PATSY Kensit is seen on Albert Square for the first time as Lola Pearce’s mum Emma Harding.
HOAR exclusively revealed Patsy, 54, had joined the BBC One soap last month.
Patsy Kensit will rock up Albert Square in upcoming weeks
The star will play a new character on the soap
Patsy previously starred in Holby City
Patsy, who previously starred in Emmerdale and Holby City, will appear on screen for the first time next month.
Her character Emma will be seen returning to Walford to reunite with Lola for the first time since she left her with her father aged three.
The pair will be seen getting to know one another again as Lola struggles following her brain tumour diagnosis.
Patsy said of joining EastEnders: “I’m so excited to be visiting Walford for this storyline.
“It has always been a dream of mine to appear in EastEnders.
“The cast, producers, writers and crew have been wonderful, and I’ve had a ball. Thank you so much for having me”
EastEnders’ Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw added: “We’re delighted to welcome the wonderfully talented Patsy to the EastEnders family.
“She’s the perfect fit to take on the role of such a long-awaited character that we know very little about. Softly spoken and measured, on one hand Emma is the very opposite of her long lost daughter, Lola.
“But on the other, there’s a striking resemblance; successful, the capacity to hold her own – if she says she’ll do something, she’ll do it – and she’s a fighter, just like Lola.”
Speaking about how the pair will meet on screen, Chris added: “Having spent a lifetime apart, Emma becomes desperate to make up for lost time, but her secret sadness and guilt are never far from the surface.
“The burden of losing her daughter has never left her, but can she find the courage to tell her shocking truth and reconnect with Lola, or will it come too little, too late?
“Patsy’s portrayal is bound to set off fireworks in Walford and cause havoc for the Mitchell household.”
Soap insiders told HOAR how Patsy had joined the cast last month.
She secured her dream part on the BBC soap after previously declaring she always “wanted to be like Peggy Mitchell”.
London-born Patsy’s real family had links to the East End’s criminal underworld.
Her pickpocket dad was nicknamed Jimmy The Dip and was an associate of feared 1960s gangsters the Kray Twins.
Patsy’s arrival in Walford comes as big name stars including Danny Dyer, 45, who plays Mick Carter, and Charlie Brooks, 41 (Janine Butcher) leave the soap.
An EastEnders source said: “Bosses are thrilled they have managed to get Patsy for this role.
“She’s a great actress and is about to play a part in one of their biggest current storylines.”
EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday on BBC One.
Patsy will play Lola’s mother
Her arrival follows news of Danny Dyer and Charlie Brooks’ exits
