Ash Panesar (played by Gurlaine Kaur Garcha) was introduced to EastEnders viewers earlier this year as the girlfriend of established character, Iqra Ahmed (Priya Davdra). Following her arrival, the couple soon made their romance public and it wasn’t long before her three brothers made their entrance to the BBC soap, with hints their sister was harbouring a secret past she didn’t want revealed. Believing her demons wouldn’t resurface, the doctor will be thrown into a frenzy when her mother makes her way to Walford in the New Year and it seems trouble will be on the horizon.
As far as Iqra knows, her girlfriend doesn’t have a relationship with her mother Suki Panesar (Balvinder Sopal) but has been kept in the dark regarding the circumstances of their estrangement.
Fans know prior to meeting the entrepreneur, Ash fell pregnant and made the decision to have an abortion, something her family strongly disagreed with.
The doctor has pleaded with the Panesar brothers Kheeret (Jaz Deol), Jags (Amar Adatia) and Vinny (Shiv Jalota) not to speak of her secret to anyone.
However, the last thing she would be expecting is the matriarch of the clan to turn up in Walford and with it seeming the elder of the family is sticking around, will Ash’s past life be exposed to her girlfriend and ultimately tear them apart?
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Waterloo Road and Call the Midwife star Balvinder will make her first appearance as Suki in the New Year and soap spoilers have revealed her presence will cause chaos.
Descried as attention seeking yet fiercely protective of her children, will she see Iqra as threat to her relationship with Ash?
Believing she knows what’s best, will the Panesar matriarch discover her daughter’s girlfriend doesn’t know about the baby and expose all the doctor’s secrets?
Of joining the cast, the newcomer said: “I grew up watching EastEnders religiously so to be joining the show and playing matriarch Suki Panesar is a dream come true – I am still pinching myself!”
Ash isn’t the only one wanting secrets to remain hidden as Suki will also arrived with a few demons in her closet.
Only time will tell how long it takes for her past to come to light, but the newcomer will certainly be one to keep an eye on for 2020.
Since arriving easier this year, Iqra’s girlfriend has become well liked by many members of the Walford community.
Chantelle Atkins (Jessica Plummer) received support from her when she suffered a miscarriage a few months ago and confided in her when the expectant mother was too scare to tell her husband Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith) what had happened.
Honey Mitchell (Emma Barton) also found an ally in the newcomer after she discovered her partner Adam Bateman (Stephen Rahman-Hughes) was cheating on her with numerous women.
It was Ash who noticed the mother-of-two was suffering from an eating disorder and urged her to break things off with the love rat.
The Panesar’s aren’t all law abiding however, as her brothers have already shown they are willing to use less conventional methods to get ahead in business.
Having clashed with the Mitchells and the Slaters, will Suki’s arrival give them food for thought about how they want to build their empire?
EastEnders continues Monday at 8pm on BBC One.