It's safe to say that EastEnders' Reiss Colwell (played by Jonny Freeman) is in a bit of a pickle.

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Having just murdered his comatose wife, Debbie, Reiss has a huge secret he needs to keep to himself, but that's going to get harder and harder to do as the guilt of his actions sets in.

But next week, the weight of Debbie's death feels even heavier when her parents arrive with plenty of questions.

What they weren't expecting, however, was meeting Sonia and finding out she's Reiss's girlfriend!

That's sure to throw the cat among the pigeons as they dissect what that could mean for how their daughter suddenly died.

EastEnders is welcoming Nichola McAuliffe as Brenda Collins and Michael Bertenshaw as Hugh Collins, making up Debbie's parental unit.

Reiss and Sonia look pensively while in a hospital
Reiss and Sonia. BBC

Nichola McAuliffe is best known for her sitcom role as Sheila Sabatini in the ITV hospital comedy Surgical Spirit, while also boasting an Olivier Award for her stage work in Kiss Me, Kate!

So, how will Reiss get out of this one?

Earlier in the month, RadioTimes.com caught up with Freeman at the RadioTimes.com Soap Awards, sponsored by Inspired Villages, who explained that Reiss isn't evil, he's just in an untenable situation.

He said: "There's a sense of it being darker, but what we all try and do on all the soaps is try and reflect real life. People behave differently under different circumstances.

"Rather than the darker side of Reiss, it's the same character but obviously the circumstances have changed, and he's perhaps making mistakes to get out of them.

"Like anyone under huge pressure, one mistake is made and it can start to unravel, so I think that's what we're seeing with Reiss.

"Rather than a darker side, I think the essence of the character is the same but the circumstances are getting a bit more complicated."

Read more:

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and from 6am on BBC iPlayer.

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Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.

Authors

Helen Daly
Helen DalyAssociate Editor

Helen Daly is the Associate Editor for Radio Times, overseeing new initiatives and commercial projects for the brand. She was previously Deputy TV Editor at a national publication. She has a BA in English Literature and an MA in Media & Journalism from Newcastle University.

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