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New family in Albert Square
Last updated at 00:00am on 07.03.03
EastEnders unveiled its first new Asian family for a decade today as the Ferreiras head to Albert Square this summer.
The characters are the first major new clan to join the BBC soap en masse for two and a half years, since the Slaters' arrival in Walford.
The Ferreiras, of Goan descent, will move into Mark Fowler's home which has been on the market since he quit the Square.
Programme bosses have been working on introducing a major Asian family, who will be central to the show, for a couple of years.
Actors joining the show include Dalip Tahil, who is well known to audiences of Bollywood movies, having featured in scores of films.
He will play Dan Ferreira, who moves to the Square with his three sons - Ronnie, Ash and Adi - and daughter Kareena. Ronnie's friend Tariq will also be joining the show.
The Ferreiras will be the first Asian family since Gita and Sanjay Kapoor arrived in EastEnders in 1993, eventually bowing out five years later.
Executive producer of the show Louise Berridge said: "After a search which has taken more than two years, and in which we have met literally hundreds of people, we have finally found the perfect cast for our dynamic new family.
"We're delighted to welcome the Ferreiras to Albert Square, and I'm sure the viewers will be too."
Tahil's credits include appearances in Oscar-winning film Gandhi as well as Bollywood hits such as King Uncle and he came to the UK for a stint in Bombay Dreams.
He said: "I have always been aware of EastEnders - that it is this long-running series seen by millions of people - but it wasn't until I arrived in the UK to appear in Bombay Dreams that I realised it was so much a part of British culture and mainstream television. "It's going to be a big adventure."
The other new characters are Ronnie, played by Ray Panthaki, who appeared in the movie Ali G In Da House and zombie thriller 28 Days Later.
He said: "I'm really excited about joining EastEnders and I can't wait to get started."
Ash, played by Raji James, who is known to audiences as DS Vik Singh in ITV1's The Bill and as Abdul Khan in East Is East.
He said: "I'm really looking forward to the challenges of working on such a huge programme."
And Adi, played by Ameet Chana, who featured in homegrown hit film Bend It Like Beckham, as well as clocking up appearances in BBC2's The League Of Gentlemen.
He said: "Having worked for 12 years within the acting community, it's nice to join a show as popular and as well-loved as EastEnders and to be part of something that's talked about by everyone."
Also joining Kareena, played by Pooja Shah, who also appeared in Bend It Like Beckham and Sky One's Is Harry On The Boat?
She said: "Joining EastEnders is a dream come true. I have been a fan of the programme for many years and I'm looking forward to joining the cast."
Finally there is Tariq, played by Nabil Elouahabi, who has notched up TV appearances in Only Fools And Horses, Attachments and Casualty, as well as the films Asylum and Ali G In Da House.
He said: "I'm delighted to be part of the most popular soap in Britain and I'm really looking forward to joining a great cast."
