Jacqueline Jossa is returning to 'EastEnders'.
Jacqueline Jossa is going back to EastEnders on a full-time basis
The 30-year-old actress played Lauren Branning on the BBC One soap opera from 2010 until 2018 and made a brief guest appearance earlier this year but is now "really excited" to be making a full-time return to the show.
She told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: "I’m really excited. It’s such an amazing time to be back as there is so much buzz around 'EastEnders' at the moment. I’ve been watching and loving it like a fan.
Walford holds a special place in my heart, so it really does feel like coming home!"
Producer Chris Clenshaw is "delighted" that Jacqueline is returning to the show as he teased tat there is "plenty of unfinished business" for her character.
He said: "I’m delighted to welcome Jacqueline back to the role of Lauren Branning. We only saw Lauren on-screen a few of months ago, but her return left plenty of unfinished business between her and the Beales. The Branning family have a long history of being at the heart of the drama in Walford, and we’re thrilled to have Jacqueline back in the Square as she continues that family tradition."
According to the outlet, Jacqueline will be back filming in the coming weeks but an insider claimed that bosses are trying to keep quiet about any details of her return storyline.
An insider said: "Jacqueline’s return as Lauren Branning is going to spell lots of drama in Albert Square.
“The character has a lot of history and scores to settle, she is definitely going to bring the drama. Bosses are staying tight-lipped about when fans will see her return on-screen. But it’s set to be around the end of the year and likely to coincide with the soap’s legendary festive storylines.
“Her old castmates can’t wait to start filming with her too as she’s such a pro and has a great sense of humour."
The former 'I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!' winner - who also returned to 'EastEnders' in December 2022 for the funeral of Dot Cotton (June Brown) - recently admitted that it was the "best day of [her] life" when she got the job and found herself working with famed actors Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater) and Jake Wood (Max Branning).
Speaking on the 'Soap from the Box' podcast, she said: "It was the best day of my life when I went and saw The Vic for the first time.
"Jake Wood took me around. I was buzzing to meet him, I loved the Brannings, I loved Bradley. I was Lacey Turner's biggest fan. I still am, I bloody love her. 'EastEnders' would have been my ideal job and I thought in my head 'That is the job for me!' because I am East End through and through, I didn't have to change my voice. I thought Lacey was so good and natural and then I was working with her! I had huge parts in all of the 'Who Killed Archie?' storyline. It was crazy!
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