EastEnders star Jessica Plummer lands FIRST new role since exit

WARNING: Embargoed for publication until 00:00:01 on 18/08/2020 - Programme Name: Secrets From The Square - TX: 25/08/2020 - Episode: Secrets From The Square - EP11 (No. 11) - Picture Shows: ***EMBARGOED TILL TUESDAY 18TH AUGUST 2020*** Jessica Plummer - (C) BBC - Photographer: Kieron McCarron (Image credit: BBC/Kieron McCarron)

Jessica has landed a new role alongside another former EastEnders star...

EastEnders star Jessica Plummer has already started filming her first new role since leaving the BBC1 soap last month.

Fans will know that Jessica's character, Chantelle Atkins, met a tragic end at the hands of her abusive husband Gray (Toby-Alexander Smith) last month.

Chantelle's heartbreaking death, which happened on the same night that she planned to escape her toxic marriage, came after years of suffering mental and physical abuse by Gray.

However, actress Jessica has now started filming a new role in TV series, Auditions.

A photo posted by on

Jessica's new role

The news was revealed on an Instagram account for Inside Trak, which showed fans pictures of Jessica filming behind the scenes in London.

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Jessica is starring alongside another former EastEnders star, Gary Beadle, who played Walford bad boy, Paul Trueman, between 2001 and 2004.

A photo posted by on

The end of an era

After Chantelle's tragic end was aired last month, Jessica wrote on her social media account...

"Now that the dust has slightly settled, I'd just like to say...

"On a personal note, I am in absolute bits to be leaving the show. I miss even the bits I thought I hated like that dodgy outside toilet near the police station with 20 million spiders.

"All of it has been a dream come true. Without getting speechy, I owe so many people my thanks for believing in me on my journey.

Chantelle EastEnders — Jessica played EastEnders favourite Chantelle Atkins for 20 months (Picture: BBC)

"Julia Crampsie, my agent Jonathan, Liza Mellody, Carolyn Weinstein, Jon Sen, Kate Oates... and so many more, including our viewers.

"I came from a girl band, wanting nothing more than to prove myself as the actor I trained to be.

"I was trusted with such an important story, on one of the most iconic soaps in history. Thank you! It has been an unbelievable 20 months.

"Finally I can watch EastEnders again as a viewer without cringing whenever I hear my voice!"

EastEnders airs Mondays at 8.05pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.35pm and Fridays at 8.30pm on BBC One - see our TV Guide for full listings.

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia.

After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off.

She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz!

As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.