EastEnders has announced details of a premature birth storyline involving Albert Square characters Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) and George Knight (Colin Salmon) "as they navigate an emotionally challenging and unexpected turn in their co-parenting journey".
The BBC One soap has worked with the UK charity Bliss "to ensure Nicola and George's storyline is portrayed as accurately and as sensitively as possible".
"In the coming weeks, Nicola must undergo an emergency caesarean due to complications with the birth, resulting in the early arrival of a baby girl," said EastEnders.
"With the support of their family, Nicola and George must confront the realities of co‑parenting a premature baby, both in neonatal care and once they take their daughter home."
EastEnders Executive Producer, Ben Wadey, said: "This storyline follows Nicola and George as they navigate the challenges and shared concerns of neonatal care with their premature baby, and the impact it has on them and their families."
Annelies Hopkins, Information and Support Manager at Bliss, added: "As the UK's leading charity representing babies born premature or sick, and their families, we were grateful to be consulted on this important EastEnders storyline, which shines a light on the unexpected, distressing, and often traumatic experience of having a baby in neonatal care."
EastEnders airs on RTÉ One and BBC One Monday to Thursday.
