Jessie Wallace RETURNS to EastEnders as filming resumes in the midst of coronavirus lockdown… six months after suspension for ‘boozing on-set’
- The 48-year-old show veteran, who plays iconic character Kat Slater, was hit with a suspension in January for reportedly drinking on-set
- On Tuesday, she was seen returning to the set, where she had her temperature checked in accordance with social distancing rules
- Last month, Jessie hinted that she was getting prepared to go back to work on the BBC soap, as she showed off a pair of earrings for her character to wear
- Jessie has played fiery Kat on and off for nearly two decades
- It was claimed that the soap star was hauled into a crisis meeting with show bosses who were said to have suspended her for two months
Jessie Wallace was seen arriving at the EastEnders set on Tuesday as she returned to filming, six months after being suspended for reportedly boozing on-set.
The 48-year-old show veteran, who plays iconic character Kat Slater, cut a low-key figure as she arrived on-set shortly after she teased her return following her suspension for boozing in January.
She sported trendy Chanel sunglasses while having her temperature checked in accordance with social distancing rules amid the coronavirus pandemic.
She’s back: Jessie Wallace was seen arriving at the EastEnders set on Tuesday as she returned to filming, six months after being suspended for reportedly boozing on-set
Last month, Jessie hinted that she was getting prepared to go back to work on the BBC soap, as she showed off a pair of glamorous earrings for her character to wear.
The actress captioned a picture of the ruby drop-earrings: ‘Thank you @nancy_and_nora for these beauty’s! Kat cannot wait to wear them [sic].’
Jessie’s snap of the eye-catching costume jewels drew the attention of her followers, with one commenting: ‘Can’t wait for Kat to come back wearing those beauties!’
Jessie’s teased return to EastEnders came months after she was suspended for reportedly appearing drunk on set during filming, however she has now confirmed her return when she was spotted arriving.
Back again: The 48-year-old show veteran plays iconic character Kat Slater (pictured in 2018)
Safety measures: She cut a low-key figure as she arrived on-set shortly after she teased her return following her suspension for boozing in January
The actress, who has played fiery Kat on and off for nearly two decades, was temporarily written out of storylines after her behaviour was ‘called into question’.
It was claimed that the soap star was hauled into a crisis meeting with show bosses who were said to have suspended her for two months, ordering her to ‘sort herself out’ before returning.
A source told The Mirror: ‘Bosses were left with no choice but to discipline her. During the meeting she was told to sort herself out before returning to work.’
Back again: Last month, Jessie hinted that she was getting prepared to go back to work on the BBC soap, as she showed off a pair of glamorous earrings for her character to wear
They added that series chiefs were relieved that Jessie had already filmed her scenes on the River Thames for the soap’s 35th Anniversary Special which subsequently aired on February 19.
The source continued: ‘Thankfully all of the episodes she appears in on the boat along the Thames have been shot, so her suspension didn’t cause any chaos to the soap’s big birthday week.’
EastEnders declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline at the time. MailOnline contacted Jessie Wallace’s representatives for comment at the time.
Jessie previously hit disciplinary trouble when she arrived ‘drunk’ at the British Soap Awards in June 2018. She was ‘ordered home’ and left before the ceremony held at The Lowry in Salford had started.
Uh oh: Jessie previously hit disciplinary trouble when she arrived ‘drunk’ at the British Soap Awards in June 2018. She was ‘ordered home’ and left before the ceremony held at The Lowry in Salford had started
An insider told The Sun at the time: ‘Jessie was an absolute mess last year. She completely over-cooked it at the pre-drinks and had to be sent home.’
Jessie’s ‘inebriated’ state prompted fears that she could be returning to the hard-partying ways that almost derailed her career in the mid-2000s.
In 2003 the actress was banned from the road for three years and fined £1,000 for drink driving. She was one and a half times over the drink drive limit after her Mercedes was stopped by police officers in Chelmsford.
The Enfield-native was previously banned from the road for 15 months some five-years earlier for failing to take a breathalyser test.
She’s back: The Enfield-native was previously banned from the road for 15 months some five-years earlier for failing to take a breathalyser test