Zoe Lucker swaps the glamour of Footballers Wifes for depressing Walford

EASTENDERS woman- magnet Max Branning looks set to meet his match with the show's latest signing - soap superbitch Zoe Lucker.


She's heading to Albert Square to play Vanessa, a glamorous businesswoman who sets out to snare him.

Zoe, 35, who played catty Tanya Turner in Footballers' Wives and Bad Girls, will appear on screen for the first time when Vanessa visits Max's car lot.

There is an instant attraction between her and the salesman, played by Jake Wood, 37, and sparks are soon flying.

Enders executive producer Bryan Kirkwood said: "Zoe is perfect for the role.

"The character is a strong, confident force of nature who will play Max at his own game."

Zoe, added: "I'm a huge fan of the show and I'm really looking forward to working with Jake. I can't wait to get started."

Poor Zoe she'lll need to down a bottle of vodka daily to find Max attracative. :sick:

Zoe Lucker could be a good addition to EE - I wonder if it's a temporary or a permanent role?

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Originally Posted by Chloe O'brien

Poor Zoe she'lll need to down a bottle of vodka daily to find Max attracative. :sick:

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I actually find Max strangely attractive :o

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Originally Posted by Chloe O'brien

Poor Zoe she'lll need to down a bottle of vodka daily to find Max attracative. :sick:

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Not sure if that would help me( may need to be in a semi coma ) .. I cringe every time I see Max on screen,,

Is she the one that was in Strictly Come Dancing with James Jordan? I've never seen her act, but will be interesting to see her with Max. So Tanya's not coming back then???

This is her. She was in Footballer's Wives and Holby Blue. Can't remember who she played in Bad Girls :hmm:

She played Tanya Turner in Bad Girls too. There was an episode of Footballers' Wives where Tanya was sent to prison, and she was then in a couple of crossover episodes of Bad Girls playing the same character.

she was brill in Footballers wives so im pleased about this :D

Her and Tanya fighting for Max :p let the catfights begin

never seen footballers wives! but this sounds like its going to be good viewing

Pity Walford FC wasnt still in existence

I loved her in Bad Girls.. never seen her in Footballers wifes

She is a great actress from FW, Bad Girls and Holby Blue a good addition to the cast

I also think Max is attractive

EastEnders newcomer Zöe Lucker has signed a new contract with the BBC soap, Digital Spy can exclusively reveal.

The 36-year-old - who first appeared as glamourous businesswoman Vanessa Gold on Friday evening - initially penned a seven-episode deal, but bosses are said to be so impressed by her performance that they couldn't not ask her to make a more permanent comeback.

Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy, Lucker said: "I've just signed a new contract - It's great, I'm so pleased."

She continued: "Vanessa was brought in to make Max realise that he still loves Tanya, while brightening up his life in the process. By the end of my first seven episodes, Vanessa's presence prompts Max to go and visit Tanya."

Vanessa - who also arrived on the Square with her daughter Jodie - disappears for a few months, before making her return.

Of her comeback story, Lucker insisted: "I genuinely know nothing! But I trust Bryan and the writers so much that I'm really looking forward to it."

On screen, numerous references have been made to Vanessa's husband of 20 years - and father to Jodie - Harry Gold.

A show source said: "It's a classic soap strategy to plant seeds in viewers' minds about a character months before we meet them - you only have to look at what they did with Archie Mitchell. No doubt Harry will find his way to the Square in the hope of learning what Vanessa's been up to."

Zöe Lucker has revealed that fans often remind her of her stint in Footballers' Wives.

The 36-year-old actress portrayed superbitch Tanya Turner in the ITV1 drama, which she starred in for five series between 2002 and 2006.

"There isn't a day goes by that someone doesn't want to talk to me about Tanya, but that feels like a privilege still," she told Radio Times.

"At some point, everyone accepts there are certain roles that people want to cast you in, and I'm happy that mine are roles in which I get to wear fantastic frocks and, more importantly, play strong, determined women," the star added.

Lucker now plays Max Branning's love interest Vanessa Gold in BBC One soap EastEnders.

Zöe Lucker has revealed that she is excited by the prospect of her EastEnders alter ego Vanessa Gold losing "everything".

Speaking to Radio Times, the actress - who was only recently cast as Max Branning's love interest in the serial - pondered whether Vanessa will be able to "maintain her glamour".

She said: "Obviously I love it that Vanessa is strong and stylish and moneyed, but what if she couldn't maintain her glamour?"

Lucker added: "What if she lost everything? The thought of that really excites me!"

EastEnders star Zöe Lucker has revealed that she is keen for her character's relationship with Max Branning to stay strong in the months ahead.

The actress's alter ego Vanessa Gold began a romance with Max (Jake Wood) back in the summer, but the pair have faced many obstacles in recent weeks due to Vanessa's estranged husband Harry and his thirst for revenge.

Speaking to Digital Spy at Sunday night's Variety Club Showbiz Awards in London, Lucker said of EastEnders: "I've been there since April, so it started off as a little stint and it's grown into something a lot bigger.

"I'm loving it. I love working with Jake Wood and the rest of the cast - they've all been so lovely, and I love playing that character, so it's great."

Asked whether she would like Vanessa to move on from Max and pursue another Albert Square resident, she replied: "No, I don't think so - I hope things work out between those guys! I think they're a really lovely couple - I hope it works out for them."

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Originally Posted by tammyy2j

EastEnders star Zöe Lucker has revealed that she is keen for her character's relationship with Max Branning to stay strong in the months ahead.

The actress's alter ego Vanessa Gold began a romance with Max (Jake Wood) back in the summer, but the pair have faced many obstacles in recent weeks due to Vanessa's estranged husband Harry and his thirst for revenge.

Speaking to Digital Spy at Sunday night's Variety Club Showbiz Awards in London, Lucker said of EastEnders: "I've been there since April, so it started off as a little stint and it's grown into something a lot bigger.

"I'm loving it. I love working with Jake Wood and the rest of the cast - they've all been so lovely, and I love playing that character, so it's great."

Asked whether she would like Vanessa to move on from Max and pursue another Albert Square resident, she replied: "No, I don't think so - I hope things work out between those guys! I think they're a really lovely couple - I hope it works out for them."

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She is to classy to be with any other resident of the square.

I want Max and Vanessa to stay together as well. I don't know wot it is about Tanya right now, but she is a lot less fiesty than I have seen her in the past. I am not that excited to see her back anymore. For ages i wanted Max and Tanya to reunite and now I think Vanessa is a better version lol. Vanessa all the way!

EastEnders character Vanessa Gold will reportedly attack Tanya Jessop when she discovers her affair with fiancé Max Branning.

Vanessa (Zoe Lucker) will storm into Tanya's home and punch her, resulting in the pair fighting on the floor in front of Tanya's son Oscar and husband Greg.

The News of the World suggests that Tanya (Jo Joyner) will end the affair after Max's brother Jack (Scott Maslen) finds out. Max (Jake Wood) dumps Vanessa and confesses all, leading to the fight.

"She hunts Tanya down to her house and forces her way in before attacking her," a source said. "There is nothing like a woman scorned but Tanya doesn't take it lying down. She gives back as good as she gets. It leaves little Oscar in a right state."

However, the Daily Star Sunday claims that Vanessa only discovers the affair when Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) decides she deserves to know the truth, following Max's promises that no-one else is involved in their split.

"Everyone remembers how Lauren exposed Max's affair with Stacey Slater - it was one of the soap's most dramatic episodes ever," another source said.

"So bosses decided it would be brilliant if she ruined her dad's love life all over again by telling Vanessa he's a cheat."

The scenes will air later this summer.

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Originally Posted by alan45

The News of the World suggests that Tanya (Jo Joyner) will end the affair

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How did they find out? Did they hack Tanya's phone?

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Originally Posted by parkerman

How did they find out? Did they hack Tanya's phone?

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was wondering when that would happen LOL

EastEnders bids farewell to Vanessa Gold next week as her troubled time on Albert Square comes to an end.

Feeling backed into a corner when Eddie realises there's more to her recent behaviour than meets the eye, Vanessa tells him everything about his son Michael's vicious scheming.

Vanessa fears that she's blown things with Eddie after confessing that Michael paid her to break up his relationship with Carol, but she's in for a surprise when the antiques dealer asks for her help to destroy Michael in a revenge plot of his own.

Eddie promises Vanessa that they can jet off to Spain together once they've dealt with Michael, but exact details of what happens next are currently being kept under wraps. Will Eddie manage to get even with Michael? And will Vanessa leave with him?

Here, Zöe Lucker - who played Vanessa - chats to Digital Spy about making her EastEnders departure, her year-long stint on the show, and her legendary "bubbly in the fridge" moment!

We've seen another side to Vanessa recently while she's been involved in Michael's schemes. What did you make of the different direction for the character?
"With all of the stuff where Michael was paying Vanessa to break up Eddie and Carol, she was in a very difficult place. She got left with nothing, she had nowhere to live and she had her daughter's wedding to pay for. She was very desperate and it wasn't something that came easily to her at all.

"Vanessa isn't a malicious person, but she knew that she had to survive this situation. Because she reached rock bottom, she started to behave in a way that she wouldn't normally behave. I think the good thing is that we saw Vanessa wasn't at all comfortable with Michael's plans for Eddie's demise."


We're about to see Vanessa tell Eddie the truth about everything that happened with Michael. What brings her to that decision?
"Well, it gets to the point where Vanessa does find strength and she doesn't have to be scared of Michael anymore. Vanessa feels like she has nothing else left to lose, so she does everything possible to stay in the relationship with Eddie. That means that she comes clean and just hopes for the best, really! As a result of that, Eddie and Vanessa start plotting and it all becomes a lot more twisted. It's exciting, but you'll have to wait and see exactly what happens!"

How genuine are Vanessa's feelings for Eddie?
"Vanessa has really, really strong feelings for Eddie. She really likes him and she doesn't want to hurt him at all. But she's found herself in an unfortunate situation and sometimes these things spiral out of control. Everything becomes a lot more mixed up and messed up before Vanessa leaves!"

How are you feeling now that your time at EastEnders has come to an end?
"I had an absolutely brilliant time there - I loved it. I was supposed to be there only for a month, but then it kept getting longer and longer. And then particularly in the last three months, I got some really nice storylines and an opportunity to really develop the character. When I left, I was really sad.

"It'd been a whirlwind, as I was just going in for a couple of days a week and not doing all that much for the first year, and then all of a sudden it became really full-on, which was brilliant. I got the chance to work with some amazing actors and fantastic directors during my time on EastEnders, so I was really sad to leave but it was a brilliant experience."


Was it particularly sad to say goodbye to everyone?
"Oh yes, it was, because you work so closely with everybody and you see them every day, and then all of a sudden you're just not there anymore. The transition can be quite a weird one because you almost become institutionalised - going to the same place every single day and seeing the same people. Everyone from cast, crew, make-up and costume become a big part of your life. But obviously I'll still see people and I met some lovely friends who I'll always have now."

Did you have a leaving party?
"I didn't have a leaving party, as I live quite a long way away, we all drive into work and it was a weeknight when I finished. I'm planning for us all to get together and have some drinks somewhere at some stage, though. I didn't really want to do it on the night that I was leaving, because I did feel sad and I didn't want that to be the mood for the evening!"

After working so closely with Jake Wood over the past year, was it strange not to have him there for Vanessa's farewell?
"Yes, I had two months working without him because Jake went on his break, and that meant working with a lot of different actors. That was weird, because for the first year it had literally just been Jake and I, the girls and Jo Joyner. So it did feel odd, but it was really lovely to be able to work with different people as well. I made some really good friends among the other actors, so it was great to have the opportunity to mix it up a bit."

A lot of viewers have said that it's a shame Vanessa is leaving. Are you proud of the impact that she's made recently?
"Yeah, I think the way that it worked out was great, because I did spend the first year just doing a couple of days per week, but that meant I could spend a lot of time with my daughter and it was a drip-feed for the character. But then, suddenly for there to be all these high-impact scenes, I think the audience were able to relate to Vanessa more.

"I think people felt quite sad over what was happening to her, and were also excited by what was going on. The viewers were given a chance to see more of her, but then just as they're getting to know her, she's going - so I think that's probably what it is."


During the quieter times, did you always know that there were big plans ahead for Vanessa?
"Well, the reason for the quieter times was that I was initially only supposed to be there for a month, and there were all these huge pre-planned stories like Kat and Alfie coming back, the baby swap with Ronnie and all that stuff. A lot of the storylines were tied up with different characters, so they didn't quite know where to go with Vanessa.

"Initially, I'd gone in to facilitate Max and Tanya getting back together again, and then it was going to be my time to go. But then they decided to take that story further, so as I was going along, I was hoping that something really good was going to come up and it was worth the wait when it happened. I just loved all of those scripts after Vanessa found out about Max and Tanya, because everything became more exciting then - for me and Vanessa!"

How do you think Vanessa compared to your previous characters?
"I loved the fact that Vanessa was a strong woman and that she's a survivor. When I did HolbyBlue, that was a big difference from when I did Footballers' Wives, and then when I did Bombshell that was very different as well. I've also done plays and other bits and pieces. Physically, Vanessa was closest to Tanya Turner, but Tanya was a lot more calculated and manipulative. While a lot of the things that Vanessa has been doing can come across that way, I think they've come from a very different place."

Vanessa's OCD was also a talking point among viewers…
"Well, initially that was something that came from my first chat with the executive producer. When you join, you have a chat with the exec and some of the writers, so when I first came in they introduced the OCD. But then because there's so many different writers, you have to be responsible for that aspect of the character in the performance.

"It became a lot more interesting when they actually started to write the fact that when Vanessa's getting out of control, she starts trying to regain control and that comes through with the OCD. I loved playing that and I've had a lot of people tell me that they found it quite disturbing to watch!"


What do you make of Vanessa's 'bubbly in the fridge' meltdown becoming such a hit online?
"It's so weird, because I'm a huge technophobe! I check my emails about once every three months, and when I do get an email, my friends have to text me and say, 'I've sent you an email - please read it!' So I wasn't aware of all this, but I suddenly started getting all these texts saying, 'You're trending on Twitter!' I had no idea what that meant at all! (Laughs)

"My other half had to explain it to me, but it's great. I'm glad that people enjoyed what they saw. It was actually Bryan Kirkwood who rang me to say that there was a mash-up of 'bubbly in the fridge'. I haven't seen it, but I'm going to see if I can get someone to show me how to go on YouTube!"

How likely do you think it is that we could see Vanessa again in the future?
"I think it's always dependent on what the storylines are and whether she fits into the Square. Leading up to the end of Vanessa's time on the show, there's a lot of things that could happen. I think we'll just have to wait and see, but it was such a lovely job and I've got nothing but positive things to say about my time there."

What's next for you?
"At the moment I'm just waiting for the right thing to come up. There's been lots of things that have come in, but at the moment nothing feels quite right. I think I want to wait and enjoy some free time until the right job comes up. I'm excited, as there's a lot of good projects out there at the moment so it's just a case of waiting for the right one."

as ever when someone under-used leaves, Vannessa's character has become a lot better once they've actually given her something to do!

Waterloo Road's Zoe Lucker has revealed that she would consider returning to EastEnders.

Lucker, who made her name on Footballers' Wives, played Max Branning love interest Vanessa Gold between June 2010 and October 2011.

In an interview with The Mirror, the actress explained: "I was only ever contracted for the Max and Tanya storyline for a few months.

"But by the time I'd left, I'd been there for 18 months, which was unexpected but brilliant at the same time.

"I haven't ruled out returning to the show. If the right storyline came up and the timing worked, I would definitely consider it."

However, Lucker insisted that her 4-year-old daughter Lilly is her priority, adding: "Any job I take has to fit with being a mum."

She admitted that her Waterloo Road filming commitments in Scotland has been "tough".

Lucker joined the BBC school drama as Liverpudlian mum Carol Barry in June last year. Her debut episode aired last week.