Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) has made quite the impression on EastEnders fans since making her bombshell arrival earlier this week.
The brand-new character has been receiving a wave of praise on social media with viewers hailing her as a new soap ‘icon’.
Nicola made her debut on the BBC soap on Monday, arriving in Walford just as her son Harry (Elijah Holloway) was being arrested for being involved in the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend Shireen.
She soon clashed with Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine) and got Harry out of custody by giving him a false alibi.
It was then revealed she had been lying to son Barney (Lewis Bridgeman) about her whereabouts over the last few months – it turned out that while she’d been claiming to be in Bali, she was actually in prison for giving out unlicensed filler treatments.
Barney was further stunned to learn that the real reason Nicola split from dad Teddy (Roland Manookian) was because she’d been stealing from him.
Nicola’s first scenes proved to be a huge hit with fans on X (formerly Twitter).
One wrote: ‘One of the best characters in years and she’s only been on screen for less than 2 days.’
Another said: A truly sensational debut for Laura Doddington as Nicola Mitchell in #EastEnders. Can’t remember the last time someone lit up the screen from the first second like this. The whole new Mitchell family has been a triumph!
A third added: ‘I know it’s only been one episode, but Nicola Mitchell has all the makings of a great soap matriarch. Obsessed with her already.’
Another fan opined: ‘Already obsessed with Nicola Mitchell! One episode in and less than a full episode of screen time and she’s brought so much fun, intrigue and delicious classic charm!
‘EE was missing a feisty Mitchell woman!’
‘We are literally witnessing the birth of an icon,’ another said.
‘Kind of need Nicola Mitchell as the next landlady of The Vic,’ one fan suggested.
EastEnders story producer Kyri Zindilis also teased that the team has been having a lot of fun with the character in the writing room.
‘We’re already obsessed with Nicola Mitchell in the EastEnders Story Department, and I can’t wait for you all to the see the absolute chaos she is about to unleash,’ Kyri posted on X.
Actress Laura has already hinted that there will be plenty of drama between Nicola and Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), as the two women clash over Teddy.
More Trending
She said: ‘Our first scene contains a line that’s my favourite I’ve ever said on screen!
‘Once she finds out that Sharon and Teddy have a flirtation, she sees Sharon as an obstacle to overcome and starts thinking how to scupper things between them.’
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and from 6am on iPlayer.
If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you.
Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage.
MORE: EastEnders confirms affair twist for two very unexpected characters
MORE: EastEnders newcomer reveals ‘bombastic’ Nicola Mitchell’s first two victims
MORE: Penny and Jack chilled to the bone by EastEnders ‘murder’ discovery
