'EastEnders' have teamed up with Brooke Kinsella to tackle a new knife crime storyline.
Brooke Kinsella
The BBC One soap have joined forces with their former star - who played Kelly Taylor on the show from 2001 to 2004 - for a "heart-breaking" new plot which will see Shakil Kazemi, who is played by Shaheen Jafargholi, and Keegan Baker (Zack Morris) attacked.
Brooke, who started the Ben Kinsella Trust in memory of her brother after he was fatally stabbed in June 2008, said: "It is now 10 years since we lost Ben to this horrific crime and it is impossible to put into words how Ben's murder has affected my family.
"The pain of Ben's loss will never go away, there isn't a day that goes by that we don't think about him and miss him.
"I commend the 'EastEnders' team for choosing this storyline to portray the realities of knife crime.
"With knife crime on the increase it is vitally important that we help people understand its lasting impact.
"Carrying a knife won't protect you, it won't give you status, harming or stabbing someone isn't a trivial act. It simply destroys lives forever."
The 34-year-old star is hoping the hard-hitting plot will "bring home the realities of knife crime" and show how much it can affect victims and their families.
She added: "We need to do more to help people understand this, especially young people.
"That's why my family and I set up the Ben Kinsella Trust to help educate young people away from knife crime.
"I believe that this storyline will bring home the realities of knife crime to a wider audience and show how it damages the lives of victims, offenders, their families and friends forever."
'EastEnders' boss John Yorke said: "The brutal reality of knife crime was brought home to everyone at 'EastEnders' with the tragic murder of Ben Kinsella in 2008.
"Ben's sister Brooke - who has been such an important part of the show - began an inspiring campaign to bring attention to the awful consequences - a campaign that continues to this day.
"However, knife crime is as prevalent today as it was back then so it's more important than ever to raise awareness of the nature of this terrible crime - and how horrendous it is for teenagers, their families and communities.
"'EastEnders' has a long tradition of tackling serious public issues, and this is one of the most important the show has ever embarked on.
"The episodes are powerful, heart-breaking and dramatic, and we hope will help both carry on Brooke's inspiring message - while making it clear that knife crime destroys the lives of everyone it touches."
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