We’ve already had a dramatic few weeks in this new era, and some characters have been especially pushed to the forefront of the show – some for what feels like the first time in a while.

Soaps thrive on change, and we are pleased to say there is already a lot to love about this new era, but as soaps are rarely ever perfect (they’re too titanic in scale for that), there’s always room for hopes and improvements.

So, here is what there is to love already about the current state of EastEnders and what we can hope for in the coming months ahead.

1. Lots of cast members most weeks

 

One of the best things for EastEnders since Wadey began to be credited on the episodes has been what feels like the presence of most of the cast during these weeks – something that appears to be carrying on changes we saw in the Clenshaw era.

Not only does this add to the sense of community in the soap, but it also means we don’t go without seeing some of our favourite characters for long stretches and adds to a sense of realism.

Plus, who wants an evening scene in the Queen Vic with barely any characters present?

Even if a character isn’t currently at the centre of the action, it is good to have a reminder of their continued existence and also makes inevitable lulls in the plot feel all the more natural.

This also means…

2. Little block storytelling

 

Fans of all soaps know that often block storytelling – that is, focusing on one or more storylines for a period before shifting focus to others for a while – has to be somewhat part and parcel of the soap genre.

Soaps are huge productions which have to churn out episodes constantly, and often logistics mean that the same stories with the same cast members can’t be constantly filming at the same time – that would also be exhausting and expensive.

However, sometimes this can become too noticeable, and characters can disappear for weeks at a time without there even being a reason for their absence.

So far in the short time of the Ben Wadey era, we’ve had small check-ins on most stories each week with appearances by most cast members. Now, this will be impossible to do all of the time, but it certainly avoids stories hanging for long periods with plot threads feeling unresolved.

3. Zoe Slater returns

 

A return that fans have been calling out for for ages but felt unlikely, the Ben Wadey era delivered the comeback of the year in the form of Kat Moon’s long-lost daughter Zoe Slater, once again played by Michelle Ryan.

After an absence of two decades, and lots of off-screen alienation being touted, viewers were treated to the surprise return of Zoe – and she’s in a very dark place.

Zoe’s return prompted some great scenes with other show favourites like Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) and Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), and also provided new mysteries and inspired fan theories.

While we regrettably have lost Zoe for a period before her full-time return, anticipation is incredibly high to see her back in Walford and face-to-face with her muvva, Kat (Jessie Wallace).

Speaking of Kat…

4. The Slaters take centre stage

 

Kat Moon is back in the Queen Vic as landlady after over a decade away from the bar – and it feels good.

After a fairly quiet few years for the original Slater icon, Kat is fully back in leading lady status as she has very quickly taken focus – not just in the Vic or with Zoe’s return, but as a Walford fixture mixing with many characters.

Not only is Kat behind the bar, but this also means renewed focus on the rest of the Slater clan, too, as whoever is in the Vic serves as the ‘first family’ of the show.

We could all do with more antics from Big Mo Harris (Laila Morse), warmth and wisdom from Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) and bombastic humour from ageing cheeky chappy Alfie. It also suggests the soap will make the most of Stacey and Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier) while we still have them.

This all feels appropriate in the 25th year of the much-loved clan, too.

5. Harry Mitchell and Kojo Asare’s friendship

 

Two of former executive producer Chris Clenshaw’s best additions, Harry Mitchell and Kojo Asare, have only proven to be a more lovable double act in recent weeks.

The real-life friendship of actors Elijah Holloway and Dayo Koleosho has really shone through in the weeks so far, showing Harry at his sweetest and Kojo at his most independent.

Of course, Harry’s criminal antics with Ravi Gulati look set to threaten this sweet bond, but we hope these friends will keep their connection regardless.

6. Oscar Branning’s arrival

 

Newcomer Pierre Moullier has been an absolute breath of fresh air as Oscar Branning. Eccentric, brash, funny and also rather sweet, Oscar is a wonderful addition to the cast.

Playing off of soap heavyweights such as Adam Woodyatt and Scott Maslen with aplomb, Moullier is a real gift to the episodes he is in, and Oscar brims with storyline potential.

It’s also refreshing to see a bisexual character confident in their sexuality rather than playing a long, drawn-out storyline of inner turmoil – though that’s not to say issues surrounding this shouldn’t be explored in the future.

Oscar already seems to work well with all characters in the community, and we can’t wait to see him reunited with his long-lost father.

7. Callum Highway is finally getting a storyline

 

It has been a quiet period for Callum Highway since the departure of on-screen husband Ben Mitchell in early 2024, and the character remained a loyal and devoted husband while Ben was incarcerated in America.

However, this always felt like a shame as actor Tony Clay is a strong and natural performer, and Callum felt deserving of a story of his own.

Now, in Ben Wadey’s era, Callum is finally getting a storyline in his romance with friend Johnny Carter – one which has already proven controversial with the Mitchell clan.

Given that Callum will continue desiring Johnny from afar while he is currently on a cruise, this doesn’t appear to be dying down.

While some may find it unexpected and rather fast for Callum to change his mind about extramarital relationships, we’re pleased he is getting a focus again and that Johnny is getting more stories of his own, too.

Most importantly, if this also leads to a strong love triangle with a return tipped for Ben himself, then it may be worth it for Ballum fans to get some juicy scenes down the line.

8. Handling Bernadette Taylor and Felix Baker’s exit

 

We’ve already seen a couple of departures in Wadey’s era, and more are announced to be on the way.

The exit of Bernadette Taylor felt very natural given that she was the last of her family remaining in Walford – a place that had dealt her huge trauma, particularly in recent years with the death of her brother Keanu.

Additionally, while it was disappointing that the most was never made of her step-cousin Felix Baker, it felt right that he should be the one to accompany her for a triumphant departure.

Bernie’s final episode swiftly crystallised her tenure on the soap with some touching callbacks to past stories and gave her a victory over The Six in a way that felt touching and appropriate.

We hope to see the talents of actors Clair Norris and Matthew Morrison back on our screens soon!

9. Continuing strong stories from Chris Clenshaw’s era

 

Thankfully, there have also been no abrupt wrap-ups of existing storylines on the soap from Chris Clenshaw’s era – including two of the most vital ones.

Firstly, the touching return of beloved 90s favourite Nigel Bates has continued to tell a moving story of living with young-onset dementia and has also provided a different type of story for resident hardman Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden).

Actor Paul Bradley has really demonstrated his acting chops as Nigel, while we have also recently been treated to a return from Nigel’s wife, Julie (the wonderful Karen Henthorn).

Elsewhere, the teen misogyny storyline with troubled newcomer Joel Marshall (Max Murray) and his influence on friend Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall) has only continued to ramp up in Wadey’s era, and looks set to involve more and more members of the community as the impact of radicalisation becomes clearer and clearer.

Adolescence on Netflix has shown how vital storytelling of this nature is, and it is important that EastEnders and the BBC at large tackle this issue head-on.

10. Max Branning is returning

 

Now this is one return that fans have been dying for for a while, and finally, we are getting Jake Wood back on our screens as legendary lothario Max Branning.

This is such a natural return that the stories almost write themselves, as Max has unfinished business and strained relationships with multiple characters on the Square.

Estranged from his daughter Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) and his son Oscar, Max will likely have to repair his relationships with both of them, as well as grow close to brother Jack Branning (Maslen) again.

Meanwhile, Max has yet to discover and meet his secret daughter, Annie Carter, who has been kept a secret from him by her mother, Linda Carter (Kellie Bright). Drama awaits here.

Elsewhere, Max will also be reunited with former flame Stacey Slater, who is once again widowed and single – will we see this passion reignited before her upcoming departure?

Finally, the smooth talker will also meet several old and new characters, including meeting the paternal grandmother of Lauren’s children, the equally reckless romantic Cindy Beale, which will no doubt lead to fireworks, considering Max’s history with the Beale clan.

5 things EastEnders needs to do next under Ben Wadey

1. A clear direction for Linda Carter and family

 

After over a decade as landlady of the Queen Vic, Linda and her family are now out of the pub, seemingly for good.

Kellie Bright remains one of the strongest members of the soap’s cast, and Linda herself has been a breath of fresh air since her return from rehab in February, providing warmth and wisdom to many in the Square after a dark couple of years for her.

Removing Linda from the Queen Vic with so many questions about what remains for her future means the soap needs to decide fast how best to serve Bright’s talents going ahead, and in a way that feels right for her character.

Given how well Linda has suited caring and being a good samaritan, perhaps there is something in this for her, or a brand new business, or even making the most of her in the salon with Denise (Diane Parish) and Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) again.

Of course, Max’s comeback poses many questions for Linda. Could Linda end up pulled into the Branning clan? This would certainly be ironic considering actress Kellie Bright once auditioned to play Tanya Branning, Max’s second wife, which subsequently went to actress Jo Joyner.

Similarly, the same issue of new purpose arises for Linda’s mum, Elaine Knight (the show-stopping Harriet Thorpe), whose own character has been very much defined since her return by her connection to the Knights and her role as landlady, of which now she has neither.

Meanwhile, Johnny’s presence continues to need expansion – and this goes beyond being a potential foil for the years-long Ballum romance.

The Carter-Peacocks are worthy of lots of screentime, so let’s hope they get the right stories.

2. Some new blood

It has been fantastic to see story time being put into much of the show’s cast – especially previously underserved characters.

Additionally, the choices for returns have also been much-desired and fan-pleasing.

However, soaps also thrive on looking to the future, and new blood is part of that, as shown by the success of Pierre Moullier joining as Oscar.

So let us hope Wadey has some more new announcements for characters up his sleeve as it would be great to introduce some new faces to the Square and create whole new legacies.

3. A strong exit for Stacey Slater

 

Losing Lacey Turner’s Stacey Slater, even for an extended break, is undoubtedly a loss for the show. However, given how epic her 2010 exit was, we’re hoping for a dramatic showing for her departure this year and one that remains true to her character.

Already, the lengthy and trying secret-keeping from Stacey and Alfie about Zoe is no doubt going to come back to bite them, but given how much trauma Stacey has faced lately, maybe we should go for a more hopeful exit for the nation’s sweetheart.

Plus, with Max Branning back in the picture, could we have a brief revival of ‘Stax’ before she departs?

Either way, we know Lacey Turner will knock it out of the park like she always does.

4. Don’t undo character progression – at least not too much

 

Soaps always throw all sorts of things at characters, and sometimes new storylines require personality shifts to feel genuine, but given the development of some characters in recent years, it would be a shame to undo this completely.

Take Suki Panesar-Unwin (the dynamic Balvinder Sopal) as an example. While it feels right that the matriarch’s darker side should be explored a bit more again, it would also feel disappointing to entirely undo all the work the character has done to change her ways and become her authentic self, enough to be enjoying married life with true love Eve Panesar-Unwin (the ever-natural performer Heather Peace).

The same could also be said for Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara), whose bad boy image we love, but given how much work was done to redeem him from being a total villain, especially as he turned on evil Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry), we wouldn’t want him to stray so far into evil that we lose the character many have grown to love.

Elsewhere, the work done on the character of Phil Mitchell during Chris Clenshaw’s era with the mental health storyline was exceptional and has also moved Phil on from tired gangster tropes and caveman-like behaviour.

Again, it would be unrealistic to expect all old habits and tendencies to be removed, but it would also be a shame to swiftly return Phil to being an ever-antagonistic figure and getting involved in more crime at his mature age.

In short, in soaps, we have to expect some personality gymnastics, but viewers know these characters so well, too, and they know when actions start to feel especially out of place.

5. A blockbuster storyline

 

Naturally, at the moment, we are building to some key returns to begin some A-list storylines for the show that will no doubt have the nation hooked.

However, in the meantime, we are currently in a transition period of setting up a new status quo with some shorter-running stories and longer ones bubbling under the surface.

Eventually, we’ll need a defining major story for the new era at some point – think Who Killed Lucy Beale?, The Six, the (divisive) Gray Atkins saga, the Max and Stacey affair, and Sharongate.

Yet, these things can’t be rushed; all in good time, EastEnders fans, as we know high drama waits just around the corner.