Ann Mitchell is returning to 'EastEnders'.

Ann Mitchell

Ann Mitchell

The 79-year-old actress will reprise her role as no-nonsense matriarch Cora Cross next month as she heads to the court room for a bitter custody battle with her daughter Tanya Cross' (Jo Joyner) ex Max Branning (Jake Wood) and her own daughter, Rainie Branning (Tanya Franks), who he recently paid to marry.

Max is seeking custody of his late daughter Abi Branning's (Lorna Fitzgerald) baby Abi, who managed to survive while unborn in her mum's tum, despite her mother tragically falling to her death from the Queen Vic roof.

An insider said: "Max and Rainie are stunned when Cora shows up out of the blue with little Abi and are even more shocked when she allows them to spend time with her."

But Cora is no fool and Max and Rainie soon find out her tactics are very much for a reason, potentially damaging their chances of winning custody of little Abi.

The insider added to the Daily Mirror newspaper: "It soon becomes clear she has an ulterior motive ... is she about to ruin their chances of getting baby Abi?"

Ann's last appearance in the BBC One soap was in February when she made a brief return for poor Abi's funeral, alongside Jo.

At the time, she warned Max to stay away from the baby, who she has been looking after since her grand-daughter's death.

Ann initially appeared in 'EastEnders' for just one week in April 2011 before returning as a regular character in July, and remaining on the soap until 2015.

But she returned to the programme in May 2017 and has since made a number of appearances.

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