BBC EastEnders star joining rival soap 20 years after iconic role

Former EastEnders star Hannah Waterman has joined a competing soap, two decades after leaving the BBC programme. The actress, known for her role as Laura Beale in the BBC soap, last performed in the UK in 2013 in an episode of Doctors before relocating to Australia.

However, following a string of appearances on Australian dramas, Hannah is now set to return to the world of soaps. She will be portraying a magistrate in Home and Away, with scenes expected to air in the UK this December.

An insider told The Sun: "Hannah moved to Australia years ago for a new life but she's still acting. She loved dipping her toes back into the world of soap briefly and who knows it could mean she finds her way back more permanently."

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This new role comes two years after Hannah married former The Bill star Huw Higginson. Huw shared a celebratory photo of their wedding day in October 2022, featuring their 11 year old son Jack, on a boat in Sydney.

The Bill actor captioned the post: "Got married to my love yesterday. We had the best of days."

Hannah, who portrayed Ian Beale's third wife Laura in the BBC soap, was pictured looking adoringly at her husband as they celebrated their special day. She donned a patterned, long-sleeve blue dress - possibly her something blue - paired with gold strappy sandals and a navy pashmina.

The couple relocated to Australia in 2014. This followed Hannah's marriage to fellow EastEnders actor Ricky Groves in 2006, with the couple parting ways in 2010 and finalising their divorce in 2014.

Huw is best known for his decade-long stint on The Bill, where he played PC George Garfield.