EastEnders star Tracy-Ann Oberman will become a regular cast member in the final season of New Tricks.

Oberman joins in the first episode of Season 12 as Fiona Kennedy, forensic pathologist and partner to Nicholas Lyndhurst’s character, Danny Griffin.

The Friday Night Dinner actress commented: “I’m delighted to be a part of the final series for such a well-loved show – especially playing a feisty, smart woman like Fiona. The production has pulled out all the stops to make this a fantastic finale for the fans and the cast and crew are a joy to work with.”

Polly Hill, BBC Head of Independent Drama, added: “It is a pleasure to add yet another actor of such high calibre to the talented cast of New Tricks for the final series and we can’t wait to see the new crew in action come autumn.”

The BBC announced last month that New Tricks will end after its twelfth season. The long-running crime drama began in March 2003 and Dennis Waterman is the only remaining member of the original cast.

New Tricks will return to BBC One this autumn, opening with “an explosive two part story” that will see Waterman’s character, Gerry Standing, depart the show.

Another EastEnders actor, Larry Lamb, will join the cast in Episode 2 as Waterman’s replacement, ex-copper Ted Case, alongside Tamzin Outhwaite, Denis Lawson and Nicholas Lyndhurst.

Guest stars in the new season will include Lucy Benjamin, Kevin Bishop, Amy Nuttall, Bernard Higgins, David Schofield and Adjoa Andoh.

Are you looking forward to the final season of New Tricks? Let us know below…