'EastEnders' star: 'Jodie has reasons to stay'

EastEnders star Kylie Babbington has promised that her character Jodie Gold will still have reasons to stay in Walford following the departures of her on-screen mum and boyfriend.

Last month, it was announced that Vanessa Gold and Darren Miller - played by Zöe Lucker and Charlie G. Hawkins respectively - will both be leaving the soap later this year.

However, speaking on This Morning today, Babbington explained that Jodie will still have a place on Albert Square for the foreseeable future.

She teased: "I'll be staying on the Square. There's reasons for me to stay, but that can't be revealed yet."

Asked whether there could be a new love interest for Jodie on the horizon, she replied: "We'll see, won't we?"

Babbington also confirmed that Jodie's ditzy friend Poppy Meadow will be making a return in the coming weeks. Poppy previously appeared in two episodes back in January.

"She's just come back and I've been filming some stuff with her, which is lovely - some quite comical stuff," Babbington said.

Hawkins, who was also interviewed on the morning show, said that he will be filming at EastEnders for another three months.

Asked about his departure storyline, he said: "I'm waiting to be told. I'm quite excited to find out! Hopefully I'll find out next week."

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