EastEnders viewers have been left gobsmacked upon recognising the actress portraying journalist Charlotte.
Recently on the long-running BBC One soap, Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) and Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) have been striving to regain some semblance of normality after their tumultuous past few months.
As viewers will remember, Sonia's fiancé and baby's father Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman) allowed Sonia to take the blame for the death of his comatose wife Debbie - when in reality, he was the killer.
Reiss subsequently held Bianca hostage after she discovered the truth. Luckily, she managed to escape and Bianca was released from prison.
However, events took a dramatic twist during the soap's 40th anniversary in February, reports Plymouth Live.
Following the revelation of his crimes, the murderer met his end due to a falling bathtub in the aftermath of the catastrophic Queen Vic explosion. Shortly thereafter, Sonia gave birth to their baby, a girl named Julie.
Since then, both Sonia and Bianca have been attempting to move forward with their lives. However, following Monday's episode (March 31), it's evident that the drama is far from over for the duo.
During the episode, Bianca and Sonia decided to have lunch at Beales Eels - where they encountered a woman introducing herself as Charlotte.
Bianca and Charlotte then proceeded to Harry's Barn for a drink - but it quickly becomes apparent that Charlotte has a hidden agenda as she's spotted making a cryptic phone call.
This week's plot twist reveals that the character of Charlotte is, in fact, a sharp journalist on the hunt for a scoop - and she's presenting Bianca with an offer to interview.
Yet, it's hardly surprising viewers were somewhat sidetracked once they recognised the actress behind Charlotte. Leonie Elliott has adeptly stepped into the role of the journalistic sleuth.
Best known for her role as Lucille Anderson in BBC's Call the Midwife, Leonie became a familiar face when she joined the beloved series in 2018, only to take her leave in 2023.
After the show wrapped up its season in 2023, Leonie took to social media to confirm her departure, expressing her gratitude: "Thank you all for embracing Lucille and rocking with me on this journey, it is with a heart full of love and appreciation that I embark on pastures new."
Fans didn't hesitate to highlight Leonie's memorable past role on Facebook's EastEnders fan page, where one curious person queried: "So who is newcomer Charlotte then?".
Eager fans quickly filled the comments section, with one saying: "Definitely not who she says she is. Didn't recognise her at first she played Lucile in Call the Midwife." While another added: "She used to be on call the midwife." Another viewer excitedly said: "I thought it was her!"
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One.
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