Star hopes young LGBTQ+ 'proud' of latest plot

Her character Eve Unwin has been involved in a long running plotline about her relationship with Suki Kaur Panesar, played by Balvinder Sopal

EastEnders star Heather Peace has told BBC Radio Sussex she hopes an upcoming story will make young LGBTQ+ people "feel proud of who they are".

Her character Eve Unwin has been involved in a long-running plotline about her relationship with Suki Kaur Panesar, played by Balvinder Sopal.

The characters are due to marry in the New Year's Day edition of the soap.

Ms Peace, who lives in Brighton, East Sussex, also spoke about her experience of being threatened with being outed by a tabloid newspaper when she was in the television show London's Burning.

The characters are due to marry in the New Year's Day edition of the soap

Speaking on BBC Radio Sussex's Out with Kathy Caton on Wednesday, Ms Peace said: "I want them to sit in a room with a family who are watching it, just watching a love story and for them to not feel like it's any different.

"It just feels like they're just watching a love story unfold together, that in turn makes them feel safe and a part of all the community."

She also praised EastEnders' production staff.

"The care that's gone into this New Year week from the art designers, the producers, the costume designer," she said, "I really felt like they knew it mattered to get it right."

Heather received a lifetime achievement award from Diva in April

Ms Peace won a lifetime award from Diva in April for her work raising the visibility of the LGBTQI+ community.

In a 30-year career she has starred in programmes such as Emmerdale and Waterloo Road, but only came out at the age of 34, saying "she could have done it sooner".

She said the issue was nearly forced on her during her stint in the ITV drama London's Burning from 1998 to 2002.

"People were being outed in newspapers for no reason," she recalled, "and there were a couple of very close calls where they were just going to splash it all over the papers, and for some reason they didn't."

She came out when she was cast as a lesbian character in the BBC series Lip Service.

"I was ready, I didn't really care any more what people thought of me. That's a good feeling."

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.