List of EastEnders characters introduced in 2023

[2] The first character to be introduced is Brett Nelson (Fabrizio Santino), a man from Zack Hudson's (James Farrar) past; he appears in January.

Emma Harding (Patsy Kensit), the estranged mother of Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold), and Jed (Bradley Jaden), a lodger for Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy), also first appear in January.

Jasper Parrott, Rocky's pet parrot, and DS Miles (Samantha Seager), a detective sergeant investigating Suki Panesar's (Balvinder Sopal) fall, also debut in June.

[3] Producers used the characters of Brett and Zack to explore the issue of HIV and worked with the charity Terrence Higgins Trust to develop the story.

Having previously tackled the issue in the 1990s using the character of Mark Fowler (Todd Carty), EastEnders aims to highlight the developments in HIV research in the last 30 years.

[9] Emma is introduced as the estranged mother of established character Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold), who is terminally ill with a brain tumour.

[9][8] Chris Clenshaw, the show's executive producer, thought Emma shared some similarities with Lola, including "a striking resemblance; successful, the capacity to hold her own [...] and she's a fighter".

After having a drink at Peggy's, Emma has sex with Ben's father, Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), who is about to marry Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace).

[14] Lewis Knight from the Radio Times suggested that Jed may be involved in a love triangle with Sonia and Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman).

[24] Jo is introduced as the estranged wife of established character Tom "Rocky" Cotton (Brian Conley), who is engaged to Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth).

[26] Likewise, MyLondon's Angie Quinn praised her "sarcastic insults and glamorous looks" and observed that she had "instantly become a hit with impressed EastEnders viewers".

[38] Natalie Cassidy, who plays Sonia, discussed whether their relationship was really over, explaining: "When she orders him out of her life, it's more about that moment and feeling humiliated – it's her birthday and they were due to perform on stage in front of everybody in the Square – so everything quickly comes crashing down.

[40] Debbie made a third appearance in Episode 6774,[41] which originally aired on 26 September 2023,[41] when Reiss pays her a visit after attending a hospital appointment with Sonia regarding IVF treatment.

George's partner Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe), who is the mother of established character Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), is also introduced with the family.

George's partner Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe), who is the mother of established character Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), is also introduced with the family.

[49] Rainford expressed her joy at joining the cast and commented, "it's an honour to bring the character Anna Knight to life who is set to stir up drama upon her arrival".

George's partner Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe), who is the mother of established character Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), is also introduced with the family.

George's partner Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe), who is the mother of established character Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), is also introduced with the family.

On the character, he wrote, "Tyson rarely leaves Anna's side and, in fact, has pride of place in her handbag when the family arrives in Walford!

[56] Scriptwriter Sharon Marshall told Holly Willoughby and Craig Doyle on This Morning that there had been issues with the parrot swearing on-set, calling Conley inappropriate names and disrupting filming.

Lily becomes stressed and shouts at Charli, but is later comforted by Kat, who shares her own experience of when she became pregnant as a teenager with Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan).

[78] Speaking to Radio Times, Dean said: "Dorian offers Sharon the chance to move to Abu Dhabi to set up shop in a new gym.

[79] The following day, Dorian presents Sharon with flowers and reveals that he has passed her phone number onto his friend in Abu Dhabi; he then invites her for a coffee date.

When Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) interrupts their conversation with a baseball bat, Dorian warns Sharon that he will return with his heavies to receive his money.

[90] In March 2024, Phoenix shared an image of her with Patsy Kensit, who portrayed Lola's mother Emma Harding, sparking speculation that the pair may be returning to EastEnders together.

[94] Chris Clenshaw, the show's executive producer, was pleased with James and Khan Levy's casting and called their characters "two women guaranteed to cause big drama in Albert Square".

[105] Chris Clenshaw, the show's executive producer, wanted the story to raise awareness about "how women at any age can be groomed by someone in a position of power".

[105] Andrea Simon, the director of End Violence Against Women Coalition, praised that marginalised groups were being portrayed in the story and hoped it would "dispel myths and stereotypes about what victims and survivors look like and how perpetrators behave".

[107] Ashton, played by Jensen Clayden,[108] is a young boy who is temporarily fostered by Zack Hudson (James Farrar) and Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty).

[113] Whitney and Zack later explain to Ashton that his social worker, Yasmin (Courtney Bowman), will be collecting him the following morning to take him to a new family with a big house and two dogs.