EastEnders star Barbara Smith on new Dana drama: 'Fans are going to hate it!'

Things are going to become a bit tense in EastEnders, to say the least. With Dana Monroe now estranged from her ex Bobby Beale (Clay Milner Russell), her attentions are set to shift to Peter (Dayle Hudson).

And actress Barbara Smith, who plays her, has been pretty up front with Metro.co.uk when it comes to fan reactions to what is coming up.

‘Oh I think they’ll absolutely hate it!’ she laughed when we caught up with her.

‘They’re very invested in Dana and Bobby and Peter Beale isn’t the nicest character on the show, I don’t think he’s very well loved! I think they’ll hate it but they might love to hate it.’

Pondering how she views Dana’s growing feelings for Peter, who she previously disliked, Barbara mused: ‘If I was Dana’s friend, I’d say to her stay right away.

‘Because Dana is naïve and innocent, I think she wants something a bit exciting and forbidden, I don’t think she really sees it lasting with Peter either. But that won’t stop her!’

Peter and Dana find themselves supporting one another, with Dana returning to work and Peter feeling pushed out by family over Ben Mitchell’s (Max Bowden) attack on him.

And this leads to Dana reading the signals, and leaning in for a kiss. But could she be getting the wrong end of the stick?

‘I think it would be a knock [if Peter rejects Dana], specifically because she doesn’t really have any friends,’ Barbara sighed.

‘I think if she is rejected by him, it would be so awkward as she’d have to see him back at work the next day.

‘Having said that, Dana doesn’t really mind putting herself out there, she isn’t reserved. When her heart wants something, she doesn’t really mind getting rejected!’

It’s fair to say that this is just the beginning of the storyline, and Barbara has shared her enthusiasm for a potential showdown in the future, if Bobby finds out what has been going on.

‘I’m definitely looking forward to a bit of that! It’s quintessentially EastEnders!’

So what next then? Barbara has a few cryptic hints.

‘Bobby really wants to get back with Dana, quite badly, and I don’t think he’s going to drop that anytime soon.

‘I think he’s going to keep pursuing that but also, if Peter rejects Dana, I think she’ll still have feelings for him.

‘Tensions will continue to rise and I think that’ll cause some friction, maybe some other stuff!’

Other stuff, hey? Is this what fans might be divided over? Brace yourselves! But away from Dana’s dilemmas, viewers can look forward to an exciting summer ahead.

She enthused: ‘Chris has come in and he’s definitely making his mark, there’s a definite exciting Summer ahead!’

You can read our full interview with Barbara in this week’s free soaps newsletter, releasing on Friday. You can sign up to it here.

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