Patsy Palmer to return to EastEnders

Patsy Palmer plans on returning to 'EastEnders'.

The 38-year-old actress - who portrays feisty Bianca Butcher in the BBC One soap - is currently on maternity leave from the show after giving birth to her fourth child Bertie last month, but insists she will resume her role as the mouthy mum "when the time is right".

She said in a statement: "I have not quit 'EastEnders' over the current storyline as reports suggest. My contract came to an end soon after I gave birth to Bertie and, as I have already said, I just want to spend every minute with him.

"I love 'EastEnders' and have every intention of returning when the time is right for me and the show."

Patsy - who is also mum to Charley, 18, Fenton, 10 and Emilia, nine - recently revealed the show's current tragic cot-death plot upset Emilia so much that she begged her to leave the show.

She explained to Hello! magazine: "We all cried when we watched it. But it really affected Emilia, because she adores her new baby brother and simply couldn't believe something like that could happen. She was sobbing her heart out and kept saying, 'Please don't go back there mummy'.

"I had to calm her down and explain that it wasn't for real and that it was all pretend. But being only nine it was difficult for her to understand. It affected me too, especially after having Bertie, so I can imagine how other mums have felt."