Ash Panesar
Ash Panesar is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Gurlaine Kaur Garcha. Ash was introduced as the bisexual Punjabi Sikh girlfriend of established character Iqra Ahmed in episode 5980, broadcast on 29 August 2019. Garcha expressed excitement to be cast as a Sikh LGBTQ character due to the opportunity for representation that it presented. Later revealed to be an estranged member of the Panesar family, Ash's storylines have mainly focused on her complicated family relationships, especially her mother Suki Panesar due to her sexual orientation, her romantic relationships with Iqra and Peter Beale, being a victim of racism at the hands of Aaron Monroe, and her eventual exit from the soap after accepting a job in Canada.
Across her time in the serial, Ash was depicted as one of the more morally upright members of her family, often characterised as being empathetic, resilient and strong-minded. Despite her tumultuous relationship with her mother, Garcha was often adamant that the two characters were more similar to each other than it may initially seem. In January 2023, it was announced that Ash had been axed by executive producer Chris Clenshaw, with the character making her final appearance in episode 6659, broadcast on 8 March 2023. The door was left open for a future return. Ash attracted praise from critics and viewers, with Laura-Jayne Tyler of Inside Soap praising the "subtle girl power" Ash brought to the show, Zara Woodcock of the Daily Mirror commenting that the character had been a wide success with audiences, and Garcha often noting that she received supportive messages from fans.
Development
Introduction and family establishment
The character, played by Garcha, originally appeared in two episodes on 29 and 30 August 2019. Ash was created as part of a new "trailblazing" LGBT storyline for the soap and her appearances came following Iqra's coming out to her sister Habiba Ahmed, where Iqra disclosed that she was in a relationship with a woman. Ash's first episode was teased to see Iqra struggle to reveal the truth of her sexuality to her grandparents Arshad Ahmed and Mariam Ahmed, but thanks to Ash's moral support, she would announce their relationship with pride. During her first stint, she was also teased to be flirted with by Robbie Jackson, to no avail.In October, it was revealed that Ash was the sister of the Panesar brothers; Kheerat, Jags, and Vinny. The brothers had arrived in Walford to look for her, as she had cut off the family years prior due to having an argument with their mother. Before the twist was announced, the show had hinted that she was related to the brothers in some way. Garcha sang her excitement to receive the part, commenting that she was "thrilled" to be cast as a member of the new family. Their introduction made them the first Punjabi Sikh family in the soap's history, which pleased Garcha as: "not only was I going into an iconic soap I was going in as a character in a Punjabi family representing something that is so true to me". She continued by saying that "Punjabi families are full of character", and are "loving and caring", so was excited by the opportunity to represent one. Garcha opined that the Panesar family represented "exactly what a normal Punjabi family is like" and teased that there would be "shocks" to come for the family, which "excited" her. Garcha added that she predicted audiences being "glued to their screen" by what was to come for her character.
Characterisation
Ash, a doctor, arrived in Walford four years after cutting her family out of her life. This was due to the "incredibly tough" treatment she had been subjected to by them, especially from her mother regarding her sexual orientation, which was described as "vile" and "brutal" and having "scarred" her. It was detailed that Ash had "no interest" in rebuilding her relationship with her family, partly due to Ash "desperately trying to keep in control" of her newfound independence from her family.Ash has been described as "tough", "strong", "kind", someone who "knows what she wants", and "long suffering". Garcha explained that a trait of her character is her persistence, as she addressed: "With Ash, if she gives her time to something, it's important to her – she's very honest and strong in her beliefs, if she is engaged with something, she wants it". Garcha admired how "Ash isn't afraid to speak her mind", and commented that she enjoyed "bringing out the fiery side of Ash". Garcha has also described her character as "someone who stands for what's right". Upon her character's exit, the actress summarised Ash's personality: "I think she's very headstrong and morally right, but when it comes to family she is there for them".
Notable relationships
Iqra Ahmed
Ash and Iqra began their relationship in 2018, but couldn't go public with their relationship due to Iqra being involved in an arranged marriage and Iqra initially not being open about her sexuality. While Iqra expressed interest in meeting Ash's family, Ash gave her few details and kept secretive about them. Garcha explained this to be because: "Ash knows her family aren't going to approve of Iqra so is trying to protect her relationship", adding that Ash was "trying to make Iqra understand without actually saying what the issue is". Ash was said to be "conflicted" about what to do for the best, uncertain about how much she should tell Iqra about her background. Garcha teased the couple's storyline to be "a bit of a rollercoaster", opining that it would be "exciting and interesting" for Ash's brothers to meet Iqra. The actress hoped that Ash and Iqra would enjoy a happy relationship, but acknowledged that "it is EastEnders after all".After the couple split in early 2021, Garcha admitted feeling mixed emotions regarding the breakup news. She explained that it was because it was her "first relationship storyline" and admitted that she "really loved them together" as "they really worked" and enjoyed receiving supportive messages from fans and viewers. Garcha added that she also really enjoyed working with Davdra and hoped the characters would get back together in the future.
Suki Panesar
Prior to Suki's arrival, Ash's relationship with her offscreen mother had been described as "turbulent", "torrid", and "strained". As Ash's decision to leave her family was caused by Suki's closed mindset, it was said that Ash "wants nothing to do with her mother", and upon hearing news of her mother suffering from cancer, Ash refused to visit her. When it was announced that Ash's mother Suki Panesar would make her first appearance, It was teased that the relationship would become a "central part" of the Panesar's upcoming storylines, and that "a number of secrets from her past" that may come to light sooner rather than later. Sopal explained the relationship as having "a lot of history" and "a few secrets". She opined that Ash and Suki had similarities in their respective personalities, in her words: "the same person", as both are "very strong-minded" and a feud boiled due to similar people often clashing. Sopal added that they also confliced over what was best for Ash, explaining: "Ash knows what she wants, Suki knows what she wants and thinks she knows what Ash needs, and Ash doesn't want that! So, I think there is a conflict of interest there". Garcha illuminated that Ash thinks Suki is "evil" as "if Ash is happy, Suki's not happy" and "Suki has a hold over her" when "Ash wants to be a strong person and the complete opposite of her mum". Despite this, Garcha commented that: "Deep down, will always love her family and her mum", describing their dynamic as a "love/hate relationship".Garcha detailed that "all wants deep down is to be loved by her mum, and feel supported", which she doesn't get from Suki, describing their relationship as a "rollercoaster" and "all over the place". Garcha acknowledged that her character was aware that "nothing is out of bounds for Suki", explaining that Ash's mother was "willing to go as far as she can to jeopardise anything that makes Ash happy". Garcha reckoned that Ash and Suki were more similar than it initially seemed, but that her character "hides it but it's there", ignoring it as "she doesn't want to be like Suki". She reckoned that Ash was the only character who could "match" her mother. After Suki began an affair with another woman, Eve Unwin, Garcha commented that Ash would feel "angry, betrayed and confused" at the news, but that she would sympathise with her mother in the end due to also being part of the LGBT community. She opined that if Ash and Suki had a more honest relationship "it would be beautiful" and they would be a "powerful" duo, as "Ash is more like her mum than she cares to admit".