OMG SHOCKING !!! EastEnders’ newbie Joel star has famous mum – do you recognise her?

Max Murray as Joel Marshall sitting at a table in the café in EastEnders.
Joel Marshall star Max Murray has a famous mum (Picture:BBC/Jack Barnes)

EastEnders newcomer Max Murray has only been on Albert Square for a short time, but already his character Joel Marshall has been causing trouble.

Since his arrival in Walford, viewers have discovered that Joel’s behaviour in Australia was what caused the family’s money troubles, leading them to move back to the UK.

It transpired that Joel had taken a picture up one of his class mates’ skirts, before sharing the photo online.

Joel’s dad Ross Marshall (Alex Walkinshaw) paid the family off, but they demanded that Joel stay away from Sydney.

Unfortunately, the move to Albert Square hasn’t changed Joel’s vile behaviour, and he was recently caught filming himself sleeping with Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James).

In real life, Max isn’t the only member of his family to appear in the BBC soap, with the youngster following in the footsteps of his famous mum.

Avani Nandra-Hart and Joel Marshall talking in the cafe in EastEnders.
Joel’s behaviour has been horrifying (Picture: BBC/Kieron McCarron)
Gina Murray as Helen standing on the doorstep smiling in EastEnders
Gina Murray appeared in EastEnders in 2014 (Picture: BBC)

Max is the son of actress and singer Gina Murray, who has had an extensive career on stage and screen.

Gina appeared in an episode of EastEnders in 2014, where she played a woman called Helen.

Helen was a specialist who arrived to help Carol Jackson find a wig after losing her hair during her battle with cancer.

As well as EastEnders, Gina has also appeared on The Bill and Doctors, and more recently starred as Lesley Stobbart in The Hunt for Raoul Moat.

The 25th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards - Arrivals
Gina formed a girl group with sister Mazz Murray in 2010 (Picture: Jeff Spicer/WireImage)

She has also voiced characters in numerous video games, including RoboCop: Rogue City and Baldur’s Gate 3.

On stage, Gina has starred in musicals such as Hairspray, Mamma Mia andChicago, among others.

In 2010, she formed a girl group alongside her fellow West End star sister Mazz Murray. Musical theatre legends Anna-Jane Casey and Emma Kershaw complete the line-up.

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