Lisa Faulkner paid a visit to the Lorraine studios on Thursday morning and gave stand-in host Christine Lampard fresh hints about her new EastEnders character.
The Celebrity MasterChef winner will play Fi Browning on the soap, who is set to be a no-nonsense businesswoman.
She revealed the call from the show’s bosses about the role came “completely out of the blue”.
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The 45-year-old explained that she has already filmed her first scenes in the “fast paced” soap.
Speaking about the busy schedule she has lined up, Lisa said: “I was expecting to do my book publicity.
“I was expecting to do some more cooking, I had recipes to write and I had all this other stuff to do.”
The Murder In Suburbia star added: “The producers phoned up and said could I go and meet them and I met Sean O’Connor the producer and Julia the casting director and he just sold this character to me.
“He was very good at pitching and then they phoned saying would you do it and I said, ‘why not? What’s the worst that can happen?”
Following the news about Lisa joining the soap, producer Sean teased what viewers can expect to see from her character, Fi.
He said: “I’m really thrilled that we have been able to tempt Lisa Faulkner back to TV drama and back to the BBC.
“She’s an extremely accomplished and hugely popular actress and we’re very excited to have her in Albert Square.”
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Speaking about her character, Lisa revealed: “She’s a great character so I’m looking forward to playing her.”
Viewers are just as excited to see Lisa on the BBC soap and are wondering if she will use her cooking skills in Ian Beale’s chippy.
One wrote: “@lisafaulkner1 In Eastenders! Better stay away from the chip fat in Ian Beale’s chippy.”
“Lisa Faulkner had better keep away from the Queen Vic coz Aunt Babe will be well jealous of the real life Chef #mothertomother #Lorraine,” another tweeted.
Despite joining the square, Lisa said she had no plans to give up her cooking career.
The mum-of-one said: “It’s been seven years since I did Masterchef but I did change my life and go, ‘you know what I love cooking’.
“I don’t call myself a chef. I call myself a cook. I’ve cooked everyday and I’ve cooked in restaurants.
“It’s literally my life. I love it. But I want to do both.”