1970s child star and theatre actress Bonnie Langford joins EastEnders

1970s child star and theatre actress Bonnie Langford is set to swap the West End for Albert Square when she joins EastEnders.Langford is joining the soap as Carmel Kazemi, Kush's mother, the BBC has announced.Carmel is an Essex girl at heart, and as an overly protective mother she loves her children, but has a tendency to embarrass them.

Best known for her stage roles in Chicago and Cats, as well as her role as Mel Bush, Doctor Who's assistant, Langford said: "I'm so thrilled and delighted to be part of EastEnders."I'm a great fan of the show and think the recent 30th anniversary was sensational and shows just how good British television can be. To be part of this family is an absolute privilege."Talking about her arrival, executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins said: "Bonnie Langford is a British institution - and an old-school hard-graft actress gifted at both comedy and serious drama."Bonnie brings wit, pathos and a touch of class to Carmel Kazemi - a thoroughly modern Essex divorcee who isn't quite ready to cut the apron strings firmly attached to her son Kush. Even if it means clashing spectacularly with an already prickly Shabnam."She will start filming her scenes this month and will make her first appearance on screen in June.