{"id":28096,"date":"2023-01-03T18:23:50","date_gmt":"2023-01-03T17:23:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1763037"},"modified":"2023-01-03T22:53:08","modified_gmt":"2023-01-03T21:53:08","slug":"jacqueline-jossa-shuts-down-eastenders-return-rumours","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/jacqueline-jossa-shuts-down-eastenders-return-rumours\/","title":{"rendered":"Jacqueline Jossa shuts down EastEnders return rumours"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Morgan Cormack\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 03 January 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Although eager fans have been talking about Jacqueline Jossa\u2019s return to Eastenders<\/a>, the actress has now spoken out about the circulating rumours.<\/p>\n

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

Now, Jossa has taken to her Instagram to quash any rumours of a return.<\/p>\n

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Jacqueline Jossa as Lauren Branning in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

She wrote on her Instagram Stories: \u201cJust been inundated with people being lovely, but thinking I\u2019m coming back to Eastenders full time, I don\u2019t know if something has been taken out of an interview or been completely made up but either way I\u2019m just shutting down any rumours or stories.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not on the way back to the square full time, it\u2019s not in talks, I 100 per cent have not confirmed a return. That\u2019s also not me saying I would never go back. When and if the time is right, I would love to. Hope you\u2019re all okay.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jossa continued: \u201cLike 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!\u201d<\/p>\n

The actress recently\u00a0reprised her role<\/a> 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<\/a> in the soap in December last year.<\/p>

The funeral episodes for Dot Branning come following the death of\u00a0iconic actress June Brown at the age of 95 earlier this year.<\/a><\/p>\n

Speaking to\u00a0RadioTimes.com<\/span><\/a> and other press ahead of Dot\u2019s funeral episodes, Jossa reflected on the moment she was asked back for the moving tribute, stating:\u00a0\u201cI mean, it was just a WhatsApp message from my agent. \u2018You\u2019re not really free these two weeks, but you\u2019ve been asked,\u2019 and I was like, \u2018We need to move everything, I\u2019m going back.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was literally a no-brainer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since leaving EastEnders, Jossa has gone on to win\u00a0I\u2019m a Celebrity\u2026 Get Me Out of Here!<\/a>\u00a0in 2019, and appeared on\u00a0The Masked Singer<\/a>\u2018s 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\u2019s soapland return is far from permanent for now.<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n