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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Katherine Heslop

EastEnders' Charlie Brooks stuns fans in reunion with unrecognisable former cast mates

EastEnders stars reunited for a theatre trip – and looked completely different from their time on the soap.

Lucy Speed, who played Natalie Evans between 1994 and 2004, shared a snap of herself with Charlie Brooks, who plays Janine Butcher, Nabil Elouahabi, who played Tariq Larouissi from 2003 to 2005, and Gary Beadle who portrayed Paul Trueman between 2001 and 2004.

Charlie, who has played trouble-maker Janine on and off since 1999, is currently on the soap, but is set to leave.

The foursome had reunited for the performance of How to Have a Baby and Not Lose Your Sh** at a London theatre, which is directed by Lucy.

Lucy shared four photos of the group, in which they looked delighted to be together again.

Lucy Speed said her heart was full after reuniting with her EastEnders co-stars (littlebudgiebum/Instagram)
Gary, Nabil and Charlie watched a play Lucy is directing in London (littlebudgiebum/Instagram)

In one photo outside the venue the group have their arms around each other, while in another Charlie, Nabil and Tariq look excited in their seats at the theatre.

The director wrote: "Another glorious surprise reunion at the matinee of @HowtoHaveaBaby1 my heart is full of [love heart emoji] and laughs. And so many mates old and new. Thankyou!"

Many followers were delighted to see the crew back together, with Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington simply commenting: "Nabil!!!!! [love heart emoji]"

Lucy looks very different from her EastEnders days when she played Natalie (BBC)

One fan wrote: "Damn you all look fantastic!!"

Another penned enthusiastically: "No way! Love this and these faces! The gang is back together x"

Following their time in Walford, the actors have gone on to appear in many different shows.

Lucy was on The Bill for two years, and also in the crime series Unforgotten, as well as a slew of other productions.

After portraying tear-away Tariq, Nabil has been in Our Girl, Top Boy and Trigger Point, among other TV shows.

Over his long career, Gary has appeared in Grantchester and the recent Netflix version of Jane Austen's Persuasion.

Gary as Paul Trueman in EastEnders in 2004 (BBC)

In September, it was announced that Charlie is set to leave EastEnders for a fourth time just 18 months after returning as Janine.

During that time she has struck up a romance with pub landlord Mick Carter and driven a wedge between him and estranged wife Linda.

Manipulative Janine, who is currently pregnant with Mick's baby, will exit Albert Square in a huge storyline later this year.

"I was only ever due back to EastEnders for a year, but when [exec producer] Chris Clenshaw presented me with his idea for the story, I couldn’t say no to staying a little longer," she told The Sun on Sunday.

Nabil played tearaway Tariq for two years (BBC)

"I’ve had an amazing time, as I always do when I go back.

"But as always with Janine, she probably should not outstay her welcome – for everyone’s sake."

"I like seeing Janine fall in love," Charlie said of the recent storylines which has seen her woo Mick, played by Danny Dyer.

"But at the same time, I would never want her to change. She's unashamed and unapologetic, which I admire.

Charlie is set to leave EastEnders again after 18 months of Janine causing trouble (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

"I'd like to see her be wild and fall in love, then see what sort of trouble that lands her in! She's living her best life and figuring out who she is as a mother," Charlie revealed.

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