| George Knight | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| EastEnders character | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Portrayed by | Colin Salmon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2023–present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | Episode 6708 1 June 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classification | Present; regular | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Chris Clenshaw | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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George Knight is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Colin Salmon. George was introduced by executive producer Chris Clenshaw in episode 6708, broadcast on 1 June 2023, as the patriarch of the Knight family. Initially billed as a charismatic ex-boxer and protective father, the character debuted alongside his girlfriend Elaine Peacock (Harriet Thorpe) and daughters Gina (Francesca Henry) and Anna (Molly Rainford). His storylines in the serial have included his arrival and moving into The Queen Victoria, his proposal to Elaine, his friendship with Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), the reveal that his ex-wife Rose was actually Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins), discovering he was adopted through baby farming, his ensuing identity struggles, his complicated relationship with his adoptive parents, cheating on Elaine with Cindy, meeting his biological brothers Kobina (Jonathan Nyati) and Kojo Asare (Dayo Koleosho), marrying Elaine, discovering Cindy's affair with Junior, and being suspected of attempted murder when Cindy is attacked on Christmas Day 2024.
Across his stint, George has been portrayed as a good-hearted and charming man, as well as a loving father. Salmon expressed excitement about joining the soap after the news of his casting was released, as he could easily identify with George's character. As the character would be inheriting the show's central pub, The Queen Victoria, he was billed as the soap's new "lord of the manor".[1] To ensure accuracy on George's baby farming storyline, the show worked and consulted with experts and people who lived through it. George's character received a lukewarm reception, but Salmon's performance was generally well-received. For his portrayal of George, Salmon was longlisted for "Best Serial Drama Performance" at the 29th National Television Awards, and nominated for "Best Actor" at the 2024 Radio Times Soap Awards.