A drama student is celebrating after landing a role in popular soap EastEnders.

Clair Norris, who attends Miskin Theatre School at North Kent College in Oakfield Lane, Dartford, will play Bernadette, the daughter in the Taylor family who are due to arrive in Albert Square in the summer.

The 19-year-old Higher National Certificate (HNC) student said: “I’m so excited to go on a journey with my character Bernadette, and to be a part of the Taylor family.

“I never in a million years thought my first TV role would be in EastEnders.

“It’s surreal but I’m ever so grateful to be given the opportunity and I can’t wait to see the audience’s reaction to us.”

Bernadette, according to an EastEnders’ spokesman, has little interest in anything other than sitting around the house and dreaming of being famous.

The Taylor family consists of single mum Karen, played by Lorraine Stanley, and Bernadette’s older brother Keanu, played by Danny Walters, and younger siblings Riley and Chatham, who have learning difficulties and are portrayed by real-life brothers Tom and Alfie Jacobs.

They will also be bringing two pets – Bronson the dog and Rooney, a bearded dragon.

Sean O’Connor, the show’s executive producer, described the Taylors as “noisy, brash and not-to-be-messed-with”.

He said: “Karen is a twenty-a-day lioness, bringing up her kids with no support, no money and a very loud mouth.

“But though they may lack cash, the Taylors have love and warmth in spades. This summer is going to be explosive as the Taylors settle in Walford. The Square will never be quite the same again.”

Clair isn’t the only Miskin student to find fame.

The school also taught Gemma Arterton, who has starred in numerous films including two St Trinian’s movies, Harry Reid, who plays Ben Mitchell in EastEnders, and Dominic Power, who appeared in The Bill and Emmerdale.