Wallace 'ready for Walford comeback'

Jessie Wallace has decided that she wants to reprise her role as EastEnders favourite Kat Slater, a report claims.

The actress played the Queen Vic barmaid between 2000 and 2005 before leaving to pursue other projects. She has since appeared in BBC dramas The Dinner Party and A Class Apart, as well as ITV1's Wild At Heart and reality show Strictly Come Dancing.

An insider told the Sunday Mirror: "Jessie is very excited about playing Kat again. She's been off screen for a few years and a lot has happened since she was last in the show.

"She feels the time is right for a return and says she can't wait to get back into the Square and stuck into some meaty storylines."

An EastEnders spokesperson insisted that there are no "immediate" plans to bring the character back, but added: "Where big favourites like Kat are concerned, we would never say never."