As previously reported, Lorraine - now played by former Bad Girls actress Victoria Alcock - descends on Walford after being invited via text message by scheming Lucy Beale (Hetti Bywater), who mistakenly thinks that 'L Stevens' is a mystery man that Mandy is having an affair with.
Mandy (Nicola Stapleton) is not at all happy to see Lorraine, fearing that she could ruin her new life with fiancé Ian (Adam Woodyatt) - and it seems that she's right to be worried when Lorraine makes it clear that she sees her future son-in-law as a meal ticket.
As Lorraine privately implies that her financial struggles will be over now that she's been introduced to Ian, Mandy loses patience and tells her that she'll have to go.
© BBC
© BBC
However, Lorraine has managed to fool Ian into thinking that she just wants to get back on good terms with Mandy, so the Walford businessman later insists that she must stay.
Although Mandy warns Ian that Lorraine is bad news, he refuses to listen and is determined to mend bridges between mother and daughter.
Lorraine is triumphant and slightly sinister as she tells Mandy that she's sticking around. Will she sabotage Mandy's happiness?
Mandy's mum will appear in a few episodes before returning for another short stint later in the year.
EastEnders airs these scenes on Friday, March 2 at 8pm on BBC One.
> EastEnders return for Mandy Salter's mother
> EastEnders arrival, Coronation Street Leanne fury, Emmerdale split, Hollyoaks return
> Read more EastEnders spoilers and news
