastEnders characters, Denise Fox, Linda Carter, Kathy Beale, Sharon Watts, Stacey Slater, and Suki Panesar in The Queen Victoria public house on Christmas Day standing around an unidentified male body lying on the floor, who they presume to be dead. Events leading up to Christmas that year put each character in the frame to be the potential murderer and several male characters to be the victim. The storyline was intended to be written a different type of "whodunit" mystery, as both the victim and the murderer were kept as a tight secret.

Elijah Holloway is a British actor who is best known for portraying the role of Harry Mitchell on the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 2024 and onwards.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "EastEnders to introduce Teddy's ex-wife Nicola Mitchell". BBC Media Centre. 2 October 2024. Archived from the original on 3 October 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Daly, Helen (14 November 2024). "EastEnders reveals Peggy's gobsmacking new owner in early iPlayer release twist". Radio Times . Archived from the original on 15 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  3. 1 2 Zammitt, Erin (2 October 2024). "EastEnders to introduce Teddy Mitchell's ex-wife in new story". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  4. 1 2 Nicola Mitchell Joins The Square! | Behind The Square | EastEnders (Video). Official EastEnders YouTube channel. 13 November 2024. Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024– via YouTube.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Denby, Laura (5 November 2024). "EastEnders newcomer Laura Doddington teases Nicola Mitchell's big secret: 'She feels exposed'". Radio Times . Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  6. 1 2 Denby, Laura (2 October 2024). "EastEnders confirms arrival of Teddy Mitchell's ex-wife as Doctors star joins the cast". Radio Times . Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  7. ↑ Zammitt, Erin (5 November 2024). "EastEnders confirms Nicola Mitchell's arrival after dramatic arrest". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 16 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  8. ↑ Crick, Claire (5 November 2024). "EastEnders spoilers: Nicola Mitchell has a shocking proposition for Phil!". What's on TV . Archived from the original on 21 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  9. ↑ Denby, Laura (5 November 2024). "6 EastEnders spoilers for next week: Bernie Taylor confronts the Six as Nicola Mitchell arrives". Radio Times . Archived from the original on 14 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  10. ↑ Kilkelly, Daniel. "EastEnders spoiler: Nicola Mitchell arrives in Walford". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 10 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  11. ↑ "Episode 7011". EastEnders. 11 November 2024. 27 minutes in. BBC One. Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 Tyler, Laura-Jayne (9–15 November 2024). "Here comes trouble!". Inside Soap . No. 45. pp. 10–12.
  13. 1 2 Knight, Lewis (13 November 2024). "EastEnders airs scandalous Nicola Mitchell revelations in early BBC iPlayer release". Radio Times . Archived from the original on 16 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  14. 1 2 Daly, Helen (11 November 2024). "EastEnders airs dramatic arrival in early iPlayer release". Radio Times . Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  15. ↑ Alexander, Susannah (29 November 2024). "EastEnders reveals major Teddy and Sharon relationship update". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 29 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  16. ↑ Hibbs, James (11 November 2024). "Who is Laura Doddington? Meet EastEnders' Nicola Mitchell star". Radio Times . Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  17. ↑ Denby, Laura (12 November 2024). "EastEnders reveals Nicola Mitchell's big secret in early iPlayer release". Radio Times . Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  18. ↑ Quinn, Angie (12 November 2024). "BBC EastEnders fans 'obsessed' with new character as she drops explosive bombshell". Manchester Evening News . Archived from the original on 21 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  19. ↑ Anderton, Joe (13 November 2024). "EastEnders reveals Nicola's secret connection with popular character". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 16 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  20. 1 2 Tyler, Laura-Jayne (23–29 November 2024). "Hits and Misses". Inside Soap . No. 47.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.