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EastEnders star pokes fun at Nicola Mitchell’s big secret: ‘She feels exposed’
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EastEnders star pokes fun at Nicola Mitchell’s big secret: ‘She feels exposed’

In a new interview shared RadioTimes.comThe star reveals Nicola’s manipulative side and the claim she still believes she has over Teddy.

As Teddy and Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) share an ongoing flirtation, there’s a clash on the horizon between the Albert Square veteran and this “flashy” newcomer, so it’s sure to be a dramatic week!

Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine) also needs to watch her back, but happily Doddington shares her joy at working with her new co-stars.

Read on as the actress reveals what she can expect from hot Nicola.

Laura Doddington as Nicola Mitchell in the red coat talks to Emma Barton as Honey Mitchell in EastEnders.

Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) comes to Walford next week. BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron

What brought Nicola to Walford?

“Nicola was in Bali and came back and got a tip that Harry was going to be arrested. She’s coming to Walford to deal with it – in that unique, over-the-top Nicola Mitchell way!”

Why didn’t he tell Teddy and the kids he was going there?

“It’s safe to say he wasn’t in your best books. So, ‘I’m coming to help!’ No message was sent saying “

When Nicola arrives, she immediately takes charge. Why is it so important for her to take the lead in helping Harry?

“The divorce from Teddy made Nicola look at herself and how she was behaving, and she wants her family back as a whole. She wants to show her children that she is supportive and loves them very much. And that’s the way she does it: come in and fix things. She’s a fixer!”

Nicola quickly targets Penny when she realizes she was involved in his arrest. How does he approach taking care of Penny?

“She’s like a cat with a mouse! Nicola is so protective of her children and doesn’t trust Penny’s trust in Harry. Nicola doesn’t trust Penny at all; her father is in the police force!”

“So Nicola is very careful about Penny’s every move and I think her way of dealing with people like that is to scare them. She toys with Penny a bit and then when she notices her weak spot, she exposes her.”

How is Nicola’s relationship with Teddy?

Nicola smiles at Teddy as they sit next to each other in EastEnders

Nicola and Teddy Mitchell. BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron

“Nicola loves Teddy and wants him back. But they certainly weren’t what we’d call a functioning couple. Nicola is pretty manipulative towards most people, but she can’t manipulate Teddy as well as she used to, and this infuriates her.”

“They met when they were young and they went from childhood to being adults together and discovered who they were while being in a relationship with each other. From that comes the ability to push each other’s buttons very quickly and know what’s going to happen before they push them.”

Teddy is trying to move forward after her divorce. Is this difficult for Nicola?

“I think it’s heartbreaking and infuriating. Nicola is used to getting what she wants. There’s that human trait we all have: ‘I want it. Why can’t I have it?’ As children we learn to rein in this instinct, but Nicola couldn’t. So Teddy’s thoughts were: ‘Why can’t I get it?'”

How does Teddy feel when he tells Barney his secret?

“Nicola is angry and embarrassed and feels exposed. The only person who can expose her like this is Teddy. She’s usually one step ahead, but when Teddy does this, she can’t stay one step ahead.

“Nicola wants her sons back and will fight to do so. But Teddy’s announcement means she needs to step back and regain Barney’s trust. Nicola doesn’t want things to be hard, she wants them to be easy, so this is a switch that works for her.” “

What will happen when he meets Sharon?

Sharon looks at Nicola with a grin on her face

Sharon vs. Nicola! BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron

“The scene is so fun because they clash right away! Letitia Dean is the perfect place to work and our first scene includes my favorite line I’ve ever said on screen! Nicola is not a woman’s woman and neither is she. I’m not interested in women, I’m not interested in women’s friendships, I’m not interested in that support network.”

“The person he is initially rude to may be Sharon or another woman. However, when he finds out that Sharon and Teddy are dating, he sees Sharon as an obstacle to be overcome and begins to think about how he can ruin their relationship. Nicola will do whatever it takes to get Teddy back.” “He’s going to do it, so Sharon should have his back.”

What does Nicola think of the rest of the Mitchells?

“In the beginning, he measures everyone. He’s heard of Phil because of his fame, and he’s intrigued to see if Phil can manipulate him. With Honey, he realizes she’s a good person he can get his claws into when he needs to be.

“He knows Honey is too nice to say no to him, like when he invites her to lunch. He didn’t know Billy existed, so he wants to meet Teddy’s brother and get to know him. For the most part, he can turn any situation to his advantage.”

Laura Doddington stands with her arms crossed in a black outfit as Nicola Mitchell in EastEnders

Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) means business. BBC

What was it like working with Roland, Elijah and Lewis?

“It was absolutely amazing. One of the things that really surprised me was how much like a theater company the cast was. Everyone was so supportive. Roland, Elijah and Lewis were lovely. I had some big monologues to do in the theatre. They were very supportive for the first few weeks until I was happy.” They helped me, it feels like we’re family now.”

What can we expect from Nicola Mitchell in her first few weeks in Albert Square?

“Nicola is a woman who knows what she thinks and is not afraid of anyone or anything. What I like most about her is that she is an intelligent and very witty woman. So you can expect a woman who is not afraid to leave her mark.”

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EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and on BBC iPlayer from 6am.

Visit our dedicated section EastEnders page For the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you want to watch more, check out our episode TV Guide And Publication Guide.