Touching new friendship born between two unlikely EastEnders favourites after rocky start
A heartwarming bond has emerged between Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) and Kojo Asare (Dayo Koleosho) in EastEnders.
Ever since Kojo arrived in Albert Square this summer, he’s struggled to adapt to London life, which is radically different from his upbringing in Ghana.
His introduction to Walford was sparked after brother George Knight (Colin Salmon) discovered he was adopted as part of a baby farming agreement in the 1960s. His adoptive mother Gloria (Elizabeth Counsell) then begged her husband Eddie (Christopher Fairbank) to do whatever it took to stop their son from returning home.
Alongside his gang of racist mates, Eddie beat his birth father Henry to death before bundling his body into a suitcase and throwing it into the canal.
Kojo was taken aback to learn that George was present when their dad had been brutally murdered, but later decided to stay at The Queen Vic to get to know his family.
Last week we saw him strike up a bond with Jean in the laundrette, when she showed him how to use the washing machines.
She had her own troubles, having reported Tommy Moon (Sonny Kendall) to social services for abusing his mother Kat Mitchell (Jessie Wallace) and brothers Bert and Ernie.
When she returned to collect her laundry, she discovered that Kojo had taken it upon himself to move her sheets into the dryer – and she wasn’t happy.
Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter) cooled Jean down, unaware of the situation that was really burdening her. She’s also had a turbulent time with boyfriend Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman) after discovering he was giving money to a family that were terrorised by his son Aaron.
In tonight’s episode, Jean was finishing a cleaning shift in the pub when Kojo approached her with a bunch of flowers and an invitation to go on a date with him.
She flew off the handle, asserting that she was in a relationship with Harvey, and Kojo rushed off. Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) reminded her that he is neurodivergent, and she should probably apologise.
In a rush, Jean darted out of the pub and was confronted by an angry Kat, who was still blaming her ex-husband Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) for calling the social.
Kat was also pinning her hopes on being able to reunite with Tommy later that day, in a meeting set up by Zack Hudson (James Farrar), who he is living with.
Later, Jean returned to apologise for being rude to Kojo and took him up on the offer of a ‘mate date’ in The Vic. As the two chatted, she promised to make him her signature dish – a sausage surprise – and he said she was the most honest person he’d ever met.
A guilty Jean was given food for thought, and after overhearing that Tommy had failed to show up to his meeting with Kat, she revealed to her that she was the one responsible.
Will Kat forgive Jean? And will this blossoming friendship lead to more?
