EastEnders fans have been left reeling after the BBC soap revealed the shock set-up for the return of Chrissie Watts - with Albert Square fan-favourite Tracy-Ann Oberman describing it as "Orange is the New Black meets Prisoner: Cell Block H, meets Bette Davis and Joan Crawford".
Releasing photos, the BBC soap said: "After more than 19 years apart, Sharon (Letitia Dean) comes face to face with Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman), the woman who killed her beloved father, in prison.
"With Sharon now harbouring a murderous secret that has uncanny parallels to that of her stepmother's crime, only time will tell if their reunion will offer space for forgiveness, or whether it will be handbags at dawn..."
"I've had so many years of people asking me what happened in Chrissie's court case, and if she would ever come back because people loved that character," said Oberman.
"I sometimes would wonder what Chrissie was up to, so it's really lovely to be able to come back and revisit that woman. I have to thank Tony Jordan and Sarah Phelps for creating that character and writing for her so well."
When asked about the impact of prison on Chrissie, Oberman replied: "I think she went to prison longer than most real murderers! And I've always said if she had a better lawyer, she would have got off for mitigating circumstances.
"I think it's made her tougher. I think it's made her very singular in her own survival, and I think it's given her a long time to think about that relationship with Den, and what he drove her to.
"I don't think she's softened, if anything I think she's gotten harder because she's had to survive. She's obviously had a really tough time in prison - and let's not forget that she put Sam Mitchell behind bars, and the Mitchells have got long arms that reach into all sorts of areas."
As to what will happen next, Oberman teased: "It's a real rollercoaster of a ride as Sharon and Chrissie come face to face again.
"They were once extremely close, but Chrissie murdered her father and lied to her about it, but equally they did trust each other, and they both understood each other very well.
"I think all the emotions will be present - love, jealousy, hatred, passion, joy, and revenge.
"Will there be a resolution? That is the big question over the week, and will they both come out of it alive and will they both come out of it with some closure? Who knows..."
EastEnders airs on RTÉ One and BBC One Monday to Thursday.
