EastEnders character Gloria Knight is continuing to stir the pot as she settled in to life on Albert Square.
Played by Elizabeth Counsell, Gloria waltzed her way into Walford on New Year’s Day this year and already has history with her fellow residents. However, as the soap has progressed from their introduction, Gloria’s story has been unfurled, with a previous relationship with George, played by Colin Salmon, on the BBC show.
Having already been thrust into the heart of the drama at the beginning of the year, Gloria and George, together with husband Eddie, have formed a central plot to the show’s springtime storylines. But for Counsell, the filming has been a great way to reconnect with several of her fellow actors, including Salmon – with whom she worked 30 years ago.
READ MORE: EastEnders spoilers: George’s son revealed, Yolande assaulted and Jay baby news
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However, Counsell also has a hidden tie to EastEnders thanks to her real life husband David Simeon. Whilst Elizabeth is making herself at home on the set of the show, eagle-eyed fans have spotted that her husband also appeared on the show decades from when his wife set foot on the Square.
(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
In 2005, David was introduced to the soap by producer Kate Harwood as Dougie Collins. Dougie used to work for criminal and drug baron Johnny Allen, who had been terrorising Walford at the time.
Sadly for Dougie, he had already felt the wrath of his boss when he entered the soap, having made a mistake on Johnny’s birthday cake. This resulted in notorious hard lad Johnny beating Collins almost to death for his slip-up.
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Dougie was brought in after Peggy Mitchell, played by Barbara Windsor, learned of his previous employment to Johnny. Working together, the pair confronted the criminal in front of customers at The Queen Vic, with Peggy going after him specifically for what he had done to Collins.
Peggy went on to accuse Johnny of being a murderer following a string of deaths that had been taking place on the soap during 2005. Allen would be jailed for the murder of seven people and would eventually die after suffering a heart attack in prison one year later.
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
David never spoke on his guest role in the BBC soap, but would go on to appear in other soaps including Coronation Street, Casualty and The Bill. He has not been seen in any new projects since 2005, with his last acting credit coming in Doctors as Gerald Taft.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
