Comedy legend Adrian Edmondson is joining the cast of Eastenders.
And the Bottom star has revealed he's the third person off his Manchester University drama course to bag a role in the London soap.
Edmondson, who will play Daniel Cook, a new love interest for Jean Slater, follows in the footsteps of Tom Watt, who played Queen Vic barman Lofty Holloway in the mid 80s, and Paul Bradley, who starred as Nigel Bates, best pal of the Mitchell brothers.
Bradford-born Edmondson said: "There were only 15 boys on my drama course at Manchester Uni, and I'll be the third to appear in EastEnders - so I feel it's a kind of tradition!
"The other two being Tom Watt and Paul Bradley."
Edmondson's character will be a love interest for Jean Slater, played by Gillian Wright, according to the EastEnders Twitter account.
The 62-year-old will make his debut on Albert Square 'later in the summer', the BBC soap said.
His character is described as being 'charming and with a wicked sense of humour' and will be 'the perfect antidote for Jean as she continues her treatment for ovarian cancer'.
Edmondson studied drama at Manchester University from 1975 to 1978, where met his best friend and comedy partner Rik Mayall.
While studying the pair formed a comedy group called 20th Century Coyote, which performed regularly Band on the Wall.
After graduating Edmondson and Mayall went on to create The Young Ones, inspired by their student house in East Didsbury and Bottom.
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Edmondson has since had dramatic roles in the likes of Jonathan Creek, Holby City and Miss Austen Regrets.
He is not the first comedy actor to try his hand at soaps and follows in the footsteps of the likes of Bradley Walsh, Les Dennis and Vic Reeves.
