EastEnders warms up for clash of the dancers as Tessa Wyatt waltzes into the square

Ann Mitchell as Cora Cross, Rudolph Walker as Patrick Trueman and Tessa Wyatt as Betty during filming of the BBC programme EastEnders (PA)

Cora will have to be on her toes after a new dance partner for Patrick waltzes into EastEnders.

Robin's Nest star Tessa Wyatt will play Betty who teams up with Patrick (Rudolph Walker) and immediately clashes with the fiery Cora (Ann Mitchell) who wants him back on the dancefloor with her.

The actress, who was married to former Radio 1 DJ Tony Blackburn, makes her first appearance in the BBC One soap on Friday July 5.

She is joined on the square a week later by another new character Ollie Walters.

Walters, who will romance Jean Slater after they bump into each other on the allotments, is played by Tony O'Callaghan who played Sergeant Matt Boyden in The Bill.

He said: "I am very excited to be joining a show with as much prestige as EastEnders and I'm looking forward to portraying the nice side and humour of Ollie."

PA