EastEnders actor Sam Buchanan announces engagement to Dire Straits rocker's daughter

EastEnders star Sam Buchanan has revealed he is engaged to co-star girlfriend Issy Knopfler. Sam, who starred as Fitzy in the BBC soap, stars alongside Issy, the daughter of Dire Straits rocker Mark Knopfler, in fantasy series The Wayfinders.

The couple met while filming the show and began dating in 2024, before announcing their engagement two years later.

Issy announced the news on Instagram with the caption "02.10.2026", and a selfie of her and Sam posing with their mouths open in shock and flashing the huge rock on her finger.

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She also shared a snap of Sam posing next to a celebratory cake with the words "engaged" on top.

Several fans flocked to the comment section to share their congratulations, including the official page for The Wayfinders, which said: "opened up this app to the best news ever 🧡🧡🧡 congratulations!!!"

Their Wayfinders co-star Winter Bassett added: "OH MY GODDDDD!!!!!!!💙💙💙 congratulations you guys!!!"

Journalist and presenter Mariella Frostrup wrote: "Happy happy day! Congratulations Issy and Sam. Couldn’t be happier for you two lovebirds xxx."

Sam is best known for appearing in EastEnders as Fitzy in 2021, a stab victim in a knife crime storyline.

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Fitzy, a friend and co-worker of police officer Callum Highway, was attacked by a mugger who was trying to harm Kat Slater with a blade.

He was left fighting for his life in the hospital, but thankfully survived his attack and made a full recovery.

Though he didn't become a recurring character on the soap, Callum did make reference to going for a drink with his pal following his ordeal.

Issy is an actor and producer, best known for appearing in Before We Die, Silent Witness, and The Wayfinders.

EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.

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