Laurie Brett (right) who is set to return to EastEnders to reprise the role of Jane Beale, alongside actor Michelle Collins (Image: PA)
Jane Beale star Laurie Brett is gearing up for a sensational return to television, snagging a role on another major drama.
The 55-year-old Lanarkshire-born actress, most familiar as Albert Square’s stalwart Jane Beale, is due to appear in a scintillating flashback sequence on the long-running series Casualty this Saturday (February 15), nearly a decade after her supposed last appearance on .
Set to don the uniform of stern midwife Marie Mayhew, Brett will grace our screens in retro scenes that delve into the backstory of student midwife Jodie Whyte at Brockwell Hospital.
The has piqued audience curiosity with previews hinting, “In her flashback to her days as a student midwife, Jodie grapples with trauma from her past. But as she navigates her heartache, she seeks closure in the wrong places.”
Since joining the emergency medical soap in 2023, Anna Chell’s portrayal of Jodie Whyte has seen her character embroiled in gripping narratives involving spiking, abduction, familial shocks, and even getting caught in the blast radius of a bomb incident.
Admirers of Laurie are abuzz over her crossover into Casualty, with fans vocalising their anticipation on social media. “Can’t wait for Jane’s new role as a nurse in a flashback #Casualty episode, we praise you Laurie Brett”, exclaimed one eager viewer, while another chimed in with an enthusiastic “OMG Laurie Brett ( who plays Jane Beale in #) is in next Saturday’s episode of #Casualty,” reports .
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Laurie Brett in Casualty (Image: BBC)
Laurie, famed for her role as Jane in , joined the cast back in 2004 after catching the eye of the show’s casting director during her performance in the West End hit Les Miserables.
Before becoming a household name on the iconic soap, she had parts in TV favourites like London’s Burning, The Bill, and the sitcom My Hero.
She made her debut in the summer of 2004 as part of a traveling funfair crew and eventually became a permanent fixture in Albert Square. Laurie’s character was central to many gripping plots until her dramatic departure in 2017, when Max Branning, portrayed by Jake Wood, forced her to leave or face threats against her family.
However, much to the joy of viewers, Laurie returned to the screen last year in a plot twist involving Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) and her offspring.
In addition to her on-screen drama, Laurie faced her own challenges last year when she underwent surgery for an unspecified medical condition. Following her operation, she took to social media with a passionate plea to safeguard the NHS.
On X (formerly known as Twitter), Laurie shared a heartfelt message alongside a photo of herself holding a cherished teddy bear: “We have to ring fence and protect our @NHSEngland #whittingtonhospital from any politics. An all party agreement. Thanks especially to Nicole for post op care. Thanks to everyone @thegirlsmusical @UnitedAgents and my darling@garyaknichols for feeding and looking after me.” (sic).