FORMER Tanya Branning actress Jo Joyner is set to star in a new project.
The acclaimed EastEnders star is heading off to Australia as Channel 5 moves on from Neighbours.
Jo Joyner portrayed Tanya Branning in EastEnders
She left the BBC One soap in 2018
She’s ready for a new project and is heading off to Australia for Channel 5
A spokesperson for the broadcaster revealed it would focus more on Australian-based drama featuring UK actors after it gave the chop to the beloved soap.
This has led Channel 5 to team up with Fremantle Australia and Network 10 once again as they coproduced brand new primetime thriller Riptide.
The four-part series, set to be filmed in Australia and created by Neighbours’ very own Jason Herbison, will star former EastEnders legend Jo Joyner.
Jo appeared as series regular Tanya Branning, Rainie Cross‘ sister, from 2006 to 2018.
The character made sporadic appearances in Albert Square and was involved in many dramatic storylines, from helping her father William commit suicide after his cancer diagnosis to marrying Max Branning.
Tanya was also romantically linked to many other characters including Phil Mitchell, Sean Slater and Max’s brother Jack.
Her stint in Walford also had a heartbreaking moment when she lost her daughter Abi and had to be committed to a psychiatric hospital due to the lingering trauma of the young girl’s death.
Abi fell from the roof of The Queen Vic and was declared brainstem dead, which led to her life support being switched off.
Tanya left Walford in 2018 for a new life in Exeter while, off-screen, Jo took on many other projects on the small screen.
Since her exit, she starred in drama history show Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators.
She’s also been known for her role in Channel 4 drama Ackley Bridge.
Her TV credits also include Hang Ups, The Reluctant Landlord and Netflix’s Stay Close.
Joining Jo in Riptide will be Ciarán Griffiths (Shameless, The Flats), David Berry (Outlander, A Place Called Home), Peter O’Brien (The Unusual Suspects, Grey Nomads), Ally Fowler (Wentworth) and Pia Miranda (Mustangs FC, Wentworth).
The line-up will also include rising stars and newcomers in the likes of Benny Turland (Neighbours, Home and Away), Asher Yasbincek (The Heights, Heartbreak High), Yazeed Dahar (The Hunting, Safe Harbour), Benjamin Samaddar and Sonya Suares.
The psychological thriller will tell the story of Alison, whose life turns bleak when her Australian husband vanishes after a morning surf.
But could there be more to his disappearance?
Speaking of her new role, Jo admits she is “really excited” for the project and has praised her character as she takes on the lead role of Alison.
“She is such a warm and layered character whose world is turned upside down, just when it seemed like her life was finally coming together.”
“I am also thrilled to be filming in the fabulous city of Melbourne and surrounding countryside, an area that I have always wanted to explore.”
Jo isn’t the first EastEnders icon to star in a new show for Channel 5.
In 2021, Janine Butcher actress Charlie Brooks appeared in the mini-series Lie With Me, which became one of Channel 5’s most acclaimed and highest-rating dramas.
Jo will star in Riptide, a brand new psychological thriller
She’s not the first EastEnders star to star in a Channel 5 project
