Jaime Winstone felt 'scared' about taking on Peggy Mitchell role in EastEnders flashback

Jaime Winstone felt "scared" when she was offered the role of Peggy Mitchell for a special 'EastEnders' flashback episode.

The 37-year-old actress previously took on the role of Dame Barbara Windsor in BBC biopic 'Babs', and next month she will step into the shoes of the late actress' iconic soap character Peggy, but Jaime admits she had "a deep chat" with her agent before accepting the job.

Revealing her response when the call came in to play the iconic character, Jaime confessed: "It was scary. I had to think about it properly, I had a deep chat with my agents about it but when it's an opportunity like this - Peggy Mitchell, the landlady of our nation - it's an honour for me."

Jaime admits the flashback episode, which is set in 1979 and will see the unravelling of the Mitchell family's chequered past, is "turbulent" and "fast paced".

She explained: "It's really about the family before the Mitchells became the Mitchells ... and also see why Phil is who he is.

"It's set in 1979, the backdrop is London, grim, quite skint, there's rubbish on the streets ... and it was different for women then, women knew their place and did the cooking, the cleaning and were very proud home keepers.

"It's a turbulent episode - there's lots to take in. It's fast paced ... you'll see a more vulnerable side to her. It's the making of how Peggy Mitchell became Peggy Mitchell."

Jaime - who is the daughter of movie star Ray Winstone - also hinted soap fans could see more of her in Walford one day.

When asked if viewers could see more of her on Albert Square, she said on 'This Morning': "Watch this space!

"I really love the idea of doing a working class period drama - going back and doing something in the 70s was just epic."

'This Morning' airs weekdays from 10am on ITV and ITV Hub.