EastEnders Patsy Palmer's private life with co-star sister-in-law and famous son

EastEnders icon Bianca Jackson is gracing our screens once again as Patsy Palmer, stepping back into the role 31 years after her first appearance on the BBC soap. Fiery Bianca first set foot in Walford with the Jackson family in 1993 and quickly became a fan favourite.

Known for her vibrant wardrobe choices, including a memorable silver puffer jacket, Bianca is a brash mum who is fiercely loyal and possesses a heart of gold. She was last spotted in Walford earlier this year as part of Whitney Dean's (Shona McGarty) exit storyline but she's now back to wage war with Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman).

As fans of the BBC One soap will know, Bianca's younger sister Sonia (Natalie Cassidy) is being held in prison on remand accused of murdering Reiss' comatose wife Debbie Colwell (Jenny Meier). But it was Reiss who carried out the terrible crime and pregnant Sonia is set to take the blame.

Bianca has previously expressed her worries about Reiss, and in forthcoming scenes, she returns to the Square bringing Debbie's wake to a premature end as she demands answers over what happened to Debbie and why Sonia is in prison.

READ MORE: EastEnders legend joins Waterloo Road cast despite rumours of a return to BBC soap

READ MORE: Jamie Borthwick breaks silence on BBC Strictly curse after 'chemistry with Michelle Tsiakkas'

Overwhelmed, guilty Reiss flees the Vic. Back at the house, Bianca accuses Reiss of killing Debbie and it looks like he’s about to confess. Will Bianca get the truth out of the killer accountant?

As Patsy Palmer slips back into Bianca's shoes, let's delve into her life away from the spotlight.

The 52-year-old actress, born Julie Anne Harris in Bethnal Green, London, shot to fame when she landed the role of Natasha on BBC's Grange Hill between 1985 and 1987. Her stint on the children's TV series ultimately led to her landing the pivotal role in EastEnders.

Bianca is a well-known character in EastEnders, largely due to her turbulent relationship with Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen). Her infamous 'Ricckaaayyyyyy' scream made her one of the most beloved characters in the show's history.

She first graced the Square from 1993 to 1999 before returning in 2008 until 2014. Five years later, Bianca made another welcome return for Whitney's ill-fated wedding to Callum Highway ( Tony Clay ). This week, Patsy will reprise her role as Bianca who is on the warpath.

Life in Malibu

Acting isn't Patsy's only talent - she also works as a DJ. In 2020, she thrilled EastEnders fans when she was unveiled as The Butterfly on ITV's The Masked Singer UK, and she also participated in last year's series of Dancing on Ice.

Away from the spotlight, Patsy is a businesswoman, founding Good and Proper Hair, a hair product company. In 2014, Patsy relocated to Malibu with her husband Richard and their children, where she has been living her American dream in a beautiful home.

Patsy often takes to Instagram and shares glimpses of her spacious Malibu home, which boasts plenty of room for her children and stunning views.

Patsy's famous family

The acting gene runs in the Palmer family, as Patsy's son, Charley Palmer Rothwell, is also a TV star. The 32-year-old portrayed Matthew Brannon in the second season of ITV drama The Tower, which aired last year, and he most recently played Cousin Mark in the series Big Boys.

This year alone Charley has also starred in the movies Midas Man and Stable, along with the series A Gentleman in Moscow and Industry.

Charley, hailing from Bethnal Green, has an impressive list of TV shows and films under his belt. In 2015, he starred alongside Tom Hardy in Legend as Leslie Holt, and two years later, he graced the big screen again as a corporal in Dunkirk, featuring Harry Styles and Cillian Murphy.

Charley's other notable roles include Darkest Hour, Ripper Street, My Name is Lenny, Our Girl, Casualty, among others.

Patsy also shares a real-life connection with her on-screen mum Carol Jackson, portrayed by Lindsey Coulson. Carol, also the mother of Sonia Jackson (Natalie Cassidy) and elder sister to Max (Jake Wood) and Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), is a hardworking character who would do anything for her family.

Like her daughter Bianca, Carol has made several exits and returns to Walford, last seen in 2015. In one shocking storyline, Carol discovered her boyfriend Dan Sullivan (Craig Fairbrass) was having an affair with her daughter Bianca.

The drama surrounding Bianca's dad being confirmed as David Wicks (Michael French) is another unforgettable plot, with the character also set to make a return to EastEnders in the very near future.

However, off-screen, Lindsey, originally from Edmonton in London, is married to Patsy's real-life brother, Harry Harris, making the soap stars actual sisters-in-law.

Reports suggest that Harry is a practising psychotherapist, while Lindsey has pursued her acting career with significant roles in TV series like Bulletproof, The Bay, The Level and The Diplomat. It's believed the pair have been happily married since their wedding in 2002.

Bianca Jackson returns to Walford on Monday, September 23. EastEnders airs Monday - Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and iPlayer.