It's not easy keeping track of who's related to who on EastEnders with all the scandals and secrets simmering away in Albert Square. Soap legend, Sharon, for example, has run the full gauntlet from Watts to Mitchell (twice) to Beale to Rickman and back again. However, it's not much easier keeping track of who's related off-screen either, with many viewers clueless that certain soap stars are family in real life.
EastEnders has brought many of the gang back together again for its epic 40th anniversary, much to viewers' delight. So as we reminisce about Walford over the years, here's a look at the stars who've rocked up in the much-loved soap, who are related off-screen... Strictly Come Dancing star Jamie Borthwick discovered that he’s related to his co-star Charlie Winter, but had no idea about the connection until Charlie joined the soap.
Speaking about his discovery, he said: "My great uncle is called Charlie Winter, so when they said there was a kid coming in called Charlie Winter, I was like, 'Seriously?'. After a bit of digging, the actor, 30, made the discovery that his hunch had been correct. "Turns out we are second cousins," he told The Sun. Jamie has played Jay Brown on EastEnders since 2006, while Charlie, 28, joined in 2018 as Mel Owen's son Hunter, but was bumped off a year later.
Long before settling down with wife, Stacey Solomon, in Pickle Cottage, Joe played Mickey Miller in EastEnders. When the actor joined the soap in 2003 producers decided to cast his actual sister, Shana, as Mickey's pregnant sibling. Demi Miller was pregnant, aged 13, and stayed in the soap for two years before being written out. Joe followed suit and left in 2011, to carve himself a successful career on reality TV and settling down with Stacey. When he appeared on Dancing on Ice, Shana was there in the audience to cheer him on.
EastEnders star, Lacey, has earned herself soap legend status with her portrayal of the iconic Stacey Slater. However, the actress' young sister, Lily, has also popped up in Walford. Lily played Shenice Quinn from 2011 to 2012. Shenice was the young daughter of Kat Moon's friend, Martina Quinn. Stacey's mum, Jean, thought Shenice was an angel sent to her by her daughter, after Lacey left the soap. Shenice eventually hot-footed it back to Spain, leaving Jean devastated.
Prior to Lilly's casting, EastEnders executive producer had no idea Lily was related to Lacey. Bryan Kirkwood confessed at the time: "Whether by accident or design I sat down and watched a [video] tape of a very talented young girl. And it was only after we decided that I was told it was Lacey's sister. So it was a complete accident.”. Jacqueline played Lauren Branning on the soap from 2010 to 2017 before leaving to give birth to her second child, who she shares with Dan Osbourne, Mia.
While she may no longer be on the soap, Jacqueline’s younger cousin Megan also had a stint in Walford when she joined as Grant Mitchell's daughter Courtney from March to June 2006. She didn’t reprise the role when Courtney returned to Albert Square in 2016 so never actually worked alongside her cousin, who has now reprised the role of Lauren again. WHATSAPP GROUP: Be first to get the juiciest celebrity news to your phone by joining our Celebs WhatsApp here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
