Is Jamie Bamber returning to BBC Beyond Paradise as series 5 starts filming?
Beyond Paradise has confirmed Jamie Bamber's future as Archie Hughes in series five after the actor also joined EastEnders
Beyond Paradise’s Archie Hughes is played by actor Jamie Bamber(Image: BBC)
Beyond Paradise has provided an update on Jamie Bamber’s future as Archie Hughes in series five.
The 53-year-old actor is set to join popular BBC One soap, EastEnders, as part of the Hawkins family, which comprises of Nicola Mitchell’s estranged relatives. Holby City’s Patricia Potter alongside Jamie will assume the roles of married duo Gemma Hawkins and Ned Roper.
Felix Uff from Amadeus will portray their son Ryder, while Trying’s Marian McLoughlin joins as Rose, the mother of Nicola and Gemma, and Imposter 22’s Anna Constable takes on the role of Jodie, Nicola’s youngest sister, reports the Mirror.
Speaking about his EastEnders casting, Jamie said: “When 12-year-old me rushed home from school in 1985 to catch the very first episode of EastEnders, I could never have dreamed that one day I’d be walking onto the iconic Albert Square as a character myself.
“It’s a privilege I don’t take lightly, and I’m thrilled to be making my mark on this crown jewel of my beloved BBC.”
Beyond Paradise’s Archie Hughes, played by Jamie Bamber, and DS Esther Williams, played by actress Zahra Ahmadi. (Image: BBC)
Beyond Paradise fans had been questioning whether Jamie would be returning to the BBC detective series after his EastEnders announcement as filming for season five starts.
However, the BBC has confirmed to Digital Spy that Jamie will return as Archie for the latest season, ensuring audiences will witness more of the on-off romance between Archie and Esther Williams.
It comes as EastEnders teased of the new Hawkins family: “A new family is set to crash into Albert Square this summer as the Hawkins, the estranged family of Nicola Mitchell, arrive in Walford.
“Viewers are already aware that Nicola has a fractured relationship with her family and has kept them at arm’s length for a number of reasons.
Nicola’s estranged family are moving to Walford(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)
“Now, Gemma, alongside her husband Ned and their son Ryder, are heading to Walford with her mother Rose and Nicola’s youngest sister Jodie. With old wounds and complicated family dynamics in tow, the Hawkins are set to make an explosive impact on the Square.”
Ben Wadey, Executive Producer, said: “The Hawkins family are a fantastic addition to Walford.
“While the family share a fierce loyalty to one another, decades of complicated history and Nicola’s estrangement from them has left fractures within the family that are far from healed.
“We’re all very excited for what we have planned for the family, and we can’t wait for the audience to meet them.”
