EastEnders fans stunned as star of iconic 00s show joins BBC soap spin-off as Tracey the barmaid’s son
Fans recognised the new Walford recruit from cult CBBC classic
EASTENDERS fans have spotted a former CBBC star in the soap’s latest spin off.
Oliver Llewellyn Jenkins appears in the Eastender’s spin off series – Tracey: A Day in the Life, following the 60th birthday of the soap’s longest serving character.
Oliver features in the online series as Tracey’s estranged son, Tom, but viewers quickly realised that he had previously featured in another loved BBC series – The Story of Tracey Beaker.
The spin-off is part of a new scheme produced by directors in training who are enrolled on the multi-camera, BBC Studios Drama Productions course based at the soap.
Not only is it an opportunity for new and emerging talent to showcase their skills, but it also puts the spotlight on actor Jane Slaughter who plays Tracey.
She may be the longest serving cast member, first appearing back in February 1985, but Tracey is mostly used in a background role.
Fans who watch the mini-series will also be able to see cameo appearances from Eastenders regulars like Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) and Queen Vic landladies Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) and Elaine Knight (Harriet Thorpe).
Eagle eyed viewers were delighted to spot Oliver and took to socials to discuss his former role as teenager Wilson, who was placed in temporary care with Tracey on the CBBC cult classic.
One said: “Omg her son Tom is played by Oliver Llewellyn Jenkins who played Wilson in Tracy Beaker!! that’s mental!”
Another added: “This was really fun! Loved seeing Wilson from The Story of Tracy Beaker as Tracey’s son Tom” after watching the show.
Oliver appeared in the CBBC show in 2004 and was something of a love interest for the star of the show, Tracey Beaker, played by Dani Harmer.
Even though they shared a kiss and Oliver’s character, Wilson, left his phone number for Tracey when he left, the two never reunited.
Back in Walford though Oliver’s new character doesn’t bring his estranged mum much birthday cheer as it seems he’s only interested in her helping him with unpaid debts.
The mini-series has been an opportunity for fans to see more of other regular background characters too like market traders, Winston and Shrimpy.
EastEnders stars who QUIT
MICHELLE Collins has seen her second EastEnders stint boost her bank balance. Yet what stars have quit this year?
The Sun exclusively reported how Michelle, 62, was down to £20,000 in her company accounts when she agreed to a shock back-from-the-dead return to Albert Square last year.
Her character, Cindy Beale, was presumed dead off-camera in 1998.
Yet what about the 2024 exits?
Earlier this summer, loyal soap fans appeared to note how Stevie Mitchell had “quit” the long-running series.
It came after Alan Ford enjoyed just six-months on-screen.
Bobby Beale actor Clay Milner Russell also left this year after five years in Walford.
Fans also feared Martin Fowler actor James Bye would “quit out of boredom” over recent storylines.
Additionally, a host of stars have quit the BBC soap for Hollywood fame.
One of the most successful stars to come from the BBC One soap is Rob Kazinsky.
He played Stacey Slater’s brother Sean Slater from 2006 to 2009, he has starred in Hollywood blockbusters Pacific Rim and Captain Marvel.
Ben Hardy, who quit EastEnders as Bobby Beale almost a decade ago, went on to break Hollywood the following year, when he starred as Archangel in X-Men: Apocalypse.
Since then, he has played Roger Taylor in Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, and he starred in Michael Bay’s Netflix movie 6 Underground.
Michelle Ryan played Zoe Slater until 2005.
She starred as the lead in short-lived American series Bionic Woman from 2007 to 2008.
Jane spoke about the new opportunity saying: “It was a fantastic experience to work on this project and to work with such talented directors, actors and crew – the collaborative experience was second-to-none and I was delighted to be a part of it.”
Since appearing in Tracey Beaker, Oliver has played various roles on productions like Doctors and Stella and, alongside the Eastender’s spin-off, he can currently be seen in Joy on Netflix.