Bianca Jackson Butcher (Patsy Palmer)

[Dazzle]

I thought Natalie's acting was pretty good.

[Perdita]

The actress made an abrupt departure from her role as Bianca Butcher in late 2010 when she gave birth to her fourth child Bertie weeks before he was due. Her contract with the Walford serial subsequently expired, leaving fans to wonder if and when she would return.

However, in an interview with The Mirror today, Palmer revealed that she has signed a special "working mums" contract which will allow her to return to EastEnders while continuing to spend time with her family.

Palmer explained: "I honestly thought I wouldn't go back. I wanted to make sure Bertie was 100% healthy and EastEnders is relentless. Even now I don't know how I'm going to do it. I'm a mother of four wonderful kids and they come first. Like most working parents, juggling everything can be difficult but my new contract will give me more time with my family.

"The trade-off is less money as we only get paid for what we do but the most important thing is that I will be there for all their important dates like sports and parents days, school holidays and things like that. And viewers won't notice because of the way they will schedule filming."

She continued: "I start filming in the autumn and will be on screen before Christmas and I'm really excited as I've got some great storylines coming up."

Bianca is currently in prison for attacking ladies' man Connor Stanley. Palmer has predicted that the feisty mum will be a changed woman once she returns home to Albert Square.

"I love playing Bianca but she was always miserable," she said. "But after her experience in prison I think we'll see a different softer side to Bianca which will be a new challenge for me."

[tammyy2j]

Should she be released from prison soon?

I thought she was back around Xmas

[Perdita]

Should she be released from prison soon?

I thought she was back around Xmas

She is back for Pat's funeral

[LostVoodoo]

Patsy Palmer does seem to have been gone for a very long time!

[Perdita]

Christmas Day in Walford isn't normally the happiest of days, but one EastEnders family will be excited about it.
The family of Bianca Butcher have been miserable since she was sent to prison earlier this year, but they're set to be reunited with her a few days before the festive date.
In an episode set to be screened on December 22, viewers will see the mother-of-four arrive back in Albert Square - but she doesn't look her usual self as she's sporting a dodgy black eye.

The family are getting in the Christmas spirit at a festive concert, when the redhead - played by Patsy Palmer - makes a surprise return.
Her stepdaughter Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) - who has found Bianca's absence particularly difficult - is feeling quite upset and as a result forgets her lines whilst singing.
But just at the moment, Bianca stops the festivities and greets her family.
At first they're over the moon to see her with her mother Carol Jackson (Lindsey Coulson) and her grandmother Pat Evans (Pam St Clement) watching as she embraces her son, Liam.
But their joy soon turns to shock when they see a painful looking bruise on Bianca's left eye.

The scatty character obviously has a lot of explaining to do, but before that she enjoys a lingering kiss with her husband, Ricky - who is played by Sid Owen.
And it seems that the happy reunion won't last for long as on Christmas Day, Walford are set to lose a legendary resident in the form of Bianca's grandmother, Pat.
The fiery female is going to say her goodbyes after learning that she has a cancer and then suffering from a fatal heart attack.
But this isn't the only drama that Bianca will face in the coming months as in the New Year, the father of her youngest child, Morgan , will arrive in Albert Square.
Devon Higgs - played by Chucky Venn - is tracked down by Whitney, because she's fed up of seeing Bianca struggle, but he isn't aware that he has a son at first.

'Ray is determined to be a part of Morgan's life and he heads to Walford,' said the BBC.
'Although Bianca isn't keen on having him around, Ray soon turns heads with the other ladies in Albert Square.'
The Christmas Day drama and the fact that Walford residents never start a New Year with a clean slate is of course what fans expect of the soap, but for the first year ever it may not be the most popular programme on the small screen this Christmas.
It's rumoured that ITV's festive slice of hit drama Downton Abbey could beat the soap in the ratings war after teaser images of the two-hour special have excited fans.
'Downton fever has gripped the nation, said Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes. 'If it breaks the record we'll be surviving on rations.'


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...#ixzz1fRvvepCq

[alan45]

EastEnders favourites Ricky and Bianca Butcher come face-to-face for the first time in months next week - but soon end up in an explosive argument.

When Ricky (Sid Owen) returns home from Dubai, Pat (Pam St Clement) and the rest of the family believe that it couldn't come at a better time as they're about to lose the house and need his financial help.

However, Ricky soon drops a bombshell on his loved ones as he reveals that he lost all of his money while working abroad and has now returned with less than he went away with.

Feeling like a failure, Ricky realises that he'll have to tell Bianca the truth, so he heads out to visit her at the prison.

Bianca (Patsy Palmer) is thrilled to see Ricky, but her joy soon turns to horror as she hears about Pat's financial mess and the trouble her husband got in while he was away.









As Bianca rants at Ricky over his carelessness, he fires back by reminding her of the turmoil she has caused for the family by landing herself in prison.

Furious over Ricky's words, Bianca screams that she hates him and orders him to leave. Can the couple get back on track or are they on the rocks?

[Dutchgirl]

So how did Ricky loose al the money. He is not a bright light but how is that possible.

[JustJodi]

So how did Ricky loose al the money. He is not a bright light but how is that possible.

Yeah How ???? and how much ????[/B]

[xcarlyx]

Probably mugged or gambling?