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EastEnders confirms new family moving to Albert Square - as connection to Nicola Mitchell teased

They're the first new family since 2023.

Nicola Mitchell in EastEnders

BBC/KIERONMCCARRON

Published: Friday, 31 July 2026 at 10:02 am

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Some new arrivals are heading to EastEnders.

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The BBC soap teased the clan's forthcoming appearances in a teaser video on social media last night (Thursday 30 July). A number of suitcases and boxes can be seen climbing the staircase at No. 1, with the largest box labelled "The Hawkins Family".

Eagle-eyed fans will notice that this particular house belongs to Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington), her son Barney (Lewis Bridgeman), partner George Knight (Colin Salmon) and their baby daughter Ivy Knight-Mitchell.

Could this be Nic's much-discussed sister Gemma and her relations?

She's been mentioned on a number of occasions since the extended Mitchells stepped into Walford – including yesterday, when the two shared a brief phone call.

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Just weeks ago, Nicola had a conversation about her fam' following the birth of Ivy with George's eldest, Gina Knight (Francesca Henry).

While explaining that her father and her ex-husband, Teddy (Roland Manookian) disapproved of the way she parented sons Harry (Elijah Holloway) and Barney, Nicola commented that Gemma was more maternal – and was therefore her estranged mother's favourite child.

Radio Times has remained tight-lipped over the arrival of the Hawkins family and their casting for some time, and understands that more details will be released from the serial drama in due course.

Ben Wadey stands in front of a tower block. He is wearing a grey shirt and glasses and is smiling

The Hawkins' are the first family arriving during Ben Wadey's tenure. BBC

They're the first new family to be introduced during executive producer Ben Wadey's tenure, and the first overall since George (Colin Salmon), Gina (Francesca Henry) and Anna Knight (Molly Rainford) moved into The Queen Vic alongside a recast Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) in June 2023.

It's already been a busy year for the Mitchell-Knights. Just months after Harry returned from rehab, Nicola gave birth to Ivy prematurely, and then George's racist adoptive father Eddie (Christopher Fairbank) arrived on the scene.

He later allowed his dad to die in front of him, and at the same time, a vicious feud between Nic' and Suki and Eve Panesar-Unwin (Balvinder Sopal and Heather Peace) unfolded.

What will they add to the dynamic? Or are they completely unconnected, and will just be buying No. 1?

Whatever the outcome, this is EastEnders, and new faces usually bring a lot of drama with them!

Read more:

Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers.

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Authors

Michael Adams wearing a white t-shirt and beige gilet against a white background

Michael AdamsSoaps Editor

Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at Radio Times, covering all of the hot gossip and spoilers from Weatherfield to Walford, Emmerdale to Hollyoaks and everywhere in-between. He joined the team from Metro, where he spent two years as a Soaps Reporter and previously worked on the sets of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

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