Gillian Taylforth was shaking with nerves when she made her ‘EastEnders’ return.
The 60-year-old actress made a shock comeback as Kathy Beale during the BBC One soap’s 30th anniversary live week earlier this year and she was convinced she would mess up her lines when it came to her scene with Steve McFadden, who plays her on-screen ex-husband Phil Mitchell.
She said:: "I was so nervous. I was shaking in the back of that taxi waiting to go on camera.
"My opening line was, ‘Hello Phil’ but I was so convinced I was going to say Steve’s name by accident that I was repeating the line over and over again so I didn’t get it wrong.
"I think a lot of people thought it was going to be Grant Mitchell getting out of that taxi, so we really milked that scene."
Gillian’s return was kept so secret that her appearance even shocked some of the cast members.
The actress – who didn’t even tell her children or sisters that she was returning – added to OK! magazine: "Apparently a lot of the cast were back at the studios watching it in the canteen and everyone gasped – they had no idea it was going to be me."
Gillian Taylforth shook with nerves during EastEnders comeback
