Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) is to get a new love interest – and it’s a face that’ll be familiar to past viewers of The Bill.

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Actor Tony O’Callaghan, who played the ill-fated Sgt Matt Boyden on the ITV police drama between 1991 and 2003, will play a gardening enthusiast called Ollie who meets Jean after she’s given her own allotment. After a rocky start, the pair soon become close but has Jean found her happy ever after or is this a relationship disaster waiting to happen?

O’Callaghan said today: “I am very excited to be joining a show with as much prestige as EastEnders and I’m looking forward to portraying the nice side and humour of Ollie.”

Joining him on the BBC1 soap will be actress Tessa Wyatt, who first came to the public spotlight through her marriage to the DJ Tony Blackburn before later starring as Verity Nicholls in the ITV sitcom Robin’s Nest.

On EastEnders, Wyatt will be playing Betty, a new dance partner and companion for Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker). She will come to be seen clashing with Cora (Ann Mitchell), leading to a situation in which Patrick is forced to choose between the two women in his life.

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Tessa Wyatt’s first episode can be seen on Friday 5 July, while Tony O’Callaghan makes his debut the following week on Thursday 11 July.

Authors

David BrownWriter, Radio Times magazine and RadioTimes.com

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