EastEnders star Colin Salmon, who plays George Knight on the BBC soap, has teased that a ‘really disturbing’ storyline is coming up for his Walford family
Colin appeared on Friday’s Good Morning Britain to promote his new film but let slip some details of an upcoming EastEnders storyline(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Colin Salmon has teased that he has a ‘really disturbing’ storyline coming up on EastEnders, The actor, 63, plays George Knight on the BBC soap and while he cannot say much about what to come, he has promised that something is coming up that is ‘perfect’ viewers right now.
Fans of the London-based soap will know that George was previously at the centre of a baby farming storyline, after he learned from his parents that they were actually paid to take him rather than adopt him of their own choosing, but he explained that something even more dramatic is on the cards.
During an appearance on Friday’s Good Morning Britain, he told hosts Rob Rinder and Charlotte Hawkins: “We’ve got another storyline you haven’t seen before. I did the farming storyline, we have another storyline that is perfect for this time, it’s real, it’s really disturbing and it’s coming. I can’t tell you what it is.” It comes after one EastEnders star was announced to be taking part in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Colin Salmon has starred on EastEnders as George Knight since 2023(Image: CREDIT LINE: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Colin, who is known starring in the James Bond franchise, and has also appeared on other TV staples like Doctor Who and Merlin over the course of his career, was introduced to Albert Square as George in 2023, and headed up the Knight family alongside son Junior (Micah Balfour), Anna (Molly Rainford) and Gina (Francesca Henry). He married Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) but began an affair with ex-wife Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins), which culminated in kicking off the Who Attacked Cindy? storyline last Christmas when she was attacked with a shovel.
In making history for the soap, George became the first black landlord of the famed Queen Vic pub, and Colin insisted that while he has never tried explicitly to change things in terms of diversity, he has always faced things head on as he has tried to move forward within his career..
He added: “It was interesting because I’d been asked before and I’d known that family that life. If you see it, you can be it, it’s a real simple thing. I’ve lived by life trying to be Avant-garde but not in an aggressive way or an antagonistic way, but just being myself in going forward without fear.”
Meanwhile, Colin is now reprising his role as as the Barber in Nobody 2, the sequel to the 2021 comedy, alongside Bob Odenkirk, and recalled arriving on the set to discover that his co-star is a fan of the show, and he told him about the workload that comes with making a continuing drama.
He said: “When I arrived in Winnipeg I had to shoot all my scenes very quickly. And my manager in Hollywood said ‘You can’t do that!’ I said ‘Do you realise what I do for a day job? Once arriving on set, I was asked about EastEnders, and I said ‘Oh we shoot a movie in a week, we shoot very quickly.’”
The star has appeared on the BBC soap for two years and was previously at the centre of a baby farming storyline(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
For EastEnders fans, the storyline that Colin teased comes shortly after it was announced that his on-screen daughter Anna is to leave Walford for good. According to a source it was a mutual decision between actress Molly and soap bosses, following new Executive Producer Ben Wadey taking over the soap. It’s claimed Molly is ready for new ventures, while details on Anna’s exit remain under wraps for now.
The BBC told us in June : “We can confirm that Molly Rainford will be leaving EastEnders later this year, and we wish her all the best for the future.” Anna’s biggest storylines have included her being spiked, being revealed as Cindy Beale’s daughter, and her love triangle with Bobby Beale and Freddie Slater.
A source confirmed the decision behind the exit, and said to The Sun: “New boss Ben Wadey is making sweeping changes on the show and his decision coincided with Mollie deciding she wanted to pursue other challenges.”
They added: “New boss Ben Wadey is making sweeping changes on the show and his decision coincided with Molly deciding she wanted to pursue other challenges.
“She’s hugely talented and wants to spread her wings and see what else is out there for her.” Molly’s character Anna arrived in 2023 as part of the Knight family, with dad George, sister Gina and stepmother Elaine Peacock. They took over The Queen Vic, and soon it was revealed Anna was Cindy’s secret daughter.”