BBC EastEnders star pours cold water on major Christmas prison theory after teasing huge comeback

Last year, speculation mounted over the return of EastEnders fan favourite Tracy-Ann Oberman, who played Chrissie Watts, following a number of cryptic tweets.

At the time, Tracy-Ann, 57, heightened rumours after tweeting soap boss Chris Clenshaw saying: “Hi Chris can you give me a follow please.” The tweet was then followed up with her teasing: “Ooh I love a nightshoot #filming.” Fans were convinced that Sharon will be the culprit in the Christmas Day murder plot and will be sent to the same prison as Chrissie, who was convicted for killing husband Dirty Den in 2005. But now, the acclaimed actress has publicly tried to quell suspicion after taking to the same social media platform.

She wrote: “No it really isn’t this I’m being inundated with #ChrissieWatts love and it’s making me smile so much – it really isn’t! @chris_clenshaw. This comes after a fan posted an imposed image of Sharon, played by Letitia Dean and Chrissie, in prison. The fan captioned the picture saying: “Sharon’s heading to Prison as part of #TheSix murder and lands up in the same cell as Chrissie Watts #EastEnders twitter.com/tracyanno/stat…”

In response to Tracy Ann’s comment, one fan wrote:”When will you let us know? Is it maybe a Shylock spin-off? That’s what Shakespeare missed out on. To be honest whatever you do you’ll be amazing. You’re one of those actors that seems incapable of giving a bad performance.”

Meanwhile another person penned: “A testimony to the great work you did on the show and how loved and missed Chrissie is.” A third said: “EastEnders fans who remember the icon that was Chrissie have been wanting her and her hair to return since the day she left!!”

And a fourth said: “@TracyAnnO Time to free Chrissie!!!x” But earlier this year, Tracy-Ann appeared on Lorraine with Christine Lampard, who was standing in for host Lorraine Kelly. And she theorised as to how Chrissie could make a return when she said: “She’s served longer than most actual murdering prisoners. And, if she’d had a better lawyer, she would have got off on mitigating circumstances.”

Christine agreed, adding: “Let’s just say, she hasn’t been forgotten, Tracy-Ann. I think it’s about time she got out of that prison and made her way back. Would you be up for it?” The actress shyly commented: “What do they say? Never say never. I love that character. Victim or villain.”

Tracy-Ann played Den Watts’ second wife between 2004 and 2005. Den was killed off the soap after Chrissie cracked his skull in the Queen Vic’s cellar and tried to frame Sam Mitchell for the murder. But things were clearly too much for her to handle and she ended up confessing to her crime and was sent to prison.

At the time of Tracy Ann’s teasing post, fans could not contain their excitement. One said: “Chrissie is a character I’d welcome back with open arms. I’d love to see her interactions with the modern incarnation of Sharon a.k.a Carbonara Killer.” A second person said: “Bring Chrissie back too! She is due out of prison by now.” Another added: “I would love for Chrissie to return!”