I’ll never return to EastEnders after axe – but auditioning for new jobs is soul-destroying, says Lorraine Stanley

EASTENDERS star Lorraine Stanley has revealed why she won’t return to the BBC soap – despite finding auditioning for new jobs “soul destroying”.

The actress, who played matriarch Karen Taylor from 2017 to 2024, was written out of the show last year as part of a shock cast shake-up.

Lorraine, 48, has now confessed that she has no plans on reprising her role and being a recurring character like Patsy Palmer, who plays Bianca Jackson, saying: “Once you’ve done a soap, you’ve done a soap.”

Lorraine exclusively told The Sun: “At the moment I wouldn’t go back, I’m happy doing what I’m doing.

“They’ve left the door open, so never say never.

“I made that special appearance and it was nice to see everyone and be apart of the family again.”

When asked if she’d like to be a recurring character like Patsy, she said: “I managed to do a few scenes with Patsy Palmer and it blew my mind, I’d love to work with her again.

“I don’t know if I’ll go back, once I’ve done something, I’ve done it.

“But I’d like to do more theatre.”

Lorraine went on say that finding work post-EastEnders has been tough.

She shared: “I’m a busy mum at the moment. I don’t plan on doing anymore soaps, once you’ve done a soap, you’ve done a soap.

“At the moment I’m auditioning, I’m just doing self-tapes, which is soul-destroying. It’s horrible, I’m so bad at it.”

“But I’m doing Panto in my hometown of Portsmouth, I’m playing Queen Rat, I’ve never done it before and I’m so excited.

“It’s the only thing my daughter can actually watch, most times I swear, but actually my daughter Nancy can go and watch it and hopefully be proud of mummy.”

Discussing the dramatic end to the EastEnders Six storyline, which kicked off last Christmas when Linda Carter stabbed Keanu Taylor to death as she tried to stop him strangling Sharon Watts to death.

Lorraine admitted that her on-screen son did not get the “justice” he deserved, but said it made good telly.

“I haven’t had time to watch EastEnders recently, but I catch it when I can,” she told us at the Pink Ribbon Gala on Wednesday.

“Keanu hasn’t got justice, because the wrong people have been nicked for it. But that’s a soap and that makes for better drama.

“I kind of knew Deano would have to take the wrap, he raped Linda, so he got just desserts, he’s being punished and they can get away with it.

“I don’t want Sharon or Linda to go down for it, as they’d have to leave the show and I love their characters.

“But Karen Taylor would want them to go down – but as a viewer I wouldn’t.”

She shared: “I’m still in contact with all my EastEnders family, we’re on the WhatsApp group, I keep in touch with people.”

Lorraine departed her hugely popular role on the BBC soap last year but briefly returned for a cameo earlier this year.

But behind the scenes she was embarking on her weight-loss and fitness journey.

Sharing before and after pictures in March, she told fans that she’d been making “healthy choices”.

In the first photo, Lorraine wore a long black top and a wide-brimmed hat.

In a stark contrast, the TV favourite appeared noticeably slimmer as she rocked a stunning black mini-dress to flaunt her new figure.

The LBD did wonders for her curves as she looked a completely different woman in the stunning snap as she flashed her toned pins for all her followers to see.

Lorraine wrote: “What a difference a year makes.

“Five stone down, feeling good, clean living, healthy choices, new me, healthy mummy.”

She later thanked her personal trainer for helping to whip her up into phenomenal shape.

The star looked sensational in a white floral frock as she attended the breast cancer charity event last week.