Tamzin Outhwaite for Free Fruit Fridays
Tamzin Outhwaite has said EastEnders is back to its "glory days".
The 43-year-old actress, who starred as Melanie Owen in the BBC One soap, has praised producers for luring back top stars such as Lindsey Coulson (Carol Jackson) and Michael French (David Wicks) and thinks their returns have helped the show get back to its best.
She exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I'm a big fan of Lindsey Coulson and Michael French, so having those two back is great, and then you've got Natalie Cassidy (Sonia Fowler) back as well. It's kind of like the glory days again."
However, Tamzin doesn't foresee a return for her own character, despite being involved in a number of high profile storylines, including a marriage to Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), a turbulent relationship with Steve Owen (Martin Kemp) and an affair with Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden).
She said: "I always say never say never because Mel's such a great character, but there's no-one left there that she would visit really, unless it was Ian. She's only got links to Ian and Phil and they're quite tenuous links now."
But the blonde beauty is glad producers didn't kill off Mel should she ever feel the urge to return.
She added: "I don't really like the idea of killing people off."
Tamzin - who has daughters Florence Elsie, five, and 19-month-old Marnie Mae with ex-husband Tom Ellis - also spoke of how difficult it is to get her children to eat healthily and explained why she's supporting McDonald's' Free Fruit Fridays campaign.
She said: "I think it makes it more of a treat if they can have a happy meal and get a free bag of fruit. That way they get two or three of their five-a-day, so for me, I'm behind it for health reasons."
McDonald's will be giving out a free Apple & Grape Fruit Bag with every Happy Meal purchased on the first Friday of every month. The next Free Fruit Friday is Friday 4 April.
Tagged in Adam Woodyatt Tamzin Outhwaite Martin Kemp