Jennifer Metcalfe's four months off from 'Hollyoaks' gave her a "new lease of life."
Jennifer Metcalfe
Fans of the soap were left mourning the death of the 34-year-old actress' bolshie alter-ego Mercedes McQueen just under two years ago when her bloody body was dragged across the floor of her family's house after she was brutally stabbed by nemesis Grace Black (Tamara Wall).
But viewers were thrown a curveball last year when the brunette beauty slipped back into her sky-high heels and miniskirts as she rose from the 'dead'.
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz at the TV Choice Awards at London's Dorchester Hotel on Monday (05.09.16) night, she said: "Having the four months off really gave me a new lease for life so I've come back and absolutely loved this first year like the first year I ever joined."
And Jennifer - who first joined the programme in 2006 - is planning to stick around for a lot longer as she's signed a new contract up until late next year.
She explained: "I'm signed until late next year so you've got another year and a half of me yet at least. I've got some of my best friends there."
And there's plenty in store for her alter ego as the fierce raven-head is set to walk down the aisle with her beau Joe Roscoe (Ayden Callaghan).
She said: "Mercedes comes out of prison and it's will she or won't she make it down the aisle with Joe. That's my big story of the year so I'm really excited for that.
"I do know the outcome but I'm not telling you. I'm not allowed but we have also been filming the big stunt of the year as well which is going to be the Halloween episode. It's going to be huge.
"Lots of stuff is going to happen. When we have a stunt of the year, we always want it to be bigger and better than the last one. And this one certainly isn't going to disappoint."
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