Bea Pollard has made quite an impression on EastEnders fans since rocking up in the Square as an old acquaintance of Linda Carter (Kellie Bright).

The newcomer made a memorable and uncomfortable entrance earlier this month when she encountered Linda at a high school reunion.

Having only recently returned to Walford at the time, Linda was clearly unsettled by the idea of revisiting her past, and she even considered pulling out altogether.

However, her mum, Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) was determined not to let her hide away, convincing Linda that she needs to get herself out there.

Honey Mitchell (Emma Barton) was left thrilled at the prospect of attending the reunion and eagerly volunteered to go along for moral support and a night out. Together, Linda and Honey headed to the event, but things quickly take an unexpected turn when Bea rocked up.

Who is Bea in EastEnders?

Bea is an old school friend of Linda’s.

Her debut appearance came weeks ago when Linda improvised at the school reunion and handed Honey a name tag which said ‘Bea’ to get her into the event.

The real Bea Pollard subsequently turned up at the reunion, exposing the lie and setting the stage for an explosive confrontation.

As an old acquaintance of Linda’s Bea struck up a conversation with Honey, she began to share her version of events from their school days, and it paints a very different picture of Linda to the one viewers might expect.

According to Bea, Linda was far from innocent at school and allegedly bullied her, a claim that leaves Honey shocked and Linda visibly rattled. It’s clear that Bea and Linda remember their past very differently, and the uncomfortable exchange forces Linda to confront aspects of her younger self that she’d rather forget.

Though Linda disputed her version of events, she decided that she should make amends for what Bea felt during their time at high school and thus invited her to stay at Peacock Palace after she was kicked out of her home.

Bea was thrilled but it soon became clear that there was more to her than meets the eye, which will be explored in upcoming scenes as she causes trouble for the locals.

Be prepared for some scheming.

Who plays Bea in EastEnders?

Bea Pollard is played by Ronni Ancona, a hugely recognisable face to British TV audiences.

Best known for her work on sketch shows such as ‘The Big Impression’, Ronni has built a career on sharp comedy, uncanny impressions, and memorable character performances. She’s also appeared in hit series, including Still Game and Skins, making her a familiar and respected figure across the industry.

Ronni’s casting was announced in early December, when it was revealed she would be joining EastEnders for a short stint as Bea, one of Linda Carter’s old school acquaintances.

Initial details were deliberately vague, teasing that Bea and Linda would come face-to-face at a high school reunion in the new year, with hints that their shared history wasn’t as straightforward as it first appeared.

At the time of the announcement, Ronni said: ‘I am honoured to have been invited to join the iconic institution that is EastEnders, and to go on this whirlwind of a journey with such an unpredictable, nuanced and complex character as Bea. I hope audiences have as much fun watching her as I have had bringing her to life.’

This role marks Ronni’s first appearance on EastEnders, but the soap holds a special place in her career history. She famously spoofed the show and its characters in sketch shows, including a well-known parody filmed on the very bench in Albert Square where her first EastEnders scene takes place.

‘Stepping onto the actual set for the first time was an especially strange experience,’ Ronni admitted. ‘My first scene was on the bench in the middle of Albert Square, exactly where Alastair and I once filmed our sketch The Bench of Tears.

She also shared a surreal moment filming inside The Queen Vic, recalling her much-loved impression of the late Barbara Windsor as Peggy Mitchell. ‘I couldn’t help remembering my impression of Peggy, which mostly involved me shuffling around on my knees in padded knee guards because Barbara was so much shorter than I am,’ she laughed.

Thankfully, the current cast have embraced her arrival, with Ronni revealing that Jessie Wallace even did Ronni’s own impression of Kat Slater back to her on set.

As for what’s next, Ronni has teased that viewers should expect ‘lots of twists and turns and lots of unexpected developments’ as Bea settles into life in Walford.