Ned reveals his sinister true colours on EastEnders- he’s not to be trusted

No more Mister Nice Guy (Picture: BBC) Typical. Just when you’re starting to warm to EastEnders’ newest family, one of them turns out to be up to good. We’re watching you, Ned Roper (Jamie Bamber). Since the Hawkins family descended on Walford last month looking to reconnect with Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington), it was clear one of them was going to be a wrong’un. The most likely candidate seemed to be Nicola’s mum Rose (Marian McLoughlin), who blames her daughter’s estranged relationship with her father for her husband’s untimely death. The conflict between Rose and Nicola led viewers to believe that the old battle-axe would be the villain of Clan Hawkins. However, the real baddie just might be Ned, the husband of Nicola’s sister Gemma (Patricia Potter). Ned and his family came to Albert Square as ‘refugees from Essex’ – in the words of actor Jamie Bamber – having losing their home and business in a fire, along with his son Ryder Hawkins (Felix Uff) and Nicola’s younger sister Jodie (Anna Constable). But Nicola’s not the only connection he’s got in Walford. After arriving in the Queen Vic to whet the whistle, Ned was surprised to run into Alfie Moon (Shane Ritchie) who he met during a booze cruise back in 2019. Nicola’s estranged family reunion was not exactly a happy one (Picture: BBC / Metro) So far, Ned’s comes across as a fairly stand-up bloke, taking the blame for a botched insurance fraud to save Nicola’s bacon with a fuming Rose. He’s even offered to cough up the cash needed to prevent Harry’s barn from shutting its doors forever, although Nicola has been reluctant to accept. But he has clashed with Nicola in the household, hinting at a deep shared secret from the past just waiting to explode.When it does explode, Nicola better be careful. We already from an interview with actor Jamie Bamber last month that Ned is not a man to be trifled with. Not only is he a former PTSD therapist trained in the army, but he worked in bomb disposal. Basically, this man has nerves of steel and a deep understanding of the human mind. ‘The first thing you notice about Ned is that he is put together. He knows the cut of his cloth. He knows the impact he makes,’ Jamie explained. ‘He’s someone who believes in discipline, making the most of your own opportunities in life. He is a failure when you first meet him, and yet he doesn’t behave like a failure.’ Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. ‘He’s someone who can talk, someone who can listen. He used to diffuse bombs, so he stays calm in extraordinarily tense situations.’ Ned’s been quick to ingratiate himself on the Square. (Picture: BBC) The actor also teased his character’s checkered past with his sister-in-law. ‘It’s clear that Ned and Nicola know each other extremely well, but there’s also something unspoken between them. There’s a fascinating push-and-pull dynamic at play.’ ‘You get the sense that there’s something that binds them together just as strongly as something keeps them apart. There are secrets and a history that neither of them is willing to talk about openly. Over time, viewers will discover exactly what lies behind that complicated relationship.’ Viewers can look forward to the secrets that forged that complicated relationship in upcoming episodes of EastEnders, where the Hawkins patriarch reveals his true colours – and it’s bad news for Nicola. What is Nicola and Ned’s big secret? (Picture: BBC) While Ned learns his former business partner is in the UK, Nicola is devastated when bailiffs arrive at Harry’s Barn. Still owing a substantial amount, the family scramble for ideas to raise the money. While the family launch a fundraiser, Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway) joins Ned on a visit to an old business partner, who Ned pressures ruthlessly to get what he wants. As the fundraiser gets underway, residents begin questioning the conflicting causes being supported. Although Nicola manages to salvage the event, the family remain short of their goal until Ryder arrives with a wave of new customers. Will they get the cash to save Harry’s barn? It seems so, when Harry and Ned return and share the news with Nicola that they have secured the money needed. When alone with Ned, Nicola is reluctant to accept his help. Nicola orders Harry to keep Ned’s offer secret as the family are down from the failed fundraiser.Ned once again offers the money she needs. Why is Nicola so dead against accepting Ned’s help? He could save Harry’s Barn in a heart beat. Surely the only reason to turn down Ned’s help is that it must come with a catch… a catch related to whatever giant skeleton is lurking in Nicola’s closet. Deals of the Day Oodie’s cosy blanket sale has arrived just in time for Christmas shopping Save over £700 on Simba's top-rated mattresses in this limited-time sale An Instagram mattress left me with back pain – this one completely changed my mind Book Val d'Isère, Val Thorens and Tignes for less in Club Med's ski sale From £700 MacBooks to discounted iPhones, the best Apple tech for studentsb Arrow MORE: All EastEnders spoilers for next week as a family is at war Arrow MORE: Nicola could lose everything in EastEnders – and Nugget’s party is not going to help, sorry! 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