List of EastEnders characters introduced in 2018
EastEnders is a BBC soap opera that first aired on 19 February 1985. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in 2018, in order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the show's executive consultant, John Yorke. Madhav Sharma and Indira Joshi made their first appearances in January as Arshad Ahmed and Mariam Ahmed, the uncle and aunt of Masood Ahmed. Halfway, a friend of the Carter family, Ciara Maguire, the former wife of Aidan Maguire, and [|Daisy], one of Arshad and Mariam's foster children, also debuted in January. [|Dan and Ashley], Daisy's adoptive parents, Hunter Owen, the son of Mel Owen and her dead husband Steve, Hayley Slater, the cousin of Stacey Fowler, and [|Georgi] first appear in February. [|Mitch Baker], Keegan Baker's father, and [|Harley], a foster child of Mariam and Arshad, debuts in March. [|Judith Thompson], the daughter of Ted Murray and Joyce Murray, and Harley's parents, [|Bijan and Chloe], appear in April. [|Henry] also debuts in April. May sees the introductions of [|Stuart Highway], Halfway's brother, Umar Kazemi, the father of Kush Kazemi and Shakil Kazemi, and [|Darius Kazemi], Kush and Shakil's brother. Amal Hussain appears in June, while [|Jessica Jones] made her first appearance in July. Adam Bateman joins the cast in August and [|Marky] also appears during the month. [|Ray Kelly], Zara Highway and [|Bev Slater] all debuted in September. Cherry Slater, the daughter of Hayley and Alfie Moon, debuted in October, and in November, Evie Steele made her first appearance.
Arshad Ahmed
Arshad Ahmed, played by Madhav Sharma, first appears in the episode broadcast on 1 January 2018, alongside his wife Mariam Ahmed. Arshad is the uncle of established character Masood Ahmed. Arshad's final scenes aired on 1 November 2019.Masood drives Mariam and Arshad to Albert Square so they can move into number 41, which he owns. They are horrified to witness an armed robbery and shooting, and Mariam insists that they leave, so Masood and Arshad start taking things back to the van but are confused when Mariam disappears and then insists on staying. Masood attempts to ask Arshad and Mariam about setting a rent payment date, and Arshad lends Masood money. Mariam and Arshad's foster daughter, Daisy, moves in. Masood looks after her but when he leaves the room, she disappears. The police are contacted, and in the search for Daisy, Masood's ice cream van is found and he is forced to reveal his lack of success to his family. Ian Beale finds Daisy and returns her to the Ahmeds, but delays taking her back because Masood joked to him that Arshad and Mariam religiously brainwash children. The police are unimpressed and a report has to be filed about Daisy's disappearance, which Masood worries will harm his family's fostering. Masood then moves back into his own home but Arshad insists that he pays them rent, so he is outraged that they will essentially be living there rent-free. Masood gets a job in The Vic but tells his family that he is an estate agent. Arshad soon finds out that Masood is working in The Queen Vic but promises not to tell Mariam. When Daisy is due to be adopted by Dan and Ashley, Mariam admits to Arshad that she struggles when their foster children leave, and she wants to give up fostering. Daisy is adopted and Arshad and Mariam wonder what they will do next. Arshad witnesses an argument between Martin Fowler and Stacey Fowler in front of their children and tells them off for their "child abuse". Mariam and Arshad then agree to emergency foster a two-year-old child who has been physically abused. They also foster a baby, Harley, whose mother is a heroin addict. Arshad struggles to settle him but soon realises that grime music works. Harley is tracked down by his birth parents, [|Bijan] and [|Chloe], and Arshad learns of their identity from social services when Bijan breaks in to vandalise their CCTV. Harley is kidnapped by Bijan, who hides out in the Ahmeds' house, and Chloe, but he is returned to the Ahmeds after persuasion from Rainie Branning.
When Honey Mitchell has toothache and unable to get an appointment with a dentist, Arshad arranges for Honey to see his foster son Adam Bateman at a dental practice. After the appointment, Adam and Honey begin dating and Arshad suggests that Adam bring Honey and her children over for lunch one day to meet him and Miriam. However, Adam cheats on Honey with Arshad and Miriam's granddaughter Habiba Ahmed and Honey's ex-husband Billy Mitchell witnesses them kissing and tells Arshad and Miriam. Despite Arshad proclaiming that Billy is lying and letting his emotions over the end of his marriage interfere with the relationship, both he and Miriam are shaken by the revelation, especially as Habiba has had a crush on Adam before. Miriam suggests that Arshad ignore it and assures him that she will deal with Habiba personally. After Honey provides Arshad and Mariam with travel vouchers, the pair leave Walford for a pilgrimage to Pakistan.
On 3 October 2017, it was announced that Ganatra had reprised his role, having departed the serial in 2016. It was also confirmed that members of the character's family would be introduced. The character and Sharma's casting was announced on 15 November. Arshad and Mariam are foster carers and Arshad is billed as "jovial and with an air of mischief". Arshad and Mariam move to Albert Square, the show's setting, to rent Masood's house after agreeing it will allow them more room for their foster care. A show spokesperson said that the character's introduction is "certainly not the hassle free move they were expecting", adding that they will become embroiled in other character's drama instantly. Sharma expressed his delight at joining the show's cast and playing Arshad. John Yorke, the show's executive consultant, stated he was overjoyed to introduce more characters from Masood's family and promised "some incredibly challenging, fun and exciting stories ahead" for them. He also confirmed that more members of the family would be introduced. Following the characters' arrival, Daisy, one of their foster children, is introduced. Daisy goes missing upon her arrival and a "frantic search" is launched that could provide a "potentially devastating setback" for Arshad and Mariam.
Mariam Ahmed
Mariam Ahmed, played by Indira Joshi, first appears in the episode broadcast on 1 January 2018, alongside her husband Arshad Ahmed. Mariam is the aunt of established character Masood Ahmed. Mariam's final scenes aired on 1 November 2019.Masood drives Mariam and Arshad to Albert Square so they can move into number 41, which he owns. While driving there, Masood introduces them to Mick Carter, although he is occupied with a planned robbery and asks them to leave. Mariam and Arshad are horrified to witness the robbery and Mick being shot back in Albert Square, and Mariam insists that they leave. However, Mariam, a retired nurse, sees Linda Carter, Mick's wife, outside The Queen Victoria pub and treats Mick, who is refusing to go to hospital. Mariam then decides to stay. Mariam and Arshad's foster daughter, Daisy, arrives with her social worker and moves in. Masood looks after her but she goes missing when he leaves the room. The police are contacted, and in the search for Daisy, Masood's ice cream van is found and he is forced to reveal his lack of success to his family. Ian Beale finds Daisy and returns her to the Ahmeds, but delays taking her back because Masood joked to him that Arshad and Mariam religiously brainwash children. The police are unimpressed and a report has to be filed about Daisy's disappearance, which Masood worries will harm his family's fostering. Masood then moves back into his own home but Arshad insists that he pays them rent, so he is outraged that they will essentially be living there rent-free. Masood gets a job in The Vic but tells his family that he is an estate agent. The truth soon emerges and Masood takes a job in the chip shop, where Robbie Jackson accidentally eats samosas made for Masood by Mariam. Masood tells Robbie he made them and Robbie asks him to make more, so Masood steals Mariam's recipe. When she catches him cooking, he tells her he has a date and is meeting the woman's family, so she cooks the samosas for him but she later catches Masood and Robbie referring to them as Masood's samosas. Masood then agrees to meet [|Noor] to keep Mariam happy, and after their date, he tells Mariam that he told Noor the truth about his life and Mariam offers to teach Masood her family recipes.
When Daisy is due to be adopted by Dan and Ashley, Mariam admits to Arshad that she struggles when their foster children leave and she wants to give up fostering. Daisy is adopted and they wonder what to do if they do not foster. However, they agree to emergency foster a two-year-old child who has been physically abused. They also foster a baby, Harley, whose mother is a heroin addict.
When Honey Mitchell has toothache and unable to get an appointment with a dentist, Arshad arranges for Honey to see his foster son Adam Bateman at a dental practise. After the appointment, Adam and Honey begin dating and Arshad suggests that Adam bring Honey and her children over for lunch one day to meet him and Miriam. However, Adam cheats on Honey with Arshad's and Miriam's granddaughter Habiba Ahmed and Honey's ex-husband Billy Mitchell witnesses them kissing and tells Arshad and Miriam. Despite Arshad proclaiming that Billy is lying and letting his emotions over the end of his marriage interfere with the relationship, both he and Miriam are shaken by the revelation, especially as Habiba has had a crush on Adam before. Miriam suggests that Arshad ignore it and assures him that she will deal with Habiba personally. Suspecting Habiba of having romantic plans with Adam, Miriam places her phone in the kitchen and teases Habiba about finding a man before pointing her to the kitchen, which allows Miriam to secretly see the text Habiba receives from Adam cancelling the plans, confirming her suspicions. Miriam then goes to Habiba's and her sister Iqra Ahmed's restaurant where Adam and Honey are having their last-minute date and, without letting on what she knows, she talks to Iqra, who is annoyed by Iqra's constant absence, and later Adam and Honey, about helping Habiba find a potential husband. After Honey provides Mariam and Ahmed with travel vouchers, the pair leave Walford for a pilgrimage to Pakistan.
On 3 October 2017, it was announced that Ganatra had reprised his role, having departed the serial in 2016. It was also confirmed that members of the character's family would be introduced. The character and Joshi's casting was announced on 15 November. Mariam and Arshad are foster carers and Mariam is billed as a "fierce but warm" character who will become integrated within the community. Mariam and Arshad move to Albert Square, the show's setting, to rent Masood's house after agreeing it will allow them more room for their foster care. A show spokesperson said that the character's introduction is "certainly not the hassle free move they were expecting", adding that they will become embroiled in other character's drama instantly. Joshi expressed her delight at joining the show's cast and said she was "looking forward" to working with Sharma and Ganatra. John Yorke, the show's executive consultant, stated he was overjoyed to introduce more characters from Masood's family and promised "some incredibly challenging, fun and exciting stories ahead" for them. He also confirmed that more members of the family would be introduced. Following the characters' arrival, Daisy, one of their foster children, is introduced. Daisy goes missing upon her arrival and a "frantic search" is launched that could provide a "potentially devastating setback" for Arshad and Mariam.
After her first few episodes, Inside Soap warmed to Mariam and looked forward to more scenes including the character. Reporter Gary Gillatt said that Mariam has "tons of charisma".