Jacqueline Jossa shares behind-the-scenes snaps after returning to EastEnders

She stunned fans by making another surprise return to EastEnders as Lauren Branning.

And Jacqueline Jossa gave fans a fun behind-the-scenes glimpse of her unexpected soap cameo by posting a gallery of snaps with fellow returnees Adam Woodyatt and Thomas Law on Friday.

The actress’ one-off return had been kept completely under wraps ahead of its broadcast on Thursday, leaving viewers staggered when she appeared on screen.

And Jacqueline shared a collection of fun images alongside her co-stars, sharing her excitement at appearing alongside Thomas, who previously played Peter Beale from 2006 to 2010 before the role was recast.

She also shared an image of the moment Adam playfully photobombed her selfie with Thomas, along with a fun mirror image of her getting makeup done for the scenes.

Getting ready: The actress posted a fun mirror image while getting her makeup done, after surprise fans with another unexpected return

Jacqueline captioned her post: Surprise! Photo bombed by the one and only @adamwoodyatt!!

‘Glad to see you guys back where you belong @thomaslaw44 was my first Peter, I remember watching the show when I was younger and rooting for Lauren and Peter, before I even knew I would ever be her.’

Jacqueline’s appearance in Thursday’s blockbuster episode left fans completely gobsmacked, as she appeared on screen in the opening moments of the episode to visit the Beale family at their European home.

As well as Jacqueline’s comeback, Thomas, 30, also returned as her former flame Peter. He was the fifth actor to star as the character before he left in 2010 and was replaced by Ben Hardy, but he has now reprised the role.

And they were not the only familiar faces to appear on the soap opera this week as Michelle Collins returned to her role of Cindy Beale, while Adam Woodyatt also came back as her long-suffering husband Ian Beale.

Jacqueline’s grand entrance saw Lauren arriving at the Beale’s family home in Europe to visit Peter and their son Louie, but little did she know that they were also living with Cindy and Ian.

Fans were left gobsmacked by Jacqueline’s surprise return, taking to Twitter to comment on the closely-guarded secret, while they also gushed over Thomas being recast as Peter.

One person wrote: ‘EastEnders bringing Thomas Law and Jacqueline Jossa back is the best decision they’ve made!!’

Happy: Jacqueline posted beaming selfies alongside Thomas Law, who is reprising the role of Peter Beale after over a decade

He’s back too! Thomas is returning to the soap alongside Adam Woodyatt, who plays Albert Square stalwart Ian Beale

Surprise! Jacqueline’s appearance in Thursday’s blockbuster episode left fans completely gobsmacked

Truth: Cindy Beale’s 26-year backstory was finally revealed as Michelle Collins also returned to the soap opera this week  

She’s back! She’s back! The actress, 30, left fans completely gobsmacked as she appeared on screen in the opening moments of the episode to visit the Beale family at their European home

Familiar: Thomas, 30, also returned as her former flame Peter. He was the fifth actor to star as the character before he left in 2010 and was replaced by Ben Hardy, but he has now reprised the role.

Shock! Fans were left gobsmacked by Jacqueline’s return, taking to Twitter to comment on the closely-guarded secret, while they also gushed over Thomas being recast as Peter

Family: Jacqueline’s entrance saw Lauren arriving at the Beale’s family home in Europe to visit Peter and their son Louie, but little did she know that they were also living with Cindy and Ian

Secret: Jacqueline’s recently shut down rumours that she would be returning as Lauren, with her appearance coming as even more of a shock to fans

Another said: ‘Oh hello Jacqueline Jossa,’ while a third commented: ‘Jacqueline has not missed a beat.’

A fifth added: ‘Thrilled to see Thomas Law and Jacqueline Jossa back on screen.’ 

Jacqueline’s return came after her one-off reappearance on the BBC soap opera for Dot Cotton’s funeral, and she recently shut down rumours that she would be returning as Lauren, with her appearance coming as even more of a shock to fans.

In January, she insisted: ‘Just been inundated with people being lovely, but thinking I’m coming back to Eastenders full time, I don’t know if something has been taken out of an interview or been completely made up but either way I’m just shutting down any rumours or stories.

‘I am not on the way back the the square full time, it’s not in talks, I 100 have not confirmed a return.

‘That’s also not me saying I would never go back, when and if the time is right, I would love to.

Thursday’s episode also saw Cindy’s complex backstory finally revealed, 26 years after she was said to have died in childbirth while in prison.

Her death was off-screen at the time of her departure in 1998, and it was revealed that all was not as it seemed in Thursday’s episode.

Cindy made her epic return to the soap opera in the closing moments of Wednesday’s episode, as she was finally revealed to be George Knight’s mysterious ex-wife Rose.

And in Thursday’s episode, the huge twist of how she is still alive was finally revealed, as she was seen living with her husband Ian in Europe.

The episode kicked off with Cindy and Ian playing with their grandson Louie, before her son Peter arrived on screen and announced that somebody had arrived.

Panicked, he said: ‘Mum! She’s here, she’s five minutes away.’

An alarmed Cindy was then told by Ian to leave the property to hide, confirming that whoever was arriving had no idea Cindy was still alive and well.

A car then pulled up to the property and Lauren got out, making her surprise return to EastEnders as she greeted Peter and said she had decided to come and visit their son Louie earlier than planned.

Cindy and Ian were then seen strolling through the town and talking, with Ian asking her why she had a photograph of George Knight (Colin Salmon) in her handbag.

In her 26-year absence, Cindy had a romance with George under the name ‘Rose’ in Marbella and they had two daughters – Anna (Molly Rainford) and Gina (Francesca Henry).

The Knight family made their grand entrance to Walford earlier this month, after his new girlfriend Elaine Peacock invested money in her daughter Linda Carter’s pub.

And Ian appeared to be aware of Cindy’s romance with George and their two daughters, as he asked her: ‘Why are you carrying a photograph around of him in your bag?’

Cindy then revealed that George had called her the night before – in a tense moment which aired in Wednesday’s episode – but that she hadn’t answered.

She confessed she was devastated that she couldn’t see their daughters, hinting at a return to Walford as she said: ‘They’re not the only children I’m always going to miss.’

The couple were then visited by a woman called Mary, who provided further details into Cindy’s backstory as she confirmed she had been in a witness protection scheme.

Mary told a shocked Cindy that a mystery woman called Jackie Ford had died, meaning her witness protection scheme was now over.

Cindy asked: ‘There’s no faces from the old days who might be holding a grudge?’

With assurances that she would be safe to move somewhere new and restart her life as Cindy Beale, rather than her adopted identity of ‘Rose’, Cindy and Ian discussed their plans.

Ian admitted he had been thinking about returning to Walford, with Cindy making it very clear she had no intention of returning to the Square. 

She said: ‘I made a lot of other enemies there too. I’ve changed, I’m not the same person I was there.’

The pair then became embroiled in a row, with Cindy storming off as she fumed that she wanted to stay where they were, rather than move somewhere new to restart.

However, Cindy then got a shock when she stormed into the bedroom to tell Ian he ‘better not be packing’ to move, only to find him collapsed on the floor. 

Scenes then flashed to Lauren and Peter catching up after going their separate ways, with Peter asking her whether there was any way they could rekindle their romance.

He assured her that he wasn’t the same person he used to be and she appeared to be swayed by his promises, with the pair appearing to be leaning towards rekindling things.

However, Peter then got a sudden phone call from Cindy, telling him that his father Ian was in the hospital, leading to him rushing over there.

Despite his objections that Lauren shouldn’t come, so she wouldn’t find out that Cindy was still alive, she insisted on accompanying him to support him.

Lauren then got quite the shock when she entered the hospital room and saw Cindy standing next to Ian’s bed, with Peter then explaining the situation to her.

He told how Ian had only found out Cindy was still alive around a year ago, and had only told him recently, with Peter jetting over with Louie from New Zealand to be with them.

Cindy’s backstory then became clear as Peter told how she had gone into a witness protection scheme to protect herself from her old cellmate Jackie Ford – with the Walford residents being told she had died in childbirth.

Epic: Cindy made her return to the soap opera in the closing moments of Wednesday’s episode, as she was finally revealed to be George Knight’s mysterious ex-wife Rose 

Build up: In the tense moment, George Knight stood in the Queen Vic and called ‘Rose’, before the scene dramatically flashed to Spain, with his ex-wife revealed to be Cindy 

What happened? Cindy was thought to have died 26 years ago, but her backstory was revealed on Thursday as it was confirmed she had been living under witness protection in Europe 

Complex: In her 26-year absence, Cindy had a romance with George under the name ‘Rose’ in Marbella and they had two daughters – Anna (Molly Rainford) and Gina (Francesca Henry) 

History: Cindy first arrived in Albert Square in 1988, striking up a relationship with Ian (both pictured) after tiring of barman Simon Wicks, played by Nick Berr 

Cindy then went on to live under the new identity of ‘Rose’ for 26 years, which included her relationship with George Knight, before her complex history was finally unveiled.

From his hospital bed, Ian was seen watching a video from Walford which featured George and his two daughters, as Ian realised that they were now living in the Square – rather than Marbella as he and Cindy had believed.

Cindy then told him that she was coming around to the idea of returning to Walford, but Ian tried to bat her away, apparently not wanting her to reunite with George.

But will the couple return to the Square and what drama will ensue if they do?  

EastEnders continues on BBC One on Monday at 7.30pm.