Who did Patsy Kensit play in EastEnders and when did she exit the soap?

EastEnders is set to be rocked by the return of Patsy Kensit in the role of Emma Harding in upcoming episodes.

Emma, Lola Pearce’s (Danielle Harold) estranged mum, caused ripples when she entered the soap earlier this year in the wake of her daughter’s cancer diagnosis.

She caused plenty of upheaval in Lola and daughter Lexi’s (Isabella Brown) lives as she came and went at her leisure, much to the anger of Lola’s husband Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) and Lexi’s father Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden).

Now, as Lexi returns to some form of normality after losing her mother, Emma is set to crash back into all of their lives.

As we gear up for more chaos in the Square, many soap fans may need a refresher of when Emma first graced our screens and when she bowed out.

Here’s what you need to know.

Who did Patsy Kensit play in EastEnders?

Patsy made her EastEnders debut in January when she entered the soap as Lola Pearce’s estranged mum, Emma Harding.

She arrived on the soap on January 25 after Billy (Perry Fenwick) and Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) tracked her down in the run-up to her daughter’s wedding to Jay.

Emma questions why Dan Pearce (Paul Warren), Lola’s father, didn’t track her down, to which Billy drops the bombshell that he died 10 years prior, but what he doesn’t inform her about is Lola’s devastating brain tumour diagnosis.

After learning she has a granddaughter, Lexi, Emma returns to Albert Square to meet her and reconcile with Lola, watching them from afar as she is too nervous to introduce herself.

She learns about Lola’s brain tumour from a vlog, and begins supporting Lexi and Lola by confronting a bully of Lexi’s at school and delivering money anonymously to Lola, all without them knowing who she really is.

Her true identity is eventually revealed in a fiery confrontation with Billy, leaving Emma to explain the heartbreaking reason she wasn’t in Lola’s life as she uncovers Dan’s vicious abuse towards her including throwing a boiling kettle of water over her.

Lola is dubious about her claims, but after seeing her burns and hearing accounts of abuse from Billy, she believes her mum and rushes to find her and stop her from leaving Walford for a second time.

After reconciling the pair work on building their relationship which is rocked by Lola’s terminal cancer diagnosis as the pair try to spend as much time together as possible.

When did she leave the soap?

In March, it was revealed Lola only had six months to live which devastated her family, including Emma who had only just reentered her life.

Jay confronts Emma following the news, urging her not to break Lola’s heart if she cannot handle the news and the effects of her illness.

After the conversation, Emma hits Lola with another blow – that she has received a job offer in America and will be leaving.

Lola is furious with her and tells her she never wants to see her again, with the pair never patching things up before Lola’s tragic death in May.

Viewers last saw Emma at Lola’s funeral, where she quietly entered the service to pay tribute to her beloved daughter.

Following her time on the soap, Patsy penned a heartfelt thank you to her fellow castmates.

Posting a selfie on her Instagram page, she wrote: ‘We’re leaving on a jet plane! Don’t know when I’ll be back again…. Going to the heat. Great news this Friday that my severe chest infection I’ve nursed since December has now been diagnosed and I’m on the right antibiotics and need to convalesce for a bit and will be right back on my feet!!!

‘Cannot thank my amazing cast members at the simply awesome experience I’ve had working on @bbceastenders for being so kind and loving to me. Big thank you to the BBC the producers writers crew and the EE family .

‘Costume makeup AD’s Ang at the help desk.. the fabulous @jamie_b10 and the phenomenal @danielle_harold for making me laugh my arse off everyday. I love you both… @theemmabarton so so many people…. A new adventure begins✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ps cannot forget the best agent in the world @celebagentsuk David Hahn and Sue I love you both ❤️❤️❤️❤️’

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