EastEnders fans were thrilled when one of their favourite characters returned last night, albeit briefly.
On Thursday evening (July 18), Lauren Branning made a surprising comeback as her dad Max frantically searched for his granddaughter Abi.
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Lauren left Albert Square in February 2018 after a series of devastating and catastrophic events – but ultimately she was heartbroken over the tragic death of her sister Abi.
So it’s understandable that BBC viewers were shocked when Max called her out of the blue, and immediately called for her to return more permanently.
Viewers know that Max is desperately trying to track down granddaughter Abi, after Rainie did a runner from Walford and took the baby with her.
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Emotional and feeling horribly alone – apart from a bottle of whisky for company – Max decided to reach out to his absent daughter Lauren, who is now living in New Zealand with Peter Beale.
Although she wasn’t seen, Max was heard explaining why he had called her.
He said: “No there’s no reason. Just wanted to hear your voice, that’s all. No I’ve just… been thinking about you, that’s all.”
Pretending everything was alright at home, he told her: “Abi’s fine. She’s sleeping here beside me.”
After ending the call, Max broke down in tears and started drinking heavily.
And fans flocked to Twitter to express their glee at her ‘return’ and their desire to see her comeback to the Square.
One said: “Can Lauren come back now please?”
Another wrote: “When Max called Lauren I was hoping he was going to ask her to come home.”
When Max called Lauren I was hoping he was gonna ask her to come home @jacquelineMjos #EastEnders
— Jordan (@Ross_Adams_fan) July 18, 2019
Can Lauren come back now please #eastenders
— L🌷 (@fendrschemistry) July 18, 2019
https://twitter.com/bencaIIum/status/1151923269626466304
max looking at young pictures of abi & ringing lauren.. he misses his girls so much 😓 #eastenders @bbceastenders @LornaFitz0 @jacquelineMjos
— dani (@danicraneee) July 18, 2019
A third added: “OMG Max calling Lauren.”
Lauren was last seen leaving Walford with son Louie after attending sister Abi’s funeral.
She moved to the other side of the world to be near her ex-boyfriend Peter Beale, the father of her son.
They are currently no plans for the character to return, although actress Jacqueline Jossa has always said she would return for the right storyline.
In March, she told fans in a YouTube video: “Would I return to EastEnders? This is the most asked question I’ve ever received in my life! It’s all I get asked when I’m out on the street or on Instagram.
“But I don’t know. It’s not me who would say I’d never go back. I loved it there. I really enjoyed my time at EastEnders.
“It would have to be for the right reasons and it would have to make sense story-wise. Why would Lauren be going back?”
https://www.instagram.com/p/By8P5PoBY8Z/
Jake Wood, who plays Max, has also called for her to return, telling Digital Spy last year: “I would love her to return and always thought she would.
“Lauren hasn’t been killed off, obviously Max is still in the show and she has a lot of other family in it as well. It’s like any other character that is still out there, it’s always open.”
In real life, Jacqueline is married to Dan Osborne of TOWIE fame, with whom she has two children.
She has recently launched her own performing arts academy for ages three upwards.
Would you like to see Lauren Branning return to Walford? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!