TV legends Maggie Steed and Christopher Timothy are set to join EastEnders as a long-married couple who are friends of Dot Branning.
Steed and Timothy will be playing husband and wife Joyce and Ted Murray – a couple who have been married for almost 60 years.
The new characters will be moving to Albert Square not by their own free will, as they are being rehoused from a nearby estate, and will be welcomed by their old friend Dot, played by June Brown.
“I am very much looking forward to having Christopher as my on-screen husband, he is a terrific actor,” 70-year-old Steed said in a statement ahead of joining the show.
“We’re going to have lots of fun. I’m incredibly excited to be joining what is such a well-established show."
70-year-old Timothy also shared his excitement about joining the popular soap, saying: “The most exciting thing about joining EastEnders is not only that I’ll be back on the television, but I’ll also be working with Maggie.”
“I have admired her for a long time. She is one of my favourite actresses," he added.
“Filming not just our first scenes but our first episode together will be like first night in the theatre – very exciting indeed."
"And of course, I’m looking forward to meeting all the cast who I’ve been used to seeing on TV over the years.”
Steed is well known for her TV credits including Pie in the Sky, New Tricks, and French and Saunders, while viewers will recognise Timothy from his roles in All Creatures Great and Small and Doctors.
The Murrays will make their entrance in EastEnders later this spring.
