Eastenders spin-off Redwater is set to feature some very familiar Irish names. The main plot focuses on popular characters Kat and Alfie as they search for the son that Kat gave up for adoption years previously. According to BBC, the cast includes Maria Doyle Kennedy (Downton Abbey), Ian McElhinney (Game of Thrones), Angeline Ball (Shameless), Fionnuala Flanagan (Lost) and Peter Campion (Brooklyn). Filming on the show is expected to begin next week in Ireland and it will air in 2017. Maria is joining the Redwater cast Jesper Neilsen, is the director of the show, and he recently spoke of his excitement at heading up the project: "We have a really important and fantastic story to tell. About how one woman's search for a lost child opens Pandora's box; revealing the terrible lies and secrets in the little village of Redwater. "A story about how the strong bonds of love in a family can hold everything together, and yet at the same time - destroy everything. "It has echoes of a Shakespearean drama, told in a rich cinematic style, loaded with humour and suspense. I cannot wait to start shooting and see the characters coming to life".