EastEnders has confirmed the return of a past character on the BBC soap, in scenes set to air later this year.
Linda Carter's mother Elaine Peacock is returning to the show, and this time she is moving to Walford for good.
Elaine is part of the new family moving into The Queen Vic, with Elaine confirmed to be the mystery buyer of the pub.
EastEnders has announced that Linda and Elaine will go into business together, after recent scenes saw Linda trying to sell missing husband Mick Carter's share of the venue.
But Elaine will look a little different this time around, after she was last seen on the soap in 2017.
The role has been recast and West End actress Maria Friedman will no longer play Elaine, who she played between 2014 and 2017.
Now, fellow West End actress and TV star Harriet Thorpe will be taking on the role.
Harriet's TV credentials include Absolutely Fabulous, Hollyoaks, The Bill, French and Saunders, Endeavour and Doctors.
Show boss Chris Clenshaw teased the arrival of the new family, as the soap's Executive Producer said: "The arrival of the Knights brings a new dawn to Albert Square.
"George Knight is a charming rogue and an old-school gent who dotes on his two daughters, Gina and Anna. George will take up residence in The Queen Vic when he joinshis beloved Elaine, a powerhouse of a land-lady who knows just how to have fun.
"The couple will be joined by feisty, determined and demanding Gina, who is as sharp and cool as cut diamonds but with a temper that blazes like fire, whereas younger sister, Anna is fun, loveable, and big-hearted, but don’t underestimate her.
"George, Gina and Anna have been bound together for years and arriving in Walford is the fresh-start the Knights are looking for. We’re thrilled to welcome this hugely talented group of actors; Colin Salmon, Harriet Thorpe, Francesca Henry and Molly Rainford who will be immediately thrown into the heart of the Square, and we can’t wait for everyone to meet them."
Ahead of her debut on the BBC soap this summer, Harriet said: "I’m thrilled to be playing Elaine who is an ultimate matriarch with a huge and vivid personality with a heart of gold who takes no prisoners and fights with all she’s got, but has a vulnerable side that she only shows a select few.
"The Vic needs strong women running it, and I want to honour the incredible, iconic queens who define EastEnders since the beginning. The entire company is a dream come true to work with, full of support, laughs, and creativity, with the warmest welcome from day one. The East End is where my family started out, so for me this feels like coming home!"
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
