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Maisie Smith to return to EastEnders next year

Maisie Smith is set to return to ‘EastEnders’ next year.
The 16-year-old actress will reprise her role as Tiffany Butcher – a part she played on the long-running soap from 2008 until 2014 – at the beginning of 2018 when her alter-ego rocks up on her sister Whitney Carter’s doorsteps and wreaks havoc.
She said: "It’s great to be back on the set of ‘EastEnders’.
"It’s been lovely to see some old faces and meet new ones too. I can’t wait to show everyone how much Tiffany has changed."
Not much else is known about Tiffany’s return to Albert Square but it’s believed she’s picked up some of her mother Bianca Jackson’s (Patsy Palmer) feisty traits while she’s been away as she shows up in a golden puffa jacket – similar to the grey one her mum famously wore – and looks ready to ruffle some feathers.
The flame-haired teen walked away from Walford two years ago when Bianca decided to move to Milton Keynes for a fresh start, but she made a brief return last year when she attended Whitney and Lee Carter’s (Danny-Boy Hatchard) wedding.
It’s not yet known whether Patsy will be making a comeback, but the 45-year-old actress had admitted she has no intention of heading back to the square.
She said: "I don’t know if my character will return.
"To be honest I never say never to anything, it’s a big mistake to say that but to be honest I’m nearly 45 and I don’t really want to.
"There is so much you don’t do when you’re in Elstree Studios for 20 years and you can never go in for just one episode.
"Last time I went back I was there for seven years. You know how quick time goes and you have a lot of friends there. It’s hard to step out of it."
Maisie’s return is part of a huge shake-up by John Yorke – who was asked to reprise his role as Executive Producer after Sean O’Connor quit following a flop in ratings earlier this year – which will also see the comeback of Mel Owen (Tamzin Outhwaite) and Masood Ahmed (Nitin Ganatra).