EastEnders executive producer Ben Wadey has confirmed that a new member of the Hawkins family, Megan, will arrive in Walford after Christmas. Megan is the daughter of Gemma Hawkins, played by Patricia Potter, and her arrival is set to bring fresh drama and uncover long-buried secrets.
New Hawkins family members already introduced
Earlier this year, the BBC One soap introduced Nicola Mitchell's extended family, including her sisters Gemma and Jodie (Anna Constable), mother Rose (Marian McLoughlin), Gemma's partner Ned (Jamie Bamber), and their son Ryder (Felix Uff). Previous episodes revealed that Nicola has a strained relationship with her family, rooted in a troubled childhood heavily influenced by Rose's abusive husband.
Wadey explained that Nicola's character fascinated him from the start. 'Nicola is such an interesting character. She just arrived when I first came in. As well as seeing Laura Doggington’s sheer talent and amazing performance in every episode, I was also fascinated by this woman who can lie so easily and is responsible for the death of her son’s girlfriend,' he said.
Uncovering Nicola's past through family
The producer elaborated on the decision to bring in the Hawkins family. 'We discussed in the story office and with the writers what made Nicola that way. I was desperate to uncover those layers and uncover what made Nicola the woman she is now. What made Nicola the mum she is now,' Wadey stated. 'And also give some surprises to the audience and have some things that make us fully get her, and I think the best way to do that is surround her by people who have known her for many years.'
He added that Nicola's relationships with her mother and siblings are 'very complicated' and 'nuanced,' noting that 'as you see them in their first weeks, there will be a lot of change ahead and things aren’t as they seem.'
Megan's arrival and generational storyline
Wadey confirmed that Megan, Gemma's daughter, will appear after Christmas. 'Megan is out there,' he teased. 'We will meet her down the line. Not for a little bit. She has her own storyline coming, currently offscreen but in time it will very much be on screen.'
The story will focus on 'what gets passed down the generations,' according to Wadey. 'We have established a character and done quite a lot of work already in terms of what that character will look like. Not even (the Hawkins cast) know all the details. Megan will be an exciting post Christmas arrival.'
