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EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa has opened up about her upcoming exit as Lauren Branning, saying she was "really scared" when she found out, but "had [her] suspicions".
Speaking about her character's departure from the BBC One soap, Jacqueline told OK! magazine: "I had my suspicions that something might be going on because of the way my storylines were going, so I asked for a meeting to discuss what was happening.
"When they told me the plans I was really scared. Getting a job on a soap is a very comforting thing for an actress because it's regular work, so when I realised that was being taken away, it did worry me."
Fans are aware that Jacqueline is bowing out of her role as Lauren, with the actress revealing on Instagram last week that her character's departure will air in February. She has admitted that filming her final scenes was emotional.
"It was a lot sadder than I thought it was going to be," she explained. "My last scene is with Jake [Wood, who plays Jacqueline's on-screen dad Max Branning] and thankfully I was supposed to be crying because I couldn't stop the tears from coming!"
Lauren is currently recovering after her horror fall on Christmas Day, which has left her sister Abi brain dead.
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Abi's life-support machine is due to be switched off on Friday (January 19) – with Lorna Fitzgerald also bowing out of her role as Max's youngest daughter.
EastEnders continues tonight at 7.30pm on BBC One.
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Digital Spy Soap Scoop video – hit play below for all the latest EastEnders spoilers, as the Brannings prepare to say goodbye to Abi, and Whitney's fears for Tiffany grow.
