Jacqueline Leonard quit EastEnders over bosses' failure to look after Danniella Westbrook

Former EastEnders star Jacqueline Leonard has opened up about why she decided to call it quits on the BBC One soap.

Back in the nineties, Jacqueline, 57, played Lorraine Wicks on Albert Square, but this week, she made an epic return to Coronation Street as Linda Hancock, after first appearing on the Cobbles in 2015.

Now she's back on our TV screens, the actress has given an insight into how crazy her life became during the height of her fame when she said soap fans could chase her down the street during her time on EastEnders between 1994 and 1997.

However, behind the scenes at work, things didn't feel so glamorous for the actress.

After her fellow EastEnders star Rita Simons recently claimed that the workplace could become very toxic at times, Jacqueline admitted that it did not sit right with her how her friend and fellow cast member Danniella Westbrook was treated.

"I didn’t personally experience the toxicity that Rita described but I could see it was happening. There was definitely a hierarchy on set and I just kept away from that. But after some time of watching that, it was time for me to move on," she told The Sun.

The actress worked very closely alongside actor Paul Nicholls, who played her on-screen son Joe.

The star became concerned for Danniella when they worked together (BBC)

In her new interview, Jacqueline admitted that it was very difficult seeing him and Danniella struggle with their addictions so publicly and admitted that while they were at work, nobody 'looked after them' amid their battles.

"Nobody really looked after the younger actors like Paul and Danniella. They were getting themselves into trouble and as a mother I found that difficult to watch," Jacqueline explained.

It got so difficult for the soap star to witness that it became one of the reasons for her EastEnders exit.

Paul Nicholls worked with Jacqueline Leonard on Eastenders (BBC)

Danniella played Sam Mitchell on the BBC One soap (BBC ONE)

She said: “I didn’t like what I was seeing. I’d had enough. I was leaving on a high but it was definitely time for me to go.”

Actress Jacqueline was part of the iconic Wicks family in EastEnders back in the 90s when she starred as Lorraine and ex-wife of David (Michael French).

She first shot to fame back in 1993 when she played Sarah Preston in medical drama Peak Practice.

The BBC declined to comment when contacted by the Mirror.