EastEnders Linda Carter is set to get her feathers ruffled by newcomer Bea this week. But Bea isn’t stopping there and also takes a shine to Max Branning.

The new arrival meets Linda at their school reunion, and delivers some uncomfortable home truths from back in the day. Although Linda is upset that their versions of events are wildly different, she later realises that she owes Bea an apology for her past treatment of her.

Bea then goes to stay at Peacock Palace and enjoys getting her feet under the table. She soon meets Max and takes a liking to him.

Then when Ollie has an issue at school, Max offers to take Bea out so Linda can solely focus on her son.

Thinking it’s a date, Bea is thrilled to be out with Max. However, Max isn’t as thrilled when he finds out she thinks their outing is romantic. But he decides to keep up the pretence for Linda’s sake.

Honey soon has to comfort Bea over the date debacle with Max, and is led to believe Linda set up the fake date between the pair to humiliate Bea.

Ronni Ancona, who plays Bea, recently opened up about her character and what she’ll bring to the show.

The comedian, who is well known for her EastEnders impressions including Peggy Mitchell and Sharon Watts, said: “Bea is misunderstood, and there’s a touch of desperation about her. When she feels cornered, she can become rather dangerous. Deep down, she just wants to be loved and to fit in.

“She’s the sort of person who ‘window-shops’ other people’s lives, trying to reshape herself into whoever she thinks others want her to be. In her mind, that’s the only way to earn love and attention – which is, unfortunately, quite misguided.”

She added: “There’s an underlying frustration that her life hasn’t lived up to her potential. She has shades of a Walter Mitty–type character; you’re never entirely sure how much of what she says is real. She’s complex, nuanced, and unusual – someone who has become convinced by her own narrative.”