Navin Chowdhry is joining the cast of 'EastEnders'.
Navin Chowdhry is joining the BBC soap
The 51-year-old actor has been cast as Nish Panesar in the BBC soap, and Navin's first scene is set to air in autumn.
He said: "It’s been great – everyone has been lovely. My role at the moment has been focused around the Panesar family, but everyone has been extremely welcoming."
Nish is emerging from a 20-year stretch behind bars, and he's determined to exert his authority as soon as he arrives on screen.
Navin admits that working on the soap has been a "new experience", and he's promised to bring "drama" and "mayhem" to Albert Square.
He explained: "I’ve never worked on a show like 'EastEnders', so it’s been a new experience for me; but I loved the storylines and I’ve got a keen interest in this family because there’s so much happening at all times!
"Nish is an interesting character - slightly unconventional, and with that brings drama, and mayhem. I think there’s a good man under there but turmoil follows these guys [the Panesar’s] around so I'm excited to join in and set off a few more explosions and fireworks."
Chris Clenshaw, the executive producer of 'EastEnders', is already looking forward to Nish's arrival later this year.
Teasing his role on the soap, Chris said: "The spectre of Nish Panesar is finally here, and it’s been a pleasure welcoming Navin to the cast, and take to the role so effortlessly; he brings something to the character that none of us could’ve predicted. His dynamic on and off-screen, and we’re excited to see where his character develops as the story grows."