EastEnders’ Patsy Palmer returns as Bianca in signature jacket ahead of Whitney’s exit
EastEnders favourite Bianca Jackson is set to return to Albert Square with a bang next month more than five years after she left the beloved BBC One soap back in 2019
EastEnders fans have been given their first look at Patsy Palmer’s highly anticipated return to Walford after five years off screen.
Earlier this month it was confirmed that the auburn beauty, 51, would be reprising her role as Bianca Jackson for a brief stint on the hugely popular BBC One soap. Palmer, who is also a beloved DJ, relocated her family to the United States back in 2014 after a previous stint on the soap came to an end.
The mum-of-three was last seen on the show storming through Albert Square during Whitney’s doomed wedding to Callum Highway back in 2019. Since then, her character has been living out her best life in the heart of Milton Keynes.
But upcoming scenes has revealed stepdaughter Whitney Dean and her boyfriend Zack Hudson are set to pay a visit to the TV icon following her off-screen split with Terry. It doesn’t take long before Bianca is back to her old tricks again, as she makes her big return to Walford.
The first pictures of Patsy back on set see the actor beaming alongside her co-stars Shona McGarty and James Farrar, who play Whitney and Zack. Also giggling beside them is fellow long-term EastEnders member Natalie Cassidy, who plays Bianca’s sister Sonia.
All four stars were seen catching up between takes as they reminisced over life working on the Square in years gone by. Whitney could be seen sharing a moment with her on-screen step-mum sporting a large baby bump as part of her character’s emotional fertility storyline.
It doesn’t take long before drama ensues as a woman is seen being put into a police car as the characters gawk from the sidelines. Viewers will have to stay tuned to see who she is and how she is connected to Butcher family.
For the shoot, Patsy donned Bianca’s signature puffer jacket which she layered over a simple T-shirt and a pair of skinny jeans which she elevated with a set of silver heeled boots. Between takes, the actress cradled a hot water bottle to keep her warm while filming in the middle of January.
Upon her return to EastEnders, Patsy said: “I’m so excited to be reprising the role of Bianca. EastEnders holds such a special place in my heart so it’s always a pleasure to be back.”
Meanwhile, executive producer Chris Clenshaw added: “I’m thrilled to welcomed the fabulous Patsy back to the iconic role of Bianca Jackson. Although the character was last seen on-screen in 2019, Bianca still remains a fan favourite.
“We know our audiences will be thrilled at her return as she is thrust into the heart of the drama alongside step-daughter Whitney.” Patsy was just 21 years old when she first joined the soap back in 1993 as 16-year-old Bianca, the sharp-tongued daughter of Carol Jackson, played by Lindsey Coulson.
Bianca, like many of the residents of Albert Square, has had her fair share of problems over the years. Her storylines included her tumultuous relationship with Ricky Butcher, played by Sid Owen.
The couple quickly became known for their comical arguments, with Bianca regularly screaming his name across the square. The pair divorced on the programme back in 1999 but remarried when EastEnders turned 25 in 2010.
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She also discovered Whitney was being abused and learned that the character David Wicks was her father. Fans will have to stay tuned to see what sort of trouble she finds herself in on the show next month.
EastEnders continues on weekdays on BBC One from 7.30pm or catch up on BBC iPlayer.
