AN EX EASTENDERS actress has spoken candidly about her soap return - admitting she is "very touched" by fan demand to reinstate her role.
The BBC One star, 39, has clarified her position after her character was last seen leaving Walford with daughter Jade.
Recently, we reported how eagle-eyed EastEnders fans had called out clues Shabnam Masood, played by Rakhee Thakrar, would be making an Albert Square comeback.
The Leicester actress has now told TV Times: No, there's no talk of that at the moment!"
She added: "It's so sweet that people are talking about it and I'm very touched that viewers want Shabnam back.
"It's weird because it was actually someone in a restaurant who told me that Jade [played by Elizabeth Green] was back, and I was like, 'What, my daughter's back?!
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"I was so proud of what we did on the show and to have been part of it, and the fact that people still talk about Shabnam is amazing.
"What's nice is that even without Shabnam, this legacy of what happened with her character is continuing!"
Fans first pricked up their ears when Dean mentioned Jade being unwell in a recent episode.
This led one to speculate: "With Jade being the reason Dean is back, I hope her and Shabnam appear.
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"I’d love it if they became regulars but even for a short stint would be great."
Meanwhile, fan favourite Jacqueline Jossa has also made an explosive return to Walford.
EastEnders airs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday on One at 7:30pm.
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