Jacqueline Jossa ‘to make sensational EastEnders return as Lauren Branning’ after secret talks with show bosses
JACQUELINE Jossa is set for a return to EastEnders after approaching its boss about a comeback.
Insiders say she realised how much she missed playing Lauren Branning during a brief cameo for Dot Cotton’s funeral this month.
I’m a Celebrity winner Jacqueline, 30, who first played Lauren in 2010 before leaving in 2017, now wants to go back full-time.
A source said: “Jacqueline hugely enjoyed reprising her role as Lauren for Dot’s funeral. EastEnders was a huge part of her life and she absolutely loves her character.
“She had a conversation with EastEnders boss Chris Clenshaw when she was back filming and made it clear she would be up for Lauren returning to Walford.
“Naturally it all depends on storylines and obviously Jacqueline would need to make it fit around her family life.
“But her two daughters are older now and going back on set made her realise just how much she missed EastEnders.
“She hopes that something can be rustled up for Lauren and that she can return full time at some point in the future.”
Before Dot’s funeral, Jacqueline’s character Lauren was last seen on screen in February 2018.
Her character was involved in a shock storyline which saw her and her sister Abi fall from the Queen Vic roof.
While Lauren survived, Abi, played by Lorna Fitzgerald, died and Lauren later moved back to New Zealand.
After leaving EastEnders Jacqueline – who has daughters Ella, seven, and Mia, four, with reality TV star Dan Osborne — went on to win I’m A Celebrity: Get Me Out Of Here! in 2019.
It was not all plain sailing, as earlier this year Jacqueline said she was forced to sell her house after leaving the soap when she fell on hard times.
Jacqueline said: “I was on EastEnders for eight years where you got a set pay cheque every week.
“It was a set pay cheque and I didn’t have to do anything else. It was my comfort blanket, it was what I knew. Then it just wasn’t.
“There’s no such thing for me as maternity pay, so when I had kids I had to leave and I had to do magazine covers to make money to feed my kids.
“Once you’re gone, when you’re not on the show, you don’t have money. Done! You’re not paid anything else.
“People go, ‘Why are you selling your soul?’ I’m feeding my kids. That’s the difference. I’m not embarrassed, I’m not ashamed.
“There’s been times where I haven’t had money. Before I went in the jungle I was struggling with money. I had to sell my house.
“And then I went in the jungle and had amazing opportunities, so I would never ever look at somebody and say, ‘They’re not hustling enough’. You have to do it.”
Speaking about returning to EastEnders for Dot’s funeral, Jacqueline said earlier this month she believed her character was there to remind viewers she existed.
Jacqueline said: “She is just popping in to see old friends.
“I feel like she is there to let people know there’s still hope and a future for the Brannings.”