Jacqueline Jossa’s regret over ITV I’m A Celebrity ahead of return to BBC soap EastEnders

EastEnders actress Jacqueline Jossa is excited to return to her role as Lauren Branning after a five-year break, with a source close to the star taking a swipe at her past reality TV appearances.

The 31-year-old recently said: “It’s such an amazing time to be back as there is so much buzz around EastEnders at the moment. I’ve been watching and loving it like a fan. Walford holds a special place in my heart, so it really does feel like coming home.”

Ahead of Jacqueline’s return to the world of acting, a friend of the actress has claimed the I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! winner regrets her dalliance with reality TV shows over the years – saying Jacqueline “lost her way”.

Ahead of her Walford return, a source told OK! magazine: “Jacqueline is believing in herself again. She’s very confident and is more than ready to return to EastEnders.” She has been hitting the gym in preparation for her dramatic return to Albert Square. She recently showed off her weight loss on Instagram while modelling her new collection of In The Style party dresses.

Jacqueline was all smiles as she showed off her new clothing line. She said: “I felt amazing in everything and I honestly hope you guys love it as much as me,” Fans were quick to shower her with compliments, with one saying, “Wow you look absolutely gorgeous,” while another wrote, “Gorgeous glam queen.”

However, Jacqueline’s journey to self-confidence hasn’t been easy. She joined EastEnders at 17 and has since faced cruel body-shaming trolls. But now, she’s returning to acting, which boosts her confidence.

“She lost her way a bit when she got into reality TV,” a source said. “Her love life being played out publicly didn’t help either as that’s not her. She just wants to get back into what she loves the most and that’s acting.”

Jacqueline, who won I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2019, is married to former TOWIE star Dan Osborne. They have two daughters, Ella and Mia. However, their marriage has faced some challenges. After a romantic proposal in Greece, they had a star-studded wedding in Cheshire. But their newlywed bliss didn’t last long.

Rumours of a brief split between the couple emerged when whispers of an affair between Dan and Love Island’s Gabby Allen surfaced, but both parties denied these claims. Jacqueline, however, wasn’t ready to throw in the towel and they later welcomed their daughter Mia in June 2018.

It seems that those days are behind them now, with Dan fully backing his wife’s new journey. “Dan’s behind Jac and is very supportive. It’s a positive future for her and life’s good at the moment,” a source revealed.

Jacqueline, who made a brief return as Lauren for a single episode last June and December, is gearing up for a longer stay this time around. She can hardly contain her excitement, saying, “It’s as permanent as anyone there is permanent,” and “Obviously, you can get written out at any time but yeah, it’s not a flying visit this time, it’s back, back.”

Her love for the soap is so deep that for her 31st birthday in October, her husband surprised her with a cake modelled after the iconic bust in the Queen Vic pub from the show.