EastEnders boss John Yorke has revealed how Brooke Kinsella was the first person they spoke to when planning their harrowing knife crime plot.
The actress, who played Kelly Taylor from 2001 to 2004, launched the Ben Kinsella Trust after her brother was fatally stabbed in 2008 and was later given an MBE for her work.
Speaking at an EastEnders press event earlier this week, show boss Yorke explained how he wanted the go-ahead from Brooke and her dad, before persevering with the plot.
"Perhaps because of our relationship with Brooke Kinsella, the subject has always felt very close to the show's heart," John said. "And so when we decided to tackle it, she and her father were the very first people we spoke to, in order to get their blessing.
"They were incredibly open, and in turn, opened us up to a whole new world of which we thought we knew something and realised we knew nothing.
"So through them we met the most extraordinary people and we wanted to get the show right, we wanted to get it absolutely accurate."
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He added: "It's a tricky subject to do and easy to get wrong, and so we talked to the people they recommended.
"We kept talking, and the more we talked something really fascinating started to evolve, which was an idea that these stories were so powerful by themselves that really everyone just needed to hear those stories."
Carmel's son Shakil was tragically murdered after being stabbed back in May and he'll be laid to rest in Friday's (July 6) emotional scenes.
Shakil's funeral episode will see EastEnders take a break from its traditional format to feature stories from real people speaking to the camera about their own experiences with knife crime.
EastEnders continues tonight at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on BBC One. For a full rundown of soap schedule changes due to the World Cup, please click here.
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