Jessie Wallace will return to 'EastEnders' early next year.
Jessie Wallace
The 46-year-old actress - who played Kat Moon - walked out of Albert Square with her co-star and on-screen husband Shane Richie last year so the couple could go to Ireland to search for Kat's long-lost son, a saga which was told in spin-off series 'Redwater', but she's now ready to return to Walford in the coming months.
News of Jessie's return will come as a shock for many fans as Kat was last seen lifeless after a boat crash when 'Redwater' aired in June, while husband Alfie (Richie) appeared to have died following an operation.
However, returning executive producer John Yorke - who introduced Kat's iconic Slater family in 2000 - was very keen to bring back one of his most popular creations.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "John loves the Slaters.
"A lot of people thought he might bring some of them back.
"He believes they're long-standing favourites who should be at the heart of the show and thinks Kat's return will be a hit.
"Nobody knew if she or Alfie would return so it looked like they had been killed.
"This will surprise fans."
Jessie - who played Kat from 2000-05 and 2010-16 - recently admitted she was keen to make a return to Albert Square because she missed her alter ego.
She said: "I miss Kat. I miss the scripts with the great one-liners. I do miss my friends there."
And Shane has also voiced his desire to go back to the soap.
He said: "John Yorke, who's now taken over 'EastEnders', in 2001 and 2002 he created the Slaters and the Moons.
"He's one of the best executive producers I've worked with. He's back at 'EastEnders' now, so who knows with Kat and Alfie?"
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