Ex-EastEnders star Nadia Sawalha to return to Loose Women

Former EastEnders star Nadia Sawalha is to rejoin Loose Women after a 10-year break from the show.

In the 1990s Nadia played gangster's daughter, Annie Palmer, who became involved in dodgy dealings with Phil Mitchell and clashed horns with calculating businessman Steve Owen (Martin Kemp) before leaving Walford in 1999 after being beaten up by rival gang thugs.

Since then Nadia has gone on to win Celebrity Masterchef in 2007, and appeared in Dancing on Ice in 2011. She's delighted to be returning to the ITV lunchtime chat show and be a Loose Woman again.

"Having been one of the original Loose Women, I'm thrilled to be invited back after a decade away," says Nadia, 49. "My time on the show always held such special memories for me so I can't wait to rejoin the other women behind that famous desk!"

Nadia makes her first appearance on Thursday, October 10.