EastEnders casts Beautiful Thing actor Danny-Boy Hatchard

EastEnders

has cast Beautiful Thing actor Danny-Boy Hatchard as Lee Carter.

Hatchard – who recently played Ste in the revival of Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing in the West End – is the latest addition to Danny Dyer’s Carter family.

Danny-Boy will play Mick and Linda’s eldest son Lee, who has been serving in Afghanistan. His character is described as a charming, upbeat Jack-the-lad who is more interested in fooling around than pulling his weight in The Vic.

On joining the long-running BBC soap, Danny-Boy said: “I’m incredibly excited to be a part of EastEnders, a show that my family and I have watched for years. It’s an honour to have the chance to share the camera with such talented actors and I can’t wait to get cracking and join the Carter family.”

Dominic Treadwell-Collins, Executive Producer, added: “Julia Crampsie, our Casting Executive, has found the missing piece of the Carter family puzzle. Danny-Boy has an authenticity and sensitivity that makes him perfect for EastEnders – and the Carter family.

“Lee Carter is going to pelt into the Square, ruffle some feathers and immediately prove that he’s a chip off his father’s block. But why is Lee so keen to stay in Walford and not return to the army?”

Danny-Boy Hatchard will film his first scenes as Lee Carter in February.

> Gary Lucy to leave EastEnders later this year