Abigail
08-03-2008, 19:04
The Mitchell world is about to be blown apart with the much-anticipated arrival of the latest member of EastEnders' iconic family.
Actor Larry Lamb has joined the cast of the Walford soap as Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell's father, Archie.
Archie is charismatic, authoritative, smart and proper old-school London. His arrival will most definitely shed new light on what made Ronnie and Roxy into the women they are and will also provide some new insights into Peggy's history.
Being the brother of Peggy's late husband Eric, Archie is someone who Peggy finds very hard to resist.
Speaking of his casting, Lamb said: "I'm absolutely delighted to be joining the Mitchell clan and working with the one and only Barbara Windsor and my new-found daughters Ronnie and Roxy.
"I can't wait to step into Archie's shoes - frankly, it's a badge of honour to join EastEnders. My roots are working class so becoming part of The Square feels right. It's like I've come full circle and am back where I started out."
EastEnders' executive producer Diederick Santer explained: "Larry Lamb is an immensely talented, experienced and charismatic actor. His arrival as Archie will set the cat amongst the Mitchell pigeons."
He added: "Archie is a Mitchell through and through, possessing the unique moral code which that legendary name implies. Barbara, Rita [Simons], Sam [Janus] and I are very excited to be working with Larry, and we can promise the audience stacks of excitement and drama on his arrival. The complex and darkly-veiled Mitchell world is about to be blown apart."
Lamb, who starred in the 1980s hit film Buster and is currently appearing in the BBC Two comedy Gavin and Stacey, begins filming with the soap in a couple of months and will first appear on screen in July.
The highly-anticipated casting of the role has seen high-profile Hollywood names bandied around such as Terrence Stamp, Malcolm McDowell, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone and Michael Caine.
Actor Larry Lamb has joined the cast of the Walford soap as Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell's father, Archie.
Archie is charismatic, authoritative, smart and proper old-school London. His arrival will most definitely shed new light on what made Ronnie and Roxy into the women they are and will also provide some new insights into Peggy's history.
Being the brother of Peggy's late husband Eric, Archie is someone who Peggy finds very hard to resist.
Speaking of his casting, Lamb said: "I'm absolutely delighted to be joining the Mitchell clan and working with the one and only Barbara Windsor and my new-found daughters Ronnie and Roxy.
"I can't wait to step into Archie's shoes - frankly, it's a badge of honour to join EastEnders. My roots are working class so becoming part of The Square feels right. It's like I've come full circle and am back where I started out."
EastEnders' executive producer Diederick Santer explained: "Larry Lamb is an immensely talented, experienced and charismatic actor. His arrival as Archie will set the cat amongst the Mitchell pigeons."
He added: "Archie is a Mitchell through and through, possessing the unique moral code which that legendary name implies. Barbara, Rita [Simons], Sam [Janus] and I are very excited to be working with Larry, and we can promise the audience stacks of excitement and drama on his arrival. The complex and darkly-veiled Mitchell world is about to be blown apart."
Lamb, who starred in the 1980s hit film Buster and is currently appearing in the BBC Two comedy Gavin and Stacey, begins filming with the soap in a couple of months and will first appear on screen in July.
The highly-anticipated casting of the role has seen high-profile Hollywood names bandied around such as Terrence Stamp, Malcolm McDowell, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone and Michael Caine.