Dr Ashneet “Ash” Kaur Panesar is returning to EastEnders this autumn, in a new storyline for her mum Suki Panesar-Unwin (Balvinder Sopal).
Actress Gurlaine Kaur Garcha originated the role, though newcomer Sakira Vel will now step into her shoes and make her television debut as Ash.
First appearing between 2019 and 2023, Ash was at the centre of several huge storylines during her tenure. Initially introduced as Iqra Ahmed’s (Priya Davdra) girlfriend, we soon learnt of her link to the now infamous Panesar clan.
Storylines included Suki’s disapproval of her LGBTQ+ identity, being targeted by racist Aaron Monroe (Charlie Wernham), and a doomed relationship with Peter Beale (then Dayle Hudson).
Further trouble ensued when Ash began working at the GP surgery, and was blackmailed by her future step-mum Eve Panesar-Unwin (Heather Peace) for writing an incorrect prescription.
She later moved to Canada, and during her absence, Suki was devastated to learn that only Vinny Panesar (Shiv Jalota) had been invited to her wedding.
On assuming the part, Vel said: “When I got the call offering me the role, I don’t think I could truly believe it until I finally made it onto the Square! EastEnders is an absolute television icon, and the show was essentially the backdrop to my childhood.
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“Taking on the role of Ash is a real honour and I cannot wait for the audience to see what we have in store as she dives straight into the Panesar family chaos”.
Executive producer Ben Wadey added: “We’re delighted to welcome Ash back to Walford and to have Sakira Vel join the EastEnders cast.
“With unresolved tensions still simmering between Ash and her family, her unexpected return is set to create new challenges for the Panesar family”.
Just why she’s returning remains to be seen, though it could well tie into the new storyline that Wadey teased for Sukeve last month.
“Suki and Eve have something big coming up,” he told Radio Times and other media.
“We have we deliberately played out the adoption story very slowly and very realistically because it’s a real world issue that we’re still going through.
“We wanted to get that right, but Suki’s been a little bit quiet for a little while, and we wanted to correct that.”
He added: “Sukeve have something quite major coming up.”
Could Ash’s comeback be related to their recent fostering of Ria Virdi (Aaria Sharma)?
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