Jacqueline Jossa has returned to EastEnders as the cast and crew start filming the funeral of Dot Cotton following the death of June Brown in April, who played the character for 35 years.
It's been four years since Jacqueline first left Walford, but she was back on set last week as cameras started to roll for the special one-off episode.
Chain-smoker Dot, who was a Cotton for a large portion of her time in Walford, married Jim Branning (the late John Bardon) - Lauren's granddad in 2002, writes the Mirror.
Discussing Jacqueline's return, which may in fact span more than one episode, a source told the Sun : "Bosses got in touch with Jacq about returning for Dot’s special episode and she was more than happy to come back.
"She was back last week filming her little guest stint."
Character Lauren left the soap in 2018 for New Zealand following the death of her sister Abi, played by Lorna Fitzgerald.
Discussing June's farewell, the source added: "She was a huge part of EastEnders and her legacy will live on in Albert Square forever. She will never be forgotten."
They added that the script for the funeral is 'beautiful' and 'exactly what June would have wanted'.
Jacqueline's cameo comes hot on the heels of news she has shut down her company Pooker Bash Ltd after paying off debts of £51k.
The firm was established to to handle her EastEnders earnings, but when the money dried up after she left her role she entered it into voluntary liquidation.
Speaking on Sam and Billie Faiers ' podcast 'The Sam and Billie Show' earlier this year, Jacqueline revealed that she had to sell her previous house due to mounting bills after she quit Albert Square.
She told the TOWIE sisters: "I was on EastEnders for eight years where you got a set pay cheque every week. It was a set pay cheque and I didn’t have to do anything else. It was my comfort blanket, it was what I knew. Then it just wasn't.
"There’s no such thing for me as maternity pay, so when I had kids I had to leave and I had to do magazine covers to make money to feed my kids.
"There’s been times where I haven’t had money. Before I went in the jungle I was struggling with money. I had to sell my house."
Mirror Online has invited representatives for Jacqueline and EastEnders to comment.
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