{"id":29072,"date":"2023-01-24T01:01:09","date_gmt":"2023-01-24T00:01:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1773028"},"modified":"2023-01-24T14:46:36","modified_gmt":"2023-01-24T13:46:36","slug":"eastenders-casts-west-end-star-as-sonia-fowlers-new-lodger-jed","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/eastenders-casts-west-end-star-as-sonia-fowlers-new-lodger-jed\/","title":{"rendered":"EastEnders casts West End star as Sonia Fowler\u2019s new lodger Jed"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Lewis Knight\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 24 January 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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West End actor Bradley Jaden has joined the cast of EastEnders<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Les Miserables actor will portray the character Jed in the BBC One soap as Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) takes on a new lodger to help with her finances.<\/p>\n

Sonia has been facing money issues after inheriting step-grandmother Dot Branning<\/a>\u2018s house but being footed with an unaffordable inheritance tax bill.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, the nurse\u2019s new love interest Reiss Colwell<\/a> (Jonny Freeman) is on hand and suggests that she gets a lodger to help.<\/p>\n

Sonia soon goes hunting for a lodger whilst also swooning over her time spent with Reiss to Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) who suggests that maybe Reiss was keen to be her lodger.<\/p>

It looks like Reiss could be asked as prospective lodgers don\u2019t fit the bill for Sonia \u2013 until she meets Jed.<\/p>\n

Free spirit Jed is a hit with Sonia until a situation arises that almost leaves the nurse doubting her choice.<\/p>\n

However, despite any hopes that Reiss might have of Jed not lasting as her new housemate, Jed soon turns things around.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Bradley Jayden as Jed and Natalie Cassidy as Sonia Fowler in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Ultimately, Reiss feels jealous as the outgoing Jed continues to charm Sonia. Do we smell a love triangle brewing in Dot\u2019s old house?<\/p>\n

Actor Jaden has also appeared on stage in Shrek the Musical, Wicked, and Ghost the Musical and\u00a0makes his EastEnders debut on Tuesday 31st January 2023.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jed is the latest guest character introduced to the soap following the castings of Hollyoaks veteran Fabrizio Santino as Zack\u2019s old friend Brett Nelson<\/a> and the legendary Patsy Kensit as Lola Pearce\u2019s long-lost mother Emma Harding.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Jonny Freeman as Reiss Colwell in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n
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Actress Natalie Cassidy recently teased a return for some more comedic storylines<\/a> for put-upon Sonia.<\/p>\n

Speaking to RadioTimes.com<\/a> and other press in December, Cassidy commented: \u201cIt\u2019s so clever what the writers and Chris [Clenshaw, executive producer] have done because Sonia has been a bit miserable. Yeah, not only miserable but she\u2019s had a lot going on.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to remember she\u2019s a nurse. She works really hard\u2026 Dot\u2019s not been around and saying goodbye to Dot and being very, very upset and having this little shining beacon of light coming in is going to be a step forward. I feel like it\u2019s going to be a really exciting time.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I won\u2019t give too much away because we can\u2019t, but what I would say is the stuff that I\u2019ve been doing lately, I really feel like you\u2019re seeing the comedic side of Sonia come back, and the light, and I really enjoyed playing that because I\u2019ve not done it for a while and I think it\u2019s really special. Reiss is gonna bring that out more.\u201d<\/p>