EastEnders’ Lucy Benjamin shows off new blonde hair as she ditches the silver locks after her soap return

Lucy Benjamin showed off her new blonde locks on Tuesday during an appearance on Loose Women.

The actress, 53, who recently returned to EastEnders, had bleached her hair since filming her soap comeback scenes.

In promo photos released last month, Lucy sported silver locks in the moments after she set foot in Albert Square again.

After Lucy returned as Lisa Fowler last week, EastEnders viewers were left speculating about the real reason the character was back in Walford.

Lisa was seen with her four-year-old granddaughter Peggy Taylor, much to the shock of little Keanu Taylor’s (Danny Walters) father.

Lisa’s daughter Louise Mitchell (previously played by Tilly Keeper) gave birth to Peggy at the time Keanu was having an affair with Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), the mother of his son Albie.

After Peggy’s birth, Louise began to struggle with her mental health, and she was under the impression that she played a part in Keanu’s apparent death, though he is still alive and as things got worse for Louise, she almost killed her daughter Peggy with the baby smother with a pillow.

After Lisa made her E20 comeback last week, fans wondered if Lisa was back in London getting revenge on Keanu, or if there was an even more sinister reason for her presence.

With Lisa arriving in the back of a black cab before going there without paying the driver, soap fans took to Twitter to comment on her return.

One person wrote, “What are Lisa’s real intentions? Is there more to it than just money??? She will definitely get custody of Peggy, as Louise is too fragile after her drug and alcohol downfall.”

While someone else shares, “So Louise has gone into a drug and alcohol tailspin. I wonder if Lisa kidnapped Peggy and accused Lou of being an “unfit mother.”

Another person posted, “Keanu really messed up Louise, he got her pregnant and pretended to love her, while also beating up Sharon and lying for months. Besides, it didn’t help that she was involved in kidnapping him. I think that’s why Lisa is back.’

“Lisa is back and she wants revenge on Keanu. I also think Lisa or Louise could get into financial trouble with the Bailiffs etc. There’s more to her return than just ‘Revenge’ on Keanu,’ another person posted.

While someone else asked, “Is Lisa on the run by any chance?”

Another viewer said, “I doubt Lisa will be impressed when she finds out that Keanu is marrying Sharon.”

Another tweeted, “That Lisa, she used to be bad news and now she’s stealing from taxi drivers!”

And another viewer at home wrote, “Lisa runs away because she didn’t have money to pay her taxi fare.”

According to the SubwaySoap star Lucy said, “She’s full of bitterness and anger and hatred towards them for what they [Keanu and Sharon] did with her daughter. She was completely consumed by that.

“I think that’s another reason she feels justified in being all guns blazing and hammers and pliers for Keanu.

And she’s angry that they seem to be having a great life together while Louise is in trouble in Portugal. She is full of resentment towards them.’

After returning to Walford, Lisa ran into Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) who invited her for coffee.

Lisa told Sonia that things are not going well for them in Portugal and told her that Louise is having a hard time.

Lucy explained, “She says she was addicted to the booze and drugs and she would go missing for weeks, so Lisa actually had a responsibility to look after Peggy.

“When they left, because of what happened with Sharon and Keanu, Louise really went to pot and everything around her came crashing down. And so Lisa had to step forward and take responsibility for Peggy.’

After an awkward conversation with Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), Lisa decided to keep her head down before confronting Keanu.

But Reiss Clowell (Jonny Freeman) falsely revealed that Lisa and Peggy were in Walford, prompting Keanu to find Lisa and set things right so he could see Peggy.

But after Lisa made financial demands on Keanu, he backed out as he decided he wasn’t ready to give in.

In May, it was announced that Lucy would return to EastEnders as Lisa.

She told the Daily mirror at the time: ‘I can’t wait to return as Lisa after leaving for Portugal with Louise and Peggy in 2019.

“No doubt, in true Lisa fashion, she will bring a lot of drama to many of the characters, which is why it’s so much fun playing her.”

Lisa was last in Walford in 2019 when she helped Louise flee to Portugal.

The pair thought Louise’s ex Keanu had been killed by Martin Fowler (James Bye), but he faked Keanu dead.

EastEnders boss Chris Clenshaw said: ‘We couldn’t be happier to have Lisa back for a short while as she and Peggy are causing trouble between the happy couple, Sharon and Keanu.’

In January 2020, Lucy – who first played Lisa from 1998 to 2003 and then short spells in 2010 and 2017 – declined to rule out another return to Albert Square.

She said on ITV’s This Morning: ‘I don’t even know if I can talk about it! I knew I was going to go back for a stint, and I completed that stint.”

Asked about another Albert Square run, she added: ‘Well, possibly. Yeah, I mean it’s so hard… Lisa never seems to leave.’