EastEnders icon makes shock TV return after ‘taking a step back’ and fans say same thing
Zöe Lucker became a firm favourite on EastEnders playing Vanessa Gold - now fans are begging bosses for a return after she made a shock appearance on a TV show
EastEnders legend Zöe Lucker has made a shock return to screens after “taking a step back” – and she soon got plenty of fans talking.
The actress, 49, played the glamorous Vanessa Gold on the BBC soap between 2010 to 2011. As Max Branning’s highly-strung lover, she became a firm favourite with viewers.
As well as her character’s relationship with Walford love rat Max, she had plenty of iconic one-liners. Including that famous “Bubbly’s in the fridge” meltdown.
But in 2011, she said her goodbyes to soap when Vanessa was written out. Since then, Zöe, who found fame as Tanya Turner on Footballer’s Wives in the 2000s, went on to star in rival soap Hollyoaks as Reenie McQueen from 2015 to 2016.
However, on Sunday (February 11) fans were sent into a meltdown after they spotted Zöe in the Dancing On Ice audience. The TV stunner was sat next to The Traitors winner Harry Clark.
Swooning at their screens over her ageless appearance, fans were quick to share how desperate they are for her to return. On X, formerly known as Twitter, one person said: “Wow I’ve not seen Zoe Lucker on the TV for ages I remember her on Eastenders but I’m glad she’s looking well and maybe next year you might be on the ice Zoe? :).”
Someone else added: “NEED A VANESSA GOLD RETURN ASAP.” A third quipped: “Zoe lucker is brilliant btw.” Another smitten viewer chimed in and wrote: “Never mind Harry that’s the queen that is Zoe Lucker. get back on our screens right now queen we miss you x.”
During her time on EastEnders, Vanessa had a turbulent relationship with Max – but was left heartbroken when he cheated on her with his ex/wife Tanya.
And in one famous scene, Vanessa thrashed his living room before raging “Bubblies in the fridge!” The moment has since become a viral meme online.
Speaking about the scene Zöe told Attitude magazine: “That scene was originally just one line, and the stage directions were ‘Vanessa trashes the house’, as she’d just come from finding out that Max was having an affair.
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“When I was standing at the curtains, it was almost like I needed to build up a momentum. I didn’t know I was going to say it three times, but it just happened like that. We did it in one take.”
Zöe then revealed how she gets sent “versions of ‘Bubbly’s in the fridge’ all the time.” She quipped: “It’s brilliant; I love it!”
