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Loose Women star lands EastEnders role – Daily TV round-up

Lisa Maxwell will play David Wicks' girlfriend Naomi.

Maxwell... set to play David Wicks' girlfriend Naomi in EastEnders (Copyright: BBC)

Actress Lisa Maxwell, often seen on the panel of 'Loose Women', has landed herself a role on 'EastEnders'.

The former 'The Bill' star will play Naomi, the girlfriend of David Wicks, played by 'Casualty's Michael French, who is also set to return to Albert Square.

“I’ve had a fantastic time filming at EastEnders and working with the wonderful Michael, Lindsey [Coulson, who plays Carol] and Nitin [Ganatra, who plays Masood] has been an absolute joy,” she said.

[Jean Slater to quit EastEnders]


“I can honestly say it’s one of the happiest jobs I’ve done. Michael French is an amazing actor and to be part of such an iconic character’s return to the Square felt very special.”

Maxwell will appear for just one episode of the show.

French is returning to the show more than 20 years after he left the series – bar a brief appearance for the funeral of his on-screen mother Pat Butcher in January.

Also rejoining the cast is Samantha Womack, playing Ronnie Mitchell, who is soon to emerge from a prison sentence for kidnapping.

It's among a number of changes happening on the show.

Earlier this week, executive producer Lorraine Newman quit following increasingly poor ratings, and Gillian Wright, who plays Jean Slater, has announced she is leaving after eight years on the show. [Metro]

Also in today's press

Hit ITV drama 'Broadchurch' is to be remade in the US. The series creator Chris Chibnall will re-write the US version's first episode for Fox, while a second series is already in the pipeline for ITV. [Digital Spy]

The word 'shagging' has been officially approved for use on the BBC before the 9pm watershed. The move came after the BBC Trust dismissed a complaint over the use of the word on an episode of 'Holby City', which was broadcast at 8pm. The phrase 'cut his balls off' was also used. The Trust's chair Lord Patten said that it 'did not believe that regular viewers… would have found the occasional use of the word ‘shagging’ or the phrase ‘cut his balls off’ unacceptable'. [Daily Telegraph]

The BBC is planning to remake the movie 'The Great Escape' for TV, according to reports. The project is said to be in the early stages of development. The film featured a star-studded cast, including Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough and Charles Bronson. [Broadcast]