Even Bonnie Langford was nervous for her first day on EastEnders

The Doctor Who actress has taken on the role of Kush Kazemi’s mum Carmel in the BBC drama and admitted that she still felt anxious about new jobs.

According to Digital Spy, asked whether she still suffered from nerves, she said: “Yes. You can be the best driver in the world, but if you don’t know the route you are lost.

“The very first scene I did I had to walk out of a doorway. That was OK but then I had to do a little scene and went up to the director and said, ‘Was that alright?’. He looked as if to say, ‘Why are you asking me?’.”

On whether she had considered joining EastEnders in the past, she said: “In this business you never cross anything out. It has never been something I thought I would be included in.

“A lot of the time you get interviewed and people say, ‘What would you like to do?’ and yes, you hope you always get good work and do something that is nice to be in, that is valuable and authentic, but ultimately you need to work. You never know what is round the corner and that is what I like about the business.

“Usually it is the things that you weren’t expecting that bring out the best in you.”

Bonnie added: “I have some brilliant memories – I never wanted to be a tired old turn looking at my scrapbooks. I always want to look forward.”