Lucy Benjamin to reprise role as EastEnders’ Lisa fowler

The actress was last seen in the soap in 2017.

Lisa Fowler is set to make an all-guns-blazing return to Walford after discovering that her daughter Louise (Tilly Keeper) is pregnant, The Mirror reports. Lucy originally played the role of Lisa between 1999-2002 before making brief returns to the saga in 2003, 2010 and 2017.

“Going back to EastEnders feels like going home. I love and adore playing Lisa, and am looking forward to seeing what’s in store for her this time.” – Lucy Benjamin

Lisa will return to Walford to make sure that her daughter is being properly looked after by her wayward father. Louise is currently pregnant with Keanu Taylor’s (Danny Walters) baby after having second thoughts about an abortion arranged by her stepmother and Keanu’s older lover, Sharon (Letitia Dean).

Lisa is best remembered for her tempestuous relationship with Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) whose cruel behaviour – including sleeping with her best friend Mel (Tamzin Outhwaite) – led to her being unmasked to an audience of 22 million viewers as the culprit in the Dallas-inspired Who Shot Phil? storyline.

Lisa moved on to a relationship with the more dependable Mark Fowler (Todd Carty) and, by this time expecting Louise, tried to pass him off as her baby daddy. Phil soon found out the truth and wooed Lisa back into his life, but Lisa quickly realised that he hadn’t changed and fled the Square with Louise.

Phil pursued Lisa and Louise to Portugal, returning to the Square with just the latter which prompted suspicions that Lisa may have come to a sticky end at his hands. Flashback episodes – aired in 2003 – revealed that Phil had left Lisa a blubbering mess on top of a cliff, convinced of her maternal inaptitude. A defiant Lisa later made a return to the Square to claim back her daughter, succeeding when Den Watts (Leslie Grantham) served Phil up to the police for armed robbery.

In 2010 Lisa was visited by Louise’s gran Peggy (Barbara Windsor) who, concerned about Phil’s drinking, wanted to return Louise to her. Louise had been living with the Mitchell family since Lisa had suffered a breakdown earlier in the year. In 2017, viewers saw Lisa again when she visited her daughter in hospital after she was attacked by school bullies Alex and Mads at the school prom. A mentally ill Lisa tried to kidnap Louise before being sectioned.

“Lisa is one of the most enduringly popular characters in the history of the show. We’re chuffed Lucy has agreed to come back for a thrilling storyline that takes us into the heart of her past on the Square.” – Executive Producer, Jon Sen

Lucy is the latest viewer favourite to be announced as returning to the BBC One soap. Last week it was revealed that Patsy Palmer is reprising her role as Bianca Jackson for a storyline this autumn while Robert Kazinsky thrilled fans with a short-term comeback as Sean Slater earlier this year.