Timothy West CBE and Annette Badland join EastEnders

EastEnders‘ Carter family will continue to grow in 2014 as two well known faces join the cast of the BBC One soap.

Timothy West CBE and Annette Badland have signed up to play Stan Carter and Babe Smith.

Stan is the father of Shirley (Linda Henry), Tina (Luisa Bradshaw-White) and Mick (Danny Dyer) and has been described as a once powerful man struggling to adapt to old age.

Stan has been lonely ever since his wife Sylvie left him over thirty years ago but when his kids come back into his life he will seize the opportunity to be part of a family again.

However, Stan is no fluffy old man in a cardigan and it won’t be long before he starts manipulating the whole Carter clan from the comfort of his armchair.

I am excited to be joining EastEnders for the first time.  Stan is a wonderful character and I look forward to seeing what is going to happen to him. – Timothy West

A renowned star of film, television and stage, Timothy’s acting CV includes ATV’s Edward the Seventh, Bedtime, Bremner Bird & Fortune, Bleak House, Poirot and Coronation Street (pictured). In 1984 he was appointed CBE for his services to drama.

Aunt Babe is the Carter’s maternal aunt and a bustling busybody. She has been billed as no-nonsense and big-hearted – but beneath her bubbly exterior she is tough, shrewd and canny.

Babe loves her nieces and nephews and has always felt guilty that has sister walked out on when they were young. She’s thrilled to be back in their lives and isn’t prepared to let Stan ruin things for them again.

I’m thrilled to be joining the cast of EastEnders as I’ve always admired the show and everyone involved in it seems so warm-hearted. Aunt Babe is a fabulous and complex woman and I can’t wait to get stuck into the role. – Annette Badland

Badland is also well known for a wide range of roles across TV, radio, theatre and film. Her previous TV work includes ATV’s Crossroads (pictured), Doctor Who, Wizards vs Aliens and Cutting It. She is currently filming Outlander.

We are reinvigorating EastEnders’ older generation with the arrival of Stan and Aunt Babe, who will start to fill in some holes in the dark Carter family history.

 

Tim and Annette are national institutions and such gifted, nuanced actors, bringing a real touch of Dickensian magic to the screen. It’s an honour to have them join our company. – Executive Producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins

Stan and Aunt Babe will appear in EastEnders from the end of January 2014.

Mick will be joined by wife Linda (Kellie Bright) and children Johnny (Sam Strike) and Nancy (Maddy Hill) when he arrives in Walford to take over the Queen Vic this Christmas.

Watch this year’s EastEnders Christmas trailer below: