When it comes to plot secrets, the bosses at EastEnders keep their cards fairly close to their chests.
In fact, the level of secrecy is so high that not even the stars of the soap themselves know what will happen to their characters, even when they’re in line for a whopping exit story.
That certainly seems to be the case for Jacqueline Jossa, who has starred in the soap as Lauren Branning for over seven years now.
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Last month, a spokesperson for the show confirmed that Jacqueline would be leaving the soap alongside Lorna Fitzgerald, who plays Jacqueline’s on-screen sister, Abi Branning.
The statement from the show said: “We can confirm that Jacqueline and Lorna will be leaving EastEnders. They have both been wonderful to work with and we wish them all the best for the future.”
Getting rid of the sisters is an early move for John Yorke, returning to EastEnders as boss to temporarily replace Sean O’ Connor.
John has been responsible for stories such as the ‘who shot Phil Mitchell’ saga in the past, and it’s expected that he’ll be devising an epic departure for the sisters, possibly around the Christmas period.
Not that anyone has told Jacqueline yet though, and her husband, former TOWIE star Dan Osborne, has said that she is still very much in the dark.
“I have no idea if she’s being killed off or not,” he told The Star. “She doesn’t even know. She really wants to find out but hasn’t been told yet.”
The celebrity couple were married June this year and have a daughter, Ella, together who is now two-years-old.
Jacqueline had left EastEnders in 2015 to give birth to Ella, but returned last year in May to resume her role as Lauren.
Jacqueline hasn’t commented on the departure yet, but husband Dan tweeted his support on the day of the announcement, alongside a picture of Jacqueline and Lorna on screen as sisters Lauren and Abi.
He has also said that Jacqeuline isn’t one to sit around and wait fo the next project and will be out there looking for the next thing as soon as she’s filmed her final scenes with EastEnders.
Read more: EastEnders confirms character’s exit
He said: “Work is important to her so she will soon have things lined up once she’s out of contract.”
There’s still the small matter of how the sisters will leave the show to be settled before then though, and we’re hoping for some explosive Christmas chaos in Albert Square!