Amanda Holden’s EastEnders appearance with Ian Beale actor shocks fans
Posted on January 22, 2026
EastEnders fans were stunned to learn that Heart Breakfast presenter Amanda Holden appeared on the BBC soap.
EastEnders fans were left stunned to discover that Amanda Holden once appeared on the BBC soap.
The 54-year-old Heart Radio host recently returned to television alongside her close friend Alan Carr for a new property makeover show set abroad.
Amanda and Alan’s Greek Job currently airs on BBC One every Friday, following the duo as they spend a summer on the Ionian island of Corfu.
This time, they’ve bought a more modest property compared to their previous series, though they face a significant challenge ahead.
Amanda’s career skyrocketed in 2007 when she became a judge on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, sitting alongside Simon Cowell, reports OK!.
Before rising to fame, Amanda Holden pursued an acting career and appeared on EastEnders long before becoming a household name.
In 1993, she appeared on Albert Square as the young Carmen, acting alongside Adam Woodyatt, who played Ian Beale.
Carmen worked at the clothing stall in Bridge Street Market and was eager to secure a permanent position there. Her main task involved selling heart-patterned boxer shorts, which were mysteriously delivered to Richard Cole — the market inspector, played by Ian Reddington — as a prank he clearly didn’t find funny.
Amanda Holden appeared in just five episodes of EastEnders before leaving Walford to pursue a glittering career in entertainment.
She previously shared details of her brief time on the soap with her Heart Radio co-host, Jamie Theakston.
Amanda said: “When I left drama school, one of the first jobs I got was on EastEnders. I had to mind someone’s stall for half an hour, which ended up being about four episodes or so. I was acting opposite Adam Woodyatt, your ex-flatmate! Well, that’s not true.”
She added: “I looked after a jewellery stall while Ian Beale had his fruit and veg, and there was a lot of messing around with rude fruit — that’s all I’ll say. I had a lot of fun; it was a really nice show to be part of.”
EastEnders fans on Reddit were surprised to learn about Amanda Holden’s brief appearance on the soap. One user wrote: “Another surprise! Another celebrity (before they were famous) appeared in EastEnders that I didn’t know about! 1993 — a teeny tiny Amanda Holden!”
Another commented: “Wow. I never knew about this one, it feels so strange to look at haha,” while a third added: “I thought the same. Especially when I heard her speak — she had exactly the same voice as she does now lol.”
One fan shared their astonishment: “Interesting, I had no idea she was on it before she became famous,” and another noted: “Wow, she hasn’t aged a bit in 30 years.”
