EASTENDERS – Screenwriter, Nkiru Njoku Makes BBC Soap Debut With First Aired Episode

 

Nigerian screenwriter Nkiru Njoku has officially made her writing debut on the iconic BBC One soap EastEnders, with her first credited episode airing on Wednesday, 26 November 2025. The milestone marks a major achievement for the writer—already celebrated in Nollywood and African television—as she brings her storytelling talent to one of Britain’s longest-running and most influential TV dramas.

The episode, which aired during the show’s prime-time slot, is Njoku’s first as part of the BBC Writers’ Studio, a highly selective programme that develops emerging writing talent for the broadcaster’s flagship dramas. Her entry into the EastEnders writing team places her among a distinguished group of international voices shaping contemporary British television.

Best known for her eight-year tenure as Head Writer on West Africa’s longest-running daily series, Tinsel, Njoku brings over a decade of experience in serial drama, character-driven storytelling, and emotionally layered narratives. Her cross-continental career also includes scripting for MTV Shuga: Alone Together, leading content for Project Fame West Africa, and writing/directing the award-winning short film Oríkì.

Industry watchers have hailed her debut as a significant cultural milestone—not just for Njoku, but for the growing visibility of African screenwriters in global television. Her progression from Nollywood writers’ rooms to prime-time British TV highlights the increasing global demand for diverse storytelling voices.

Njoku has not yet publicly commented on the episode’s broadcast, but colleagues and fans across Nigeria, the UK, and the African diaspora have celebrated the achievement on social media.

Her upcoming episodes and BBC-developed original projects are expected to follow in 2026.


- Jimi D Baldheaded Guy