Danniella Westbrook has begun filming her latest stint in 'EastEnders', with bosses releasing a first look picture teasing her return as Sam Mitchell.
The 'Celebrity Big Brother' star will reprise her role as the youngest Mitchell sibling in the coming weeks, as the BBC soap says goodbye to its most iconic matriarch, Peggy.
Barbara Windsor's character is set to be killed off in an emotional storyline, which sees Sam reunite with brothers Phil (Steve McFadden) and Grant (Ross Kemp) to say goodbye to their mum, who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Danniella began filming her scenes on Tuesday (3 May), and shared some snaps on Instagram, revealing she was "loving every second" of being back on set.
Sam is only due to be on-screen for a handful of episodes, although Danniella previously admitted she is hoping for a more permanent return.
She said on 'Loose Women' earlier this year: “It’s a one-off at the moment, because our boss Dominic [Treadwell-Collins] is leaving, we’ve got a new boss stepping in. So hopefully the new boss will take me up as a full-time character.”
She added: "It’s a great honour to be asked to go back and to send Barbara’s character off.
“I love that show, it’s like going home. I feel immensely lucky that I’m here and I’m still doing it- and that I’ve still got that chance to go back. I’m super excited, because I didn’t ever think that we’d get all the Mitchells back together, whatever the circumstances.”
She later revealed she wants her former 'Celebrity Big Brother' housemate Darren Day to play her husband on the soap.
Sam was last seen in Walford in back in 2010, when the character left to live with Grant in Portugal, after giving birth to Jack Branning's baby.
Danniella first played the character on-and-off from 1990 until 2000.
Amid her battle with drug addiction, the role of Sam was recast in 2002, with Kim Medcalf taking over until her departure in 2005.
Then, when bosses decided to reintroduce Sam in 2009, they opted to bring back Danniella's version of the character.
Peggy is set to reappear on Albert Square next week, making a decision that will rock her family to the core.
Find out everything we know about her final storyline so far, here.
