BBC EastEnders sign Hollywood actor and Brad Pitt’s co-star for Aunt Sal’s emotional funeral

The BBC has signed up a new EastEnders actor who’s reportedly moving to Walford in the New Year – and fans will recognise his work with Hollywood’s Brad Pitt.

New pictures show gangster movie star Alan Ford on set as bosses shoot what’s thought to be the funeral of the beloved Aunt Sal. The Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels actor is thought to be a “great signing” by producers who will join the send-off for Peggy Mitchell’s sister in new scenes set to air in 2024.

With stints in The Bill, Alan is a well-known face for TV fans and the 85-year-old is set for a “major new storyline” according to insiders. “Alan’s a great signing by bosses,” a source revealed. “He’s a huge star who fans will be delighted to see on the soap. His character has a long connection to the Mitchells.”

The insider spoke to The Sun, who obtained images of Alan filming scenes alongside the Mitchell family, telling them: “Aunt Sal was a stalwart of the soap and she’ll be done proud with the scenes.” It isn’t the first time Alan has starred in EastEnders, once appearing all the way back in 1986 as a conman called Sam Sangers. His character was planning to con Debbie Wilkins and it’s not yet known if he’s returning as the same person.

Aunt Sal was last seen in Walford for Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell’s funeral in 2017. But in real life, actress Anna Karen died in a house fire in London last year. So it’s thought the final scenes will bring closure for her character following her tragic death.

It comes after viewers were desperate to find out who the killer is this Christmas, and who dies on the BBC soap. But one theory emerging every now and again is that the murderer is not one of the six female suspects, known as The Six. Stacey Slater, Sharon Watts, Linda Carter, Denise Fox, Kathy Beale and Suki Panesar are all at the scene of the crime and appear to have been in some sort of showdown.

The body of a mystery male character is seen lying on the ground, with Sharon declaring he is dead after trying to find a pulse. Of course, there is a lot of speculation regarding who dies, how and why. There’s also a load of motives floating around with predictions on why each suspect could the the killer.

Viewers have long suspected there could be one or even more characters apart from The Six in the scene. There’s the significance of the dress colours and the fact these colours keep popping up in scenes. There are also hints of other colours that aren’t associated with a dress worn by any of The Six, leaving fans convinced there could be other suspects.

In the Christmas scene, fans think Sharon looks up as if she is talking to someone in front of her when all of The Six are behind her. The death happens at The Queen Vic, and fans are curious as to where the Knights are during the murder given this is their home. So might one or all of them be involved?

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.