Hollyoaks Star Gemma Bissix Reveals If She'd Return To EastEnders As She Makes Shock Comeback As...

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But the pull of playing one of soapland's most iconic villains proved too much - and she jumped at the chance of returning.

Sitting on set for her first interview about the return , Gemma told The Sun all about how it came about.

"I got the call," she said talking a million miles a minute. ⁘I think it was towards the end of January. 

"And it was really funny because obviously Nigel came back to EastEnders in sort of November time. So there was a lot of talk on social media and a lot of things about me returning to EastEnders . 

"And then I got the call for Hollyoaks and I just thought, how brilliant is this? And to be fair, I love both and EastEnders was where I started when I was nine years old. That was my training and it would always be in my heart, but the character of Clare Devine is just something. 

Viewers will find it surprising that Gemma wasn't even approached about a return to EastEnders - despite her on-screen father Paul Bradley's return as Nigel battles dementia .