Aidan O'Callaghan, who previously appeared in Emmerdale and is already slated to appear in Netflix's The Witcher prequel Blood Origin, is set to join EastEnders in a dramatic storyline starting on Monday (11th April).
Advertisement
O'Callaghan will play Lewis, the new manager of Kathy Beale's Prince Albert bar, who gets involved in a discussion with Ben Mitchell and his husband Callum Highway.
While Lewis approves of Callum's new LGBTQ+ campaign at work, Ben appears unsure, and later tells the campaign that his husband doesn't want to take part.
When confronted, he admits that he's scared for Callum's safety, fearing he will be attacked again like the couple were in January.
Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden), Lewis Butler (Aidan O'Callaghan) and Callum Highway (Tony Clay) BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron
Ben then goes on a night out with Lewis where the latter is heckled with homophobic abuse.
The next day, when Ben spots one of the men who heckled Lewis, he drags him into an alley and attacks him. He is caught by Sharon in the act, but will she tell Callum?
The shocking storyline is set to play out next week, although it's currently not known how long Lewis will stay around on the soap for, or what repercussions this will have for Ben and his marriage.
O'Callaghan joins the show ahead of his role in The Witcher: Blood Origin, playing a character called Kareg in the prequel series that also stars Michelle Yeoh and Sir Lenny Henry. He previously played a character called Mike in Emmerdale in 2018.
The upcoming week on EastEnders will also mark the anniversary of Kush's tragic death, while Jean Slater will propose to Harvey Monroe after he ended their relationship.
Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers, and catch up on episodes on BBC iPlayer. The Witcher seasons 1-2 are available to stream now on Netflix. If you’re looking for more to watch check out our TV guide.
Advertisement
The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
