EastEnders is back next week and Louisa Lytton has already lit the touch paper for more Walford fireworks.
Louisa plays Ruby Turner, who is about to feel the wrath of old pal Stacey Slater – played by Lacey Turner, 32, who returns after maternity leave.
Stacey discovers that her ex, Martin Fowler, is now shacked up with Ruby.
And Louisa hopes it will trigger spats worthy of the soap’s famous rivals Peggy Mitchell and Pat Butcher – played by Barbara Windsor and Pam St Clement.
Louisa, 31, says: “I hope we get a confrontation too. We keep saying we are going to become the next Pat and Peggy! We did everything together 15 years ago, so for Lacey to be back it feels like home.
"I love working with her. It’s exciting to see a friendship that will go through so much – they have to come back together every time because they have no one else.
“In real life, I probably wouldn’t do it!”
Executive producer Jon Sen fuelled the fire, adding: “There are some fantastic Stacey scenes, especially when she finds out about Martin.”
Louisa hopes it doesn’t spell the end of Ruby’s time with Martin, played by James Bye, 34. Their romance blossomed before lockdown.
She goes on: “She had just bought a house and Martin moved in. She’s been building this new relationship – very cosy!
“Stacey comes back. That’s going to cause a lot of issues and it will test how intimate the relationship is.”
EastEnders has been off air for three months – when pre-recorded episodes ran out after Covid-19 halted filming.
The cast returned in June and new 20-minute episodes will go out from September 7.
Social distancing has meant using clear screens for some kissing scenes.
But in others, real-life partners have been used as stand-ins.
Producer Jon says: “We have to choose our moments for kissing carefully, but those crucial moments, we invited real-life partners on set. Can you spot it?
“There’s other genius stuff that we won’t give away. The cheats are hard to spot.”
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