Laila Rouass has officially arrived in Albert Square as the ‘first love’ of Panesar matriarch Suki – but within minutes some EastEnders fans made the same demand.

EastEnders fans are urging soap bosses to keep newcomer Ayesha as a long-term character after actress Laila Rouass arrived on the BBC soap on Monday evening (August 5).

During the latest visit to the Square, Suki Panesar and her youngest son Vinny were enjoying lunch at Walford East when Nish walked in.

The dying businessman expressed a look of revenge as Ayesha soon followed through the restaurant doors leaving Suki shocked.

For context, Ayesha is the widow of Hardeep, the man who Nish Panesar killed more than two decades ago when he believed he and Suki were having an affair – although it was Ayesha she actually had feelings for.

He contacted Ayesha under false pretences to seek forgiveness for his actions before he dies, but deep down he wants to use Ayesha to break up ex-wife Suki and her girlfriend Eve Unwin.

As she came face-to-face with his husband’s murderer it was obvious she was still furious and stormed out. Suki rushed after Ayesha to explain she wasn’t involved in Nish’s scheme as the pair were divorced.

Back at the house, the old friends had a heart-to-heart where Suki admitted that she had let Nish think she was involved with Hardeep, blaming herself for his murder.

Ayesha revealed that Suki’s feelings were reciprocated and she had always known she was gay, gaining the courage to come out after Hardeep’s death.

The pair found common ground as Ayesha refused to have sympathy for Nish and they confronted him together, leaving him disappointed that his plan had failed.

Suki asked Ayesha to stick around and they met up with Eve for a drink in The Vic, but there was a familiarity between the former friends that unnerved Eve.

Nish then planted doubt in Eve’s mind as he exposed the two women’s past feelings for one another. “I guess you could say that she was Suki’s first love,” he said. “I just hope it’s not a problem for you.”