EastEnders’ Biggest Casting Surprise Yet? A TV Legend’s Relative Joins The Soap… But One Secret Changes Everything
Singer and actress Mazz Murray has joined the cast of EastEnders.
Mazz, who is 51, is best known for her roles in multiple theatre shows. She has appeared in productions including Fame, Rent and Chicago.
In 2015, Mazz – who has an incredible three-octave range – joined the cast of Mamma Mia! She played the role of Tanya, but departed in 2017.
The star returned to the Mamma Mia! show in 2019, but this time as Donna Sheridan. She eventually said goodbye to the West End cast in 2025.
Away from the world of theatre, Mazz also found success in a girl group called Woman. The other members are Mazz’s sister Gina, Anna-Jane Casey and Emma Kershaw. They debuted with the single ‘I’m A Woman’.
It’s now been confirmed that Mazz has been cast in BBC One soap EastEnders as Cleo, the mother of incel teen Joel Marshall (Max Murray).
Her first scenes air in today’s episode, which is available now on BBC iPlayer.
Arriving in Walford with son Joel in tow, Cleo will reveal that despite a previous arrangement, her criminal son is no longer able to live with her.
With ex-husband Ross Marshall (Alex Walkinshaw) and Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) now back from their honeymoon, and with Joel previously prosecuted for an attack which left Vicki hospitalised, the news will come as a huge shock to them both.
Previously, Vicki made it clear that Joel couldn’t live in Walford for the sake of her relationship.
It leaves Ross faced with an impossible decision as he’s forced to choose between his new wife, and his only son.
Cleo will appear in two episodes of the show. Actress Mazz, who is actually Max Murray’s auntie, discussed the cameo role and said: ‘It was so wonderful to be part of these EastEnders episodes as we delve into Joel’s familial past, and my experience was made all the better working alongside my talented, gorgeous nephew Max.
‘And also, my childhood school friend Alex Walkinshaw playing my ex-husband!’.
Plenty of EastEnders fans are buzzing to see Mazz on our screens as Cleo.
Taking to social media platform X to share their thoughts, Kat wrote: ‘Aww I love that Mazz Murray is playing Cleo’.
Martin said: ‘This is going to be so good! The wonderful Mazz Murray, playing her real life nephew’s mum in EastEnders tonight & tomorrow’.
‘Amazing, Mazz is fab’, Jo added.
Expressing her excitement, Michelle wrote: ‘A west end legend omgggg brilliant casting xx’.
Clearly over the moon by Mazz’s casting, Char said: ‘THIS IS FOR ME AND NO ONE ELSE!!!!’.
Joel Marshall’s return is going to cause problems for more than just his dad and Vicki.
When Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James), Nugget Gulati (Juhaim Rasul Choudhury) and Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd) see him at school, Joel finds himself on the receiving end of their anger.
Later, Joel realises no-one wants him around, and he books himself a one-way train ticket – but he’s offered an olive branch by Lily Slater (Lillia Turner) when she spots him helping Janet Mitchell (Grace).
As he waits for his train, Joel opens up to her about his struggles in the young offenders facility, but the moment is interrupted when Jean Slater (Gillian Wright), Amy and Avani arrive.
Later, Ross finds Joel at the tube station and pleads for him to stay, to which he agrees – but when Amy and Avani find out he’s not leaving, they start to concoct a plan.
They ask him to join them at the park for some celebrations to mark the end of the school year, and he believes they are genuinely trying to build bridges.
But when he arrives at the park, Avani, Lily, Amy, Nugget, Denzel Danes (Jaden Luke Ladega), Barney Mitchell (Lewis Bridgeman) and Ricky Branning (Frankie Day) unleash their revenge by locking Joel to a fence and soaking him in beer whilst filming his humiliation.
While they revel in getting one over on Joel, later, local copper Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) receives a call from the station revealing that he has been attacked.
As it becomes clear that the teens’ prank has not gone to plan, will they seek to cover their tracks, or will Joel drop them all in it?
