Danniella Westbrook is to return to EastEnders in the role of Sam Mitchell.
The actress, who was a finalist on the most recent Celebrity Big Brother, will be back in Albert Square six years after her last appearance on the show.
Her character Sam is returning to Walford for her mother Peggy Mitchell’s funeral following her battle with cancer.
Danniella star has had a troubled past and has been very open about her cocaine addiction but she apparently convinced BBC bosses her days of bad behaviour are in the past.
The star told the Sunday Mirror: “I’m really excited to be going back to EastEnders. It feels right the Mitchells are all back for Peggy’s funeral, and I can’t wait to work alongside everyone again.”
The programme’s executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins added: “It is only right that all of Peggy Mitchell’s children would be at her funeral.
“Danniella is the final piece of the Mitchell jigsaw puzzle, so it will be great for viewers to see Phil, Grant and Sam all back on screen.
“Sam will only be back for a few episodes, but these scenes are bound to go down in the soap’s history.”
Danniella has battled an addiction to drugs in the past and was spending £500 a day on cocaine in her early 20s after first using it at the age of 14.
In 2000 fans were shocked when Danniella was pictured with her nose missing its septum after it was worn away by snorting drugs.
However, her recent appearance on Celebrity Big Brother, in which she finished fifth, is said to have convinced BBC bosses she is able to cope with life in the public eye again.
After her stint on the Channel 5 reality show, Danniella revealed she was in talks to appear on EastEnders again during a chat on television show This Morning.
She said: “I’m an actress and as much as I love EastEnders I want to stretch myself and do other roles. But you will probably see me in EastEnders.”