Remember EastEnders’ first lesbian couple Binnie and Della? They look completely different 27 years later

EASTENDERS’ first lesbian couple Binnie and Della look completely different 27 years after their groundbreaking storyline.

Played by actors Sophie Langham and Michelle Joseph, they were introduced to fans in 1994 in the soap’s first all-female romance.

The soap added to the excitement by making Della and Binnie a mixed-race couple.

The young and beautiful characters made headlines in the press when EastEnders screened its first lesbian kiss.

Binnie was out and proud to be lesbian, in stark contrast to her shy and retiring girlfriend, Della.

They featured in 68 episodes for just under two years and unusually for soapland, they left the square together after a few years as a happy couple.

Michelle, now aged 52, was raised in South London and won the role of Walford resident Della aged just 24.

After her stint on the hit BBC soap she appeared as WPC Ronnie Lonnegan in A Touch of Frost in 2002, and as Sister Anne in 2008 TV series Apparitions.

She has also had minor roles in other shows such as As Time Goes By, The Bill, Holby City and Doctors.

More recently Michelle has fought to improve mental health services in Britain.

She is a patient representative at the Royal College of Psychiatrists and has spoken publicly about being a patient on a psychiatric ward, becoming homeless, and her experience of racism in the UK.

Since leaving Albert Square, Sophie has landed a number of smaller acting roles in Jonathan Creek, Doctors, Holby City and The Bill.

Rex

The pair attended the same college in South London before being hired as Binnie and Della[/caption]

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Michelle, 52, is now a mental health advocate[/caption]