Jacqueline Jossa shuts down EastEnders return rumours

"I am not on the way back to the Square full time, it's not in talks."

Jacqueline Jossa as Lauren Branning in EastEnders.

BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron

Published: Tuesday, 3 January 2023 at 5:23 pm

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Although eager fans have been talking about Jacqueline Jossa's return to Eastenders, the actress has now spoken out about the circulating rumours.

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The Sun had previously reported that Jossa is keen on an Albert Square comeback, citing a source that claimed she told EastEnders boss Chris Clenshaw she would be interested in returning as Lauren Branning.

Now, Jossa has taken to her Instagram to quash any rumours of a return.

Jacqueline Jossa as Lauren Branning in EastEnders

Jacqueline Jossa as Lauren Branning in EastEnders. BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron

She wrote on her Instagram Stories: "Just been inundated with people being lovely, but thinking I'm coming back to Eastenders full time, I don't know if something has been taken out of an interview or been completely made up but either way I'm just shutting down any rumours or stories.

"I am not on the way back to the square full time, it's not in talks, I 100 per cent have not confirmed a return. That's also not me saying I would never go back. When and if the time is right, I would love to. Hope you're all okay."

Jossa continued: "Like I have said many times and continue to say, Eastenders is the best job ever and was an honour for the eight years. As of right now, I am not going back. Thanks so much for all the excited DMs [direct messages] and phone calls and texts. Sorry!"

The actress recently reprised her role as the beloved Branning sister as part of a special set of episodes to pay tribute to Dot Branning (previously Cotton) who died off-screen in the soap in December last year.

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The funeral episodes for Dot Branning come following the death of iconic actress June Brown at the age of 95 earlier this year.

Speaking to RadioTimes.com and other press ahead of Dot's funeral episodes, Jossa reflected on the moment she was asked back for the moving tribute, stating: "I mean, it was just a WhatsApp message from my agent. ‘You're not really free these two weeks, but you've been asked,’ and I was like, ‘We need to move everything, I'm going back.'

"That was literally a no-brainer."

Since leaving EastEnders, Jossa has gone on to win I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2019, and appeared on The Masked Singer's live tour in 2022. Her character Lauren has been revealed as living in New Zealand, so aside from the upcoming special episodes, it looks like Jossa's soapland return is far from permanent for now.

Read more:

Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide, or visit our Soaps hub.

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Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of Morgan Cormack, smiling against a lime green background

Morgan CormackDrama Writer

Morgan Cormack is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering everything drama-related on TV and streaming. She previously worked at Stylist as an Entertainment Writer. Alongside her past work in content marketing and as a freelancer, she possesses a BA in English Literature.

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