Bianca Jackson Butcher (Patsy Palmer)

[Siobhan]

How long is she gone for exactly?

I know Patsy left to have her baby

I think it is just for a while to begin with but looking at spoilers 2nd week in Jan, it seems like she makes some decision.. So reckon this might be the lead up to her departure.. it would explain why she would leave the kids.. Maybe she does own up to taking the jewelry for Whitney and gets 9 months to a year in prison...

[alan45]

Meanwhile, this next picture shows the moment that EastEnders favourite Bianca Jackson puts her perfect family Christmas in jeopardy by accidentally hitting a police officer.

On Christmas Eve, the devoted mum decides to open a present from the kids early and is surprised when it turns out to be an expensive perfume. She then thanks Ricky for giving them the money to pay for it - but it soon transpires that they must have stolen the gift.

The fragrance isn't the only stolen item being kept at the household in the festive period as Whitney is still looking after a stash of jewellery for Connor. When two police officers arrive at the house wanting to search the place, Bianca panics as it seems that her family could be in hot water.

In the resulting commotion, one of the officers tries to calm down a nervous Bianca - but she accidentally whacks him across the face and ends up being driven away in a police car. Will Bianca make it back home in time for Christmas?

[alan45]

EASTENDERS star Patsy Palmer may quit to spend more time with her family.
The mum of four - on maternity leave after having son Bertie in November - said: "I don't want to be tied to anything."

Out-of-contract Patsy, 38 - Bianca Jackson on the BBC1 soap - told Hello!: "I want to enjoy every minute with Bertie.

"If and when they want me back, I'll consider it."

[moonstorm]

At bit more from the Mirror:-


Patsy Palmer quits EastEnders over cot death storyline

PATSY Palmer has quit *EastEnders amid the furore surrounding the *controversial baby swap storyline.

The actress, currently on maternity leave, said the plot affected her daughter Emilia, nine, so much she pleaded with her to leave the soap.

Patsy, who has played Bianca since 1993, said the plotline, involving Ronnie Branning switching her dead baby for Kat Moon’s newborn son, made Emilia cry.

Speaking about the scenes, Patsy, 38, told Hello!: “Emilia adores her new baby brother Bertie and she couldn’t believe *something like that could happen. She was sobbing and kept saying, ‘Please don’t go back there, Mummy’.

“I had to calm her down and explain that it wasn’t for real and that it was all pretend. But being only nine it was difficult for her to understand.

“It affected me too, especially after having Bertie, so I can imagine how other mums must have felt.”

The mother of four, married to cabbie Richard Merkell, added: “I’ve just finished my contract with EastEnders and I’ve decided I don’t want to be tied to anything.

“I just want to spend as much time as I can with Bertie and enjoy every minute with him.

[lizann]

I hope she leaves with her kids and Ricky this time around

[moonstorm]

Sorry Lizann, looks like she's not going anywhere:-

Palmer: 'I have not quit EastEnders'

EastEnders star Patsy Palmer has denied reports that she has quit the soap, confirming that she has "every intention" of returning to Walford.

The actress - who plays Albert Square favourite Bianca Jackson - is currently on maternity leave after welcoming the arrival of her fourth child Bertie last month.

In a new interview with Hello magazine published today, Palmer revealed that her EastEnders contract recently expired and that she wishes to "enjoy every minute" with her newborn son for the time being.

The star's comments have since led to suggestions that she has decided to leave her role on the programme due to the controversial baby swap storyline currently airing on screen.

However, in a statement released this morning, Palmer insisted: "I have not quit EastEnders over the current storyline as reports suggest. My contract came to an end soon after I gave birth to Bertie and as I have already said, I just want to spend every minute with him.

"I love EastEnders and have every intention of returning when the time is right for me and the show."

Bianca's departure storyline airs this week as she ends up in prison for attacking Connor Stanley (Arinze Kene), the secret lover of her mum Carol.

[moonstorm]

Palmer exit sparks 'Enders scene changes

EastEnders bosses were forced to think of an "inventive" way to continue Bianca Jackson's current storyline after Patsy Palmer gave birth early, Digital Spy can reveal.

Producers at the BBC soap faced a problem in December after Palmer welcomed the arrival of her fourth child Bertie almost a month before he was due.

Bertie's early arrival came as Palmer was about to film explosive scenes focusing on a showdown between Bianca and her loved ones, sparked by the revelation of her mum Carol's secret relationship with Connor Stanley.

Speaking in a new interview with Hello magazine, Palmer admitted: "I wasn't planning to go on leave for another three weeks so they will have to explain my sudden absence - maybe aliens will abduct Bianca! But they were very supportive and told me their only concern was for me and my baby's health."

A Walford source told DS today: "Everyone was thrilled for Patsy when she gave birth to a healthy baby boy, but his early arrival did create a big challenge because some key scenes showing Bianca becoming involved in the Carol and Connor storyline had yet to be filmed.

"We had all the build-up shot as well as the aftermath, but there were some important scenes in the middle that hadn't been done. In the end, we had to be quite inventive in the way that we proceeded with the storyline.

"As a result, one of the affected scenes from the storyline will play out in a special way, showing events unfold through the eyes of Bianca's daughter Tiffany. It worked out quite well as we had already been showing how Carol's secret was having a big effect on Tiffany and causing her to behave strangely. But the viewers will have to wait and see exactly how it all happens when the episodes air."

The scenes in question - which lead to Bianca's temporary departure from the Square - will be screened this week. Show bosses also brought back Natalie Cassidy's character Sonia Fowler for a one-off episode to help with the conclusion of the storyline.

[moonstorm]

Well I suppose that explains Sonia??

[Dutchgirl]

Bianca has to come back. She belongs in EE now.

[sean slater]

Yeh, the whole Bianca storyline was ridiculous, but I guess Eastenders didnt have a lot to work with so i will try and let that go lol. Natalie Cassidy's acting was appauling, I dont know what was going on there, because she used to be brilliant. 'Bianca couldnt call because her battery went dead and she couldnt find her phone charger ha'. Ricky is surprisingly calm about his wife going to prison for a few months. Did he not even want to see her before she went? they hadnt filmed the scenes I guess.