EastEnders signs up Ted Lasso actor and Paralympics star as Square newcomers that will throw Knight family into chaos
TWO EASTENDERS newcomers arrive on the square as George Knight discovers he has brothers - but where have you seen them before?
Emotions will run high for George Knight (played by Colin Salmon) this autumn when the brothers he’s never met arrive in Walford.
This brothers, Kobina and Kojo Asare, are hoping to forge a relationship with him.
The pair make their way to The Queen Victoria pub with their mother’s friend Angela, who has told them that their long-lost older brother Kwame (George's birth name) has been found.
George has never met Kobina or Kojo before and is still grappling with the shock of discovering the truth about his father Henry’s murder, and his true heritage.
So, what will happen when he comes face-to-face with his brothers?
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Kojo, George’s younger brother, is autistic and will be played by actor Dayo Koleosho, who is autistic himself.
Dayo has starred in Strike, Casualty and Doctors. Other credits include the Paralympics Opening Ceremony.
Meanwhile, Kobina will be played by Jonathan Nyati, who has appeared in Desperate Measures, Doctors and Ted Lasso.
The siblings undoubtedly have a lot to discover about each other and their troubled history.
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But it’s not long before Kobina realises he can’t cope and decides to return to Ghana.
While George offers to care for Kojo, who wishes to stay in Walford.
Speaking of the arrival of Kojo and Kobina, EastEnders Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw said: “We’re delighted to welcome Dayo and Jonathan to EastEnders to play Kojo and Kobina as we continue to explore George’s story.
"These are three brothers who were torn apart by tragedy and have a lot of complex emotions to come to terms with.
"When Kobina decides to leave, Kojo chooses to stay, which gives George the chance to be a big brother and also take on caring responsibilities."
On joining EastEnders, Dayo Koleosho said: “It’s been absolutely amazing - I’m loving every minute of working with the cast and crew.
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THE beloved British soap has been captivating audiences for decades.
EastEnders follows the lives of the residents of Walford as they navigate love, loss, family drama, and community struggles.
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"It’s an incredible storyline for Kojo and his family. It is a dream that has become reality.
"They are many surprises and I’m taking every opportunity to work creatively with other talented actors.”
On his role as Kobina, Jonathan Nyati said: "I am really honoured to appear in EastEnders, a British soap that I grew up watching religiously.
"It’s exciting to be part of George Knight’s storyline and his on-screen family. I can’t wait for viewers to be introduced to Kobina and his little brother Kojo as they arrive in Albert Square for the first time."
Jonathan Nyati appeared in an episode of the hit Amazon prime series Ted Lasso, which follows an American college football coach heads to London to manage AFC Richmond, a struggling English Premier League soccer team.
He played Charles Siziba in series three, episode ten entitled "International Break."
The episode synopsis reads: While some of the players head home to play for their countries in International matches, Edwin Akufo brings a business proposal to Rebecca.
EastEnders viewers know that George's world was turned upside down after he found out his adopted dad, Eddie (Christopher Fairbank), killed his biological dad, Henry Kofi Asare.
And George even remembers witnessing it, not known the victim was his biological dad.
Eddie and his wife Gloria (Elizabeth Counsell) had obtained him from an African family by "baby farming".
After failing to conceive a baby naturally, the couple fostered George to give him a better life in the UK.
Eddie is now in prison for Henry's murder, after George gave evidence against him.
Meanwhile, Gloria died of a heart attack during the trail.
George struggled to cope with the loss of his adoptive parents and got back into boxing and fighting, nearly killing himself in the process.
Luckily, George's son Junior Knight's (Micah Balfour) arrival managed to keep him from fighting, for now.
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But how will the rest of the Knight family react to the new additions of the family?
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
