The Highway family in EastEnders is highly relatable for many.
Full of family members with their own secrets, lives and rifts – the Highway clan have seen a lot of turbulence in recent weeks and months.
With Stuart heading up the family, he was recently diagnosed with breast cancer – leaving him and his wife Rainie taken aback.
READ MORE: EastEnders legend ‘too busy’ to watch iconic BBC One soap
The couple then decided they wanted a baby, but found they couldn’t so decided to go down the route of getting a surrogate – which ultimately ended with Stuart getting postnatal depression and Rainie leaving the soap.
Aside from these two figureheads, the Highway family also comprises Stuart’s younger brother Callum, their nan Vi, dad Jonno, and Stuart’s daughter Zara.
But what have the actors and actresses of these iconic characters done away from Albert Square?
Stuart
(Image: BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes)
Stuart Marvin Highway is the son of Jonno, brother of Callum and father of Zara and Roland.
Married to Rainie, the couple have had a turbulent time in recent months, with them enlisting the help of Bernie Taylor as a surrogate in order for them to conceive.
Recent weeks have seen Stuart battle post-natal depression amid his breast cancer battle.
The role of Stuart is portrayed by Ricky Champ, who is best known for his current known for his role, but also for starring in Him & Her, The Bill, Casualty and Doc Martin.
As well as the above, he’s also popped up in the HBO series Game of Thrones.
Away from TV and film he’s married to Samantha Gilbert, whom he wed in 2016. He has two children.
On Instagram he has over 80,000 followers and often posts behind-the-scenes snaps with his co-stars.
Callum ‘Halfway’
(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Callum first appeared in EastEnders as Lee Carter’s friend from the army.
Striking up a relationship with Whitney Dean, it wasn’t until a while after that he came out as gay.
Recently in the soap, his husband Ben Mitchell endured a shocking and heart-wrenching rape storyline – that left soap fans shaken.
Callum is portrayed by Tony Clay, 30, from Bexley.
Away from the soap he is straight and has been in a relationship with Olivia Griffin since August 2016.
With more than 100,000 followers on Instagram, Tony often shares snippets of his life with his loyal following.
Rainie
(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Lorraine ‘Rainie’ Highway, nee Cross; previously Branning, is the daughter of William and Cora Cross and sister of Tanya Branning.
She made her first appearance in August 2007 and last in June 2022.
In the soap, she is the mother of Roland and the legal guardian of Abi Branning.
Portrayed by Tanya Franks, Rainie has been through a huge amount since first arriving in the square when she was a drug addict.
Away from the soap, Tanya, 54, is married to James Barriscale – whom she has worked with on many occasions.
James, 53, played the character of Gabriel Kent in The Bill – another TV show that Tanya has starred in.
In The Bill, she played the role of DI Rowanne Morell.
The happy couple have also appeared alongside each other in EastEnders, with James playing Jonathan Malnet.
Zara
(Image: BBC / Kieron McCarron)
Zara Highway is Stuart’s daughter and baby Roland’s half-sister.
Faye Daveney plays Zara and she made her first appearance in September 2018.
She’s appeared in The Favourite alongside Olivia Coleman, and much like most of the Highway clan, she has also popped up in The Bill.
The 29-year-old has just over 1,000 followers on Instagram and often shares snaps with loved ones.
Vi
(Image: BBC/Kieron McCarron/Jack Barnes)
Violet ‘Vi’ Highway made her first appearance last year, in May 2021.
She is the mother of Jonno Highway and Christopher and the doting nan of Stuart and Callum.
Gwen Taylor plays the role of Vi, and the real-life actress looks worlds away from her on-screen look when she’s not filming for the BBC One soap.
The 83-year-old British actress has popped up in many TV shows and movies.
She played the role of Peggy Armstrong Heartbeat; Anne Foster in Coronation Street; and has also popped up in the movies Monty Python’s Life of Brian and The Lady in the Van.
The Derbyshire-born actress has been married to her husband Graham Reid, a British playwright, since 1996.
Jonno
(Image: BBC / Kieron McCarron)
John ‘Jonno’ Highway is Stuart and Callum’s dad.
He first appeared in the soap a few years back in July 2019.
The role of this character is portrayed by Richard Graham, 62, from Orpington.
Aside from his work in EastEnders, Richard has an impressive set of credits, including Titanic, Vera Drake, Holby City and Hollyoaks.
He’s married to Yvonne Graham and has two children.
EastEnders airs weeknights (excluding Fridays) at 7:30pm on BBC One and iPlayer
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
