EASTENDERS star Belinda Owusu has made a shock return to the soap 17 years after her original exit.

The actress – who plays Libby Fox in the BBC soap – originally joined in 2006 as part of the new Fox family before leaving in 2010 when her character won a place at Oxford University.

Libby then returned to Walford in 2014 for a three year stint on and off.

But now she’s back in Walford and made a shock appearance in the New Year’s Day flashforward set in 2027.

The move means that Libby will be back in Walford for definite then – but also she’ll be making appearances before then.

Libby was seen rushing into her mum Denise’s house and finding her phone ringing – at the same time as Jack Branning was calling brother Max’s mysterious bride.

She wasn’t the only one wither with Libby’s sister Chelsea Fox also being in the frame alongside Linda Carter and Cindy Beale.

After leaving the soap actress Belinda went on to join Holby City.

And in 2021 when she welcomed her daughter, her own baby played her on-screen daughter after her maternity leave.

She managed to keep her pregnancy a secret, only revealing it to fans when she was 40 weeks.

Belinda shared a post on social media showing her bump and writing: “‘Ready when you are, kid #40Weeks”

She went on to share that she’d given birth to her daughter with partner of 14 years Michael Mackin.

In her role as Nicky in Holby City her character was also pregnant with viewers seeing her perform an ultrasound on herself.

As well as appearing on Holby, Belinda made two appearances on Doctor Who.