EastEnders New Year’s Day spoilers as Lauren Branning makes shock return
SOAP watchers have been keen to see her again and the time has finally come for her to head back to Walford.
Actress Jacqueline Jossa returns to EastEnders, reprising the role of Lauren Branning for a shocking new storyline.
The beloved character reappeared in Albert Square in late 2022 as she attended Dot Cotton's funeral - and confronted a shocked Linda Carter about her affair with her father, Max Branning.
But in June, 2023, she made another appearance, taking fans by surprise as it was unannounced, alongside Peter Beale (Thomas Law) and the rest of his family.
It was then reported she'd be coming back to Walford in the new year and she won't be on her own.
Actress Kitty Castledine has joined the line-up of the BBC One soap as she was announced to take on the role of Penny Branning, who is none other than Jack Branning's daughter.
Penny was last physically seen in the Square in 2008, while she was struggling to warm up to the copper's then-girlfriend Ronnie Mitchell.
And while she was mentioned in the long-running show sporadically throughout the years, Penny was still staying away from Walford, mostly due to her lack of mobility as she is paralysed from the waist down and relies on a wheelchair.
Coming up, Lauren and Penny are in Paris when they make the decision to go back to Walford together due to recent events.
But in later scenes, Penny arrives back in the Square on her own and Lauren is nowhere to be seen.
How will Penny explain her cousin's disappearance?
With the Christmas murder mystery finally aired on Monday, December 25, 2023, thus ending a nail-biting ten-month long wait, viewers can wait and see what's in store for Penny and Lauren.
The pair may be returning to a devastated Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) whose marriage with Denise Fox (Diane Parish) has been steadily heading for the rocks for several months.
Things went from bad to worse for the couple when Jack decided to embark on an affair with Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner).
Jack and Stacey grew closer as they supported one another in their duties towards granddaughter Charli Slater, who was born in September, 2023, but the copper recently decided to try and fix his union with Denise.
Could his daughter Penny and niece Lauren help him?
EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.
