Patsy Palmer to return to EastEnders as Bianca

She is perhaps most famous for yelling "Rickaaaaay!" to her on-off partner on EastEnders.

But more than 30 years after Patsy Palmer was cast as feisty Bianca Jackson in the BBC One soap, she is set to reprise her role for a short stint this spring.

The actress, 51, said she was "so excited" to be returning after an absence of more than four years.

She has already started filming her scenes, the BBC said.

"EastEnders holds such a special place in my heart," Palmer said. "So it's always a pleasure to be back."

Palmer was 21 when she first joined the soap in 1993 as 16-year-old Bianca, the sharp-tongued daughter of Carol Jackson, played by Lindsey Coulson.

Bianca, like many of Albert Square's residents, has had her fair share of problems.

Her storylines included her tumultuous romantic relationship with Ricky Butcher, played by Sid Owen.

The couple became known for their sometimes comical arguments, with Bianca regularly shrieking his name across the square.

They divorced in the programme in 1999 but remarried when EastEnders turned 25 in 2010.

She also discovered her teenage stepdaughter, Whitney Dean - played by Shona McGarty - was being abused, and learned that the character David Wicks was her father.

Bianca last appeared in Walford in September 2019, for a brief appearance before the pandemic struck.

In the upcoming episodes, she will be visited in Milton Keynes - where she now lives - by Whitney, following her off-screen break-up with Terry Spraggan, played by Terry Alderton.

"But it's not long before chaos ensues," the BBC trailed.

Chris Clenshaw, EastEnders' executive producer, said: "I'm thrilled to welcome the fabulous Patsy back to the iconic role of Bianca Jackson."

He said that despite being absent from the show for more than four years, "Bianca still remains a fan favourite".

"We know our audiences will be thrilled at her return as she is thrust into the heart of the drama alongside step-daughter Whitney."

Palmer, who is also a DJ, relocated with her family to the United States in 2014 after a previous stint on EastEnders came to an end.

She took part in BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing in 2005. Last year, she was a contestant on ITV1's Dancing On Ice.