Lin Blakley thought it might be "weird" working alongside a new Ben Mitchell actor on her ‘EastEnders’ return.
The 70-year-old star is reprising her role as Pam Coker next month, and while she "misses" Harry Reid, who portrayed her on-screen grandson Paul Coker’s (Jonny Labey) lover Ben, she had a "natural" connection with Max Bowden, who now portrays the character.
She said: "I loved Harry [Reid], he is a gorgeous kid and so is Max equally – he is a lovely actor. It just felt really natural as if I had worked with him before.
"Obviously I miss Harry, and I did think it was going to be weird, but it wasn’t at all."
Lin confirmed she will head back to Walford because of "something to do with the funeral parlour", and upon her return she encourages Ben to "go with it" if he feels his romance with Callum ‘Halfway’ Highway could be a success.
She added to Digital Spy: "Being back in Albert Square brings back huge amounts of memories of her grandson Paul, who she adored. Pam is sensible, though.
"She knows Paul is gone and she will miss him forever, but she really does want Ben to move on.
"She tells Ben that if Callum has come into his life, and it feels right, then he should go with it – he’s still a young kid at the end of the day. She wants him to move on and that’s genuinely how she feels.
"She tells him to be happy and she genuinely means it – she really does want that."
Lin – who has portrayed Pam on and off since 2014 – recently confirmed she was returning to the soap for a short stint.
She said: "I love going back. I’m going back soon. Just for a couple of episodes and I love it. I love popping back. I’m so happy and pleased that I’m able to do that.
"I haven’t been back for a year but I’m going back for a couple of episodes, so that is wonderful."
Lin is grateful to ‘EastEnders’ for giving her the role as Pam, admitting the part "opened a few doors" for her as an actress.
She added: "I absolutely love everything about it. I’m glad they chose me because it certainly opened a few more doors for me as an actress.
"Coming back into the business at the end of 2003 I didn’t quite expect to do something like this.
"Being in people’s homes four nights a week. I can’t tell you how thankful I am for that."
Lin Blakley’s ‘natural’ Max Bowden connection
