EastEnders fans beg for Jacqueline Jossa to return full time after surprise appearance

The actor thrilled viewers as she reprised the role of Lauren Branning

Julia Hunt
·Contributor
·2 min read
<span class="caas-xray-inline-tooltip"><span class="caas-xray-inline caas-xray-entity caas-xray-pill rapid-nonanchor-lt" data-entity-id="Jacqueline_Jossa" data-ylk="cid:Jacqueline_Jossa;pos:1;elmt:wiki;sec:pill-inline-entity;elm:pill-inline-text;itc:1;cat:Actor;" tabindex="0" aria-haspopup="dialog"><a href="https://search.yahoo.com/search?p=Jacqueline%20Jossa" data-i13n="cid:Jacqueline_Jossa;pos:1;elmt:wiki;sec:pill-inline-entity;elm:pill-inline-text;itc:1;cat:Actor;" tabindex="-1" data-ylk="slk:Jacqueline Jossa;cid:Jacqueline_Jossa;pos:1;elmt:wiki;sec:pill-inline-entity;elm:pill-inline-text;itc:1;cat:Actor;" class="link ">Jacqueline Jossa</a></span></span> made an appearance in <span class="caas-xray-inline-tooltip"><span class="caas-xray-inline caas-xray-entity caas-xray-pill rapid-nonanchor-lt" data-entity-id="EastEnders" data-ylk="cid:EastEnders;pos:2;elmt:wiki;sec:pill-inline-entity;elm:pill-inline-text;itc:1;cat:TvSeries;" tabindex="0" aria-haspopup="dialog"><a href="https://search.yahoo.com/search?p=EastEnders" data-i13n="cid:EastEnders;pos:2;elmt:wiki;sec:pill-inline-entity;elm:pill-inline-text;itc:1;cat:TvSeries;" tabindex="-1" data-ylk="slk:EastEnders;cid:EastEnders;pos:2;elmt:wiki;sec:pill-inline-entity;elm:pill-inline-text;itc:1;cat:TvSeries;" class="link ">EastEnders</a></span></span>. (SOPA Images/Sipa USA)
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EastEnders fans are begging Jacqueline Jossa to stay for good after she made a surprise return.

The actor left the BBC soap in 2018 but her character Lauren Branning turned up again this week, shortly after viewers were rocked by the return of Cindy (Michelle Collins).

Viewers were stunned to see her back and flocked to Twitter to say how much they wanted it to be permanent.

Read more: EastEnders fans say Cindy Beale twist was ruined by spoilers

“So my main question after that ep is are we keeping Jacqueline Jossa???” one person tweeted.

“Because I LOVE Lauren.”

Jake Wood and Jacqueline Jossa as Max and Lauren Branning in 'EastEnders'. (Credit: BBC)
Jacqueline Jossa with Jake Wood, aka Max Branning. (BBC)

Another wrote: “So good to see Jacqueline Jossa back as Lauren Branning! Please for the love of God let this be a permanent return. I’ve missed her."

"Lauren please stay permanently," pleaded someone else.

One fan said Jossa was "the best thing about that episode hands down", and another posted: "I need a full time Jac Jossa return soon."

"Jacqueline Jossa my saviour is back, like I’m sobbing so hard, I love u millions I can't believe you’re back," said one fan.

Another viewer said the soap "smashed it out the park" by bringing Lauren back.

Jossa took over the role of Lauren, the eldest daughter of Max and Tanya, in 2010 and waved goodbye to Albert Square in 2018.

Late last year she reprised her role for a special episode marking Dot Cotton's funeral.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 15: Jacqueline Jossa attends the ITV Palooza 2022 on November 15, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images)
Jacqueline Jossa is a favourite with fans. (Getty Images)

It sparked speculation that she was returning full time but the star said on Instagram at the time: "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."

Read more: EastEnders viewers 'broken' as Lola loses fight with brain tumour

She added: "That's also not me saying I would never go back, when and if the time is right, I would love to."

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