Iconic EastEnders character set to RETURN to the soap
It's her third time in 25 years!
Author: Anna Sky MagliolaPublished 23rd May 2019 Last updated 23rd May 2019
EastEnders fans are set for a treat later this year, after it has emerged that iconic character Bianca Jackson will return to Albert Square. The character famously played by Patsy Palmer between 1993 – 1999, and 2008 – 2014, will see Patsy reprise her role for a third time.
According to the BBC, the infamous character will return to our TV screens later this year for a short stint, executive producer of EastEnders, Jon Sen said, "When I joined the show in January, bringing Bianca Jackson back to the Square was high on my wish list."
He went on, "I'm thrilled to announce that Patsy's agreed to return to reprise her iconic creation in a blistering storyline that will grip fans this autumn. There is no-one more excited than me to see her step back into Albert Square again. I simply cannot wait."
Patsy Palmer
Patsy, who is now 46, originally joined EastEnders 25 years ago. During her first stint on the show, Bianca's wedding to Ricky Butcher, in 1997, attracted one of the biggest audiences for a soap ever - 22 million viewers!
Patsy has also been nominated for many awards while previously on the show, including British Soap Award nominations, and a National Television Award. Patsy also won a British Soap Award in 2000 for Best Actress.
The week begins with Keanu and Ben rowing and as one thing leads to another they come to blows and it's not long before Billy and Lola have to split them up.
Iconic EastEnders character set to RETURN to the soap
2 of 33
While Linda is getting prepared for her night with Mick, Mitch is downstairs in The Vic opening up to his pal. Mick is left torn – he doesn't want to leave Mitch alone.
Later on, Mick and Linda try to help Mitch sober up and he's left touched when they let him stay over for the night.
The week begins with Keanu and Ben rowing and as one thing leads to another they come to blows and it's not long before Billy and Lola have to split them up.
Lola then goes home and discovers her fiancé Ewan has arrived and is on the Square to take her home. She's furious and doesn't hold back with telling him.
Ewan tries to explain that Ben threatened his life but Lola and Billy completely dismiss him and tell him to leave. Bless him.
Lola then confronts Ben and Ewan's accusations but his reaction confirms her fears and it's not long before she tells him to never do that again.
Later on following a dramatic day, Lola decides to hit the bottle at E20. Mel spots Lola drowning her sorrows and quickly calls Billy. However he's stunned when he pops in to check on her and she reveals all about Ben's plan – he wants to bring down Phil.
Ben and Jay get the car lot up and running and when Whitney sees the pair she starts asking about job opportunities for Callum Highway. Jay agrees to interview Callum and is impressed when he helps a customer at the funeral parlour.
Rainie also offers Jay to help out at the car lot but he's having none of it and dismisses her. It's safe to say, Rainie is furious.
The next day Billy confronts Lola about her comments from last night but she insists she was just drunk. Riiiiight.
Ben begins to worry when he can't get hold of Lola and things take a turn for the worse when Phil gives him his cut of the money before shutting him out of any future business deals.
When Ben and Lola catch up, he assures her his latest behaviour is just because he wants to protect her – will she believe him?
Billy contemplates tell Phil about Lola's drunken confession and after Tina Carter offers him some advice he reveals all to his cousin. When Ben arrives he insists what Billy has said is rubbish but Phil isn't convinced and we don't blame him tbh.
While at E20, Ben tries to get Billy back on side but it becomes clear that Billy is having none of it and warns Ben to leave Lola out of his schemes. Ben is furious and plans to get Billy out of the picture once and for all… He overhears his dad telling Billy details about a small job which lets Ben know exactly where he'll be later on.
While Billy prepares for the job, Honey asks him to pick up the kids from school. Ben is alarmed when he discovers Will has gone on the job with Billy.
Ben's plan is in full swing and he rushes to find Billy and Will before it's too late – will he make it in time? Or will his plan go too far?
It's been a year since Shakil died and Bex and Kush visit his grave to pay their respects. While there Bex tells Kush she's in love with him but when he rejects her, she runs off.
Kat messages Kush but when he ignores her, she's left upset. She then decides to avoid him and goes with Jean Slater to her hospital appointment.
Kat is then stunned when Kush turns up at the hospital and apologises for ignoring her. At first she gives him the cold shoulder but eventually she gets over her pride and Kush manages to open up about the death of his brother.
Kat decides to bring Arthur over for some quality time with Kush and he's left feeling touched. He then makes a huge decision – he wants joint custody of his son.
Kat begins to panic when it dawns on her that Kush seriously wants custody of his son, especially when he invites Stacey and Martin Fowler over to discuss it.
Kat seeks out Mo Slater's help to end the night quickly so that Kush doesn't open up to Martin and Stacey Fowler. Unfortunately when Martin and Stacey arrive, Kush instantly tries to discuss custody – will Mo manage to help Kat?
When Kush tells Kat he wants their relationship to go public, Kat is touched. She later surprises Kush and everyone else in The Vic when she passionately snogs him in the pub.
Elsewhere Rainie continues to stir the pot with Stuart Highway when she shows Tina a picture of him and Bex hugging.
Louise Mitchell is stunned when she Bex opens up and it dawns on her that she fancies Kush. Bex struggles to concentrate on her practice exam and she thinks about Kush.
When Stuart walks in on her struggling, he steps in and helps her. It's not long before she bursts into tears and as she cries in Sturt's arms, Sonia walks in….
Later on in The Vic while Kush is waiting for Kat to arrive, Bex builds up enough courage and bravely apologises to him. She's then shocked when she sees Kush is dating Kat.
Meanwhile the Taylor and Baker family continue to grieve following Dinah's death. Karen opens up to her daughter Chantelle Atkins and admits she's scared about going to prison.
Keegan continues to struggle with Dinah's death and Shakil's anniversary and when Tiffany Butcher spots his distraught she offers her support.
Keegan and Tiffany try to support Bailey Baker in the best way possible. However one thing leads to another and it's not long before they share a kiss.
Bernadette is devastated when her BFF reveals she's going on a date with Keegan. She then makes a shocking revelation – Brooke has broken up with her.
Tiff feels bad when she sees how heartbroken her pal is so she decides to pay Brooke a visit and figure out why she dumped Bernadette.
Over to the Branning household and Jack asks Mel if she can babysit while he goes on a date with Denise Fox. Mel is all too eager to be in Jack's house alone and uses the opportunity to take another step into her revenge plan.
When Jack leaves for his date, Mel hunts around on his laptop for information but it's not long before Max walks in on her – she's been caught.
Mel tries to think of an excuse and when Max suggests a nightcap, it dawns on her that she can't close the file she was looking at on the laptop.
Things get even more awkward when Jack and Denise return from their date and join Max and Mel for a drink.
At the Carter household, Mick is excited to have some alone time with Linda Carter but faces a dilemma when he spots Mitch grieving for Dinah.
While Linda is getting prepared for her night with Mick, Mitch is downstairs in The Vic opening up to his pal. Mick is left torn – he doesn't want to leave Mitch alone.
Later on, Mick and Linda try to help Mitch sober up and he's left touched when they let him stay over for the night.
The week begins with Keanu and Ben rowing and as one thing leads to another they come to blows and it's not long before Billy and Lola have to split them up.
Lola then goes home and discovers her fiancé Ewan has arrived and is on the Square to take her home. She's furious and doesn't hold back with telling him.
Ewan tries to explain that Ben threatened his life but Lola and Billy completely dismiss him and tell him to leave. Bless him.
Lola then confronts Ben and Ewan's accusations but his reaction confirms her fears and it's not long before she tells him to never do that again.
Later on following a dramatic day, Lola decides to hit the bottle at E20. Mel spots Lola drowning her sorrows and quickly calls Billy. However he's stunned when he pops in to check on her and she reveals all about Ben's plan – he wants to bring down Phil.
Ben and Jay get the car lot up and running and when Whitney sees the pair she starts asking about job opportunities for Callum Highway. Jay agrees to interview Callum and is impressed when he helps a customer at the funeral parlour.
Rainie also offers Jay to help out at the car lot but he's having none of it and dismisses her. It's safe to say, Rainie is furious.
The next day Billy confronts Lola about her comments from last night but she insists she was just drunk. Riiiiight.
Ben begins to worry when he can't get hold of Lola and things take a turn for the worse when Phil gives him his cut of the money before shutting him out of any future business deals.
When Ben and Lola catch up, he assures her his latest behaviour is just because he wants to protect her – will she believe him?
Billy contemplates tell Phil about Lola's drunken confession and after Tina Carter offers him some advice he reveals all to his cousin. When Ben arrives he insists what Billy has said is rubbish but Phil isn't convinced and we don't blame him tbh.
While at E20, Ben tries to get Billy back on side but it becomes clear that Billy is having none of it and warns Ben to leave Lola out of his schemes. Ben is furious and plans to get Billy out of the picture once and for all… He overhears his dad telling Billy details about a small job which lets Ben know exactly where he'll be later on.
While Billy prepares for the job, Honey asks him to pick up the kids from school. Ben is alarmed when he discovers Will has gone on the job with Billy.
Ben's plan is in full swing and he rushes to find Billy and Will before it's too late – will he make it in time? Or will his plan go too far?
It's been a year since Shakil died and Bex and Kush visit his grave to pay their respects. While there Bex tells Kush she's in love with him but when he rejects her, she runs off.
Kat messages Kush but when he ignores her, she's left upset. She then decides to avoid him and goes with Jean Slater to her hospital appointment.
Kat is then stunned when Kush turns up at the hospital and apologises for ignoring her. At first she gives him the cold shoulder but eventually she gets over her pride and Kush manages to open up about the death of his brother.
Kat decides to bring Arthur over for some quality time with Kush and he's left feeling touched. He then makes a huge decision – he wants joint custody of his son.
Kat begins to panic when it dawns on her that Kush seriously wants custody of his son, especially when he invites Stacey and Martin Fowler over to discuss it.
Kat seeks out Mo Slater's help to end the night quickly so that Kush doesn't open up to Martin and Stacey Fowler. Unfortunately when Martin and Stacey arrive, Kush instantly tries to discuss custody – will Mo manage to help Kat?
When Kush tells Kat he wants their relationship to go public, Kat is touched. She later surprises Kush and everyone else in The Vic when she passionately snogs him in the pub.
Elsewhere Rainie continues to stir the pot with Stuart Highway when she shows Tina a picture of him and Bex hugging.
Louise Mitchell is stunned when she Bex opens up and it dawns on her that she fancies Kush. Bex struggles to concentrate on her practice exam and she thinks about Kush.
When Stuart walks in on her struggling, he steps in and helps her. It's not long before she bursts into tears and as she cries in Sturt's arms, Sonia walks in….
Later on in The Vic while Kush is waiting for Kat to arrive, Bex builds up enough courage and bravely apologises to him. She's then shocked when she sees Kush is dating Kat.
Meanwhile the Taylor and Baker family continue to grieve following Dinah's death. Karen opens up to her daughter Chantelle Atkins and admits she's scared about going to prison.
Keegan continues to struggle with Dinah's death and Shakil's anniversary and when Tiffany Butcher spots his distraught she offers her support.
Keegan and Tiffany try to support Bailey Baker in the best way possible. However one thing leads to another and it's not long before they share a kiss.
Bernadette is devastated when her BFF reveals she's going on a date with Keegan. She then makes a shocking revelation – Brooke has broken up with her.
Tiff feels bad when she sees how heartbroken her pal is so she decides to pay Brooke a visit and figure out why she dumped Bernadette.
Over to the Branning household and Jack asks Mel if she can babysit while he goes on a date with Denise Fox. Mel is all too eager to be in Jack's house alone and uses the opportunity to take another step into her revenge plan.
When Jack leaves for his date, Mel hunts around on his laptop for information but it's not long before Max walks in on her – she's been caught.
Mel tries to think of an excuse and when Max suggests a nightcap, it dawns on her that she can't close the file she was looking at on the laptop.
Things get even more awkward when Jack and Denise return from their date and join Max and Mel for a drink.
At the Carter household, Mick is excited to have some alone time with Linda Carter but faces a dilemma when he spots Mitch grieving for Dinah.
While Linda is getting prepared for her night with Mick, Mitch is downstairs in The Vic opening up to his pal. Mick is left torn – he doesn't want to leave Mitch alone.
Later on, Mick and Linda try to help Mitch sober up and he's left touched when they let him stay over for the night.
Although Patsy will return soon to the EastEnders set to start filming, an on-screen date has yet to be confirmed, but it will be later this year.
EastEnders airs on Mondays and Fridays at 8pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One.
Tune into Northern Ireland's Home of Great Music, Downtown Radio on FM, AM, DAB Digital Radio, online, on our Rayo app and by asking your smart speaker to 'Play Downtown Radio'. Gary & Glen kick things off every weekday morning and Neal McClelland brings you home on Downtown Drive.
