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EastEnders: E20 – the new online soap – will feature four brand new faces: Fatboy (Ricky Norwood), Leon Small (Sam Attwater), Mercy Olubunmi (Bunmi Mojekwu) and Zsa Zsa Carter (Emer Kenny).

Diederick Santer, Executive Producer of EastEnders: E20, commented: "Not content with having E20 written by new writers, and our theme tune remixed by the audience, we've now found four talented newcomers from London to front the show. Emer, Bunmi, Ricky and Sam are brilliant young performers, noisy and fun."

The foursome crash into the Square seeking solace from family life, with nowhere to live and no one else to turn to they begin to depend on one another for support. Squatting together in 89b George Street the secrets that drove them from home are slowly revealed. The highs and lows of their shared problems cement their friendship and the group become a force to be reckoned with.

Fatboy, played by Ricky Norwood, has invented all manner of personas since he was seven years old in an attempt to avoid being Arthur Chubb (his real name). His current and most sustained self-creation is Fatboy.

Ricky said: "I am so excited to be on the show, it's an honour to now be part of a show that has been on in my house for as long as I have been alive. I am born and bred in the East End – a stones throw from the real Albert Square – it feels like a homecoming. I love being part of a cast that feels like family and can't wait to have a scene in the Vic."

Leon, played by Sam Attwater, is sexy and effortlessly cool but with a short fuse and a lack of respect for those in authority. Leon's mum died when he was young and he takes a great deal of responsibility for his alcoholic father. He is a dedicated boxer and takes pride in the fact that in the ring "no one touches the face".

Sam remarked: "It is a great privilege to be working with such great actors and on such an established show. It's an amazing opportunity and I'm really enjoying tackling a character like Leon who has so much going on!"

Mercy Olubunmi, played by Bunmi Mojekwu, lives with her strict grandmother, from whom she is harbouring a huge secret. Mercy has always been a good girl, but when her parents head back to Nigeria she feels abandoned.

Bunmi said: "I feel so blessed to be a part of Eastenders: E20. My first day on set was just crazy, I was on Albert square – a dream come true – I'm enjoying every second."

Zsa Zsa, played by Emer Kenny is a beautiful, funky and outspoken tomboy, very similar to her Auntie Shirley (Linda Henry). Zsa Zsa's very bright but she likes to think she doesn't need help from anyone.

Emer – who was one of the thirteen writers of EastEnders: E20 – said: "I'm really thrilled to have been given the opportunity to both write for and act in a show connected with such an iconic drama as EastEnders. Kids these days use their laptops more than their televisions, so it's really exciting to be a part of a project that's taking drama online and connecting with these viewers."

Deborah Sathe, producer of EastEnders: E20, said: "Developing an online spin-off using Albert Square as a playground has been fantastic. It is so exciting to see these four young Londoners collide with the residents of Walford. The E20 site really celebrates these characters to the max and there will be lots of added extras!"

Fatboy, Leon and Zsa Zsa will also be seen on screen in EastEnders on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ One from January. EastEnders: E20 will be available on www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders/e20 in the New Year.

Notes to Editors

The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's teen brand, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Switch, launched The Cut in September 2009. The Cut is a multi-platform soap with fast-paced storylines packed full of drama for soap-loving teens. Featuring a hot cast of rising stars and storylines suggested by teens, The Cut broadcasts online from Monday to Friday in five minute episodes at bbc.co.uk/switch with an omnibus edition on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two on Saturdays.

RN