‘EastEnders’ icon Michelle Fowler will return to Walford, but has been recast after Susan Tully refused to return to set.
The iconic Albert Square original was played by Susan, 49, for 10 years from the very first episode in 1985 until her departure in 1995, but after attempting to get the star back on set for "more than 20 years" bosses of the BBC soap have decided to recast the role and hire Jenna Russell instead.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Eastenders have been trying to convince Susan to come back for more than 20 years but they agreed enough was enough and have decided to recast the role.
"They thought Jenna was a great fit and think she will do a great job as Michelle who is one of the most popular characters in the show’s history.
"The show has faced accusations of being boring lately, but curveballs like this shows it still keeps viewers on the edge of their seats."
It has been speculated that Jenna could make her debut as Michelle as early as the Christmas Eve (24.12.16) episode, though nothing has been confirmed as of yet.
A spokesperson for the show said: "Viewers can expect a lot of surprises this Christmas, but we don’t comment on future storylines as this will spoil the enjoyment."
Despite the character’s storyline seeing her move to the American state of Alabama in 1995, Michelle has been frequently mentioned on screen by other characters in the show.
Earlier this year, Sharon Watts – who was Michelle’s best friend during her time on the show – called Michelle to let her know that Peggy Mitchell was dying from cancer. Michelle then sent a letter to Peggy, which arrived after her passing and prompted Sharon to travel to Alabama to visit.
Michelle Fowler to return to EastEnders
