Tanya Franks is returning to 'EastEnders'.
Tanya Franks as Rainie Cross
The 50-year-old actress will briefly reprise her role as drug addict Rainie Cross in the long-running soap in tonight's (19.01.18) episode when the Branning family gather around Abi Branning's (Lorna Fitzgerald) hospital bed to say their final goodbyes before her life support is tragically switched off following her devastating fall last month.
Tanya said: "It's like never having been away. I love working with everyone at 'EastEnders'. With John Yorke at the helm at the moment, the show is in good hands and I'm excited to explore the next chapter in Rainie's journey."
And, although she's only making a flying visit this time around, Tanya will slip back into her alter ego's cheap clobber in the spring when Rainie returns to Albert Square once again to wreak havoc for her former brother-in-law Max Branning (Jake Wood).
It's not known what brings Rainie back in a few months' time as her sister Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner) has already moved on, her niece Abi will be dead and her other niece Lauren is set to flee - although it's not yet known how or why she'll leave.
Rainie first appeared in Walford in 2007 but her arrival was somewhat difficult as she caused nothing but hassle for her family due to her on/off battle with a heroin addiction.
Meanwhile, viewers have been gripped to the edge of their seats since Christmas Day (25.12.17) when Abi and Lauren plunged from the roof of the Queen Victoria pub while trying to persuade their deranged father Max to come down after threatening suicide.
While Lauren managed to come away with a broken spine, Abi - who was pregnant - fell into a coma and was recently declared brain dead by medical professionals.
Her baby daughter - who is yet to be named - was delivered via emergency surgery.
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