Jacqueline Jossa drives EastEnders fans wild as she reunites with former co-star Natalie Cassidy – five years after leaving Albert Square
Jacqueline Jossa had a surprise reunion with her former EastEnders co-star Natalie Cassidy on Sunday.
The actress, 30, played Lauren Branning in the BBC soap from 2010 to 2018 and took to Instagram this weekend to share that she had come across her on-screen cousin – who has starred as Sonia Fowler on and off for 30 years – by chance.
She captioned it: “Run in to cousin Sonia @natcass1 I love you!”
Natalie was pictured in a dark green jacket, while Jacqueline kept it simple with a plain gray T-shirt.
Both actresses opted for a natural look for the selfie, with their dark locks pushed back from their faces as they smiled at their fans on a night out.
Back together: Jacqueline Jossa and Natalie Cassidy delighted EastEnders fans with a surprise reunion
Fans of the show were clearly excited about the two stars’ reunion as they rushed to comment on the cheerful post.
One wrote: ‘Fantastic photo of you both’ and another said: ‘You two lovely ladies look absolutely stunning!’
Natalie herself got involved in the comments as she wrote ‘Love you’, and a whole host of other famous faces also shared their excitement.
Danielle Harold – who recently won a National Television Award for her portrayal of the tragic Lola Pearce in the soap opera – left two heart-eyed emojis in the comments.
Celebrity hairstylist James Johnson labeled the two actresses as “icons.”
Jacqueline went on to win I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here after leaving the soap in 2018 and returned for Dot Cotton’s funeral last year, while Natalie is still part of the show.
However, Jacqueline has teased that she would be returning to the show full-time, despite being ‘nervous’ when she first stepped back on set.
On set: Jacqueline returned to Albert Square earlier this year to reprise her role as Lauren Branning
Character with a long track record: Natalie has sporadically played Sonia Fowler in the BBC soap since 1993
She said: ‘When I came back recently I was nervous, but I literally thought, ‘I could stay here forever.’ I love it. This is the best job in the world.
“I’ve really realized that that’s where I’m happiest and that my passion and joy comes from that side.”
Jacqueline – who now makes a living as an Instagram influencer – explained that she felt the need to be ‘creative’ in her career again.
She said: ‘Since coming back to EastEnders I’ve had that little fire in my belly again, like there’s a part of me that’s not being fulfilled anymore, that creative side.’