Patsy Kensit opens up on EastEnders as she shares huge hint about soap return

Patsy Kensit, who played Emma Harding, the mum of the late Lola Pearce-Brown, on the long-running BBC soap, has dropped a hint about what she might say if she were offered the chance to return

Patsy Kensit has opened up about her stint on EastEnders, dropping a huge clue about her response if bosses came calling again. In what would be the culmination of a 40-year ambition, soap star Patsy played Emma Harding, the mother of the late Lola Pearce-Brown (played by Danielle Harold), in the long-running show.

Joining the cast in 2023, Patsy, who was in a relationship with property mogul Patric Cassidy at the time before their 2024 split, revealed she wasn’t “encouraged” to accept the role in the cherished BBC drama.

The actress and singer, a former child star who has previously graced Emmerdale as Sadie King and Holby City as Faye Byrne, described EastEnders as her “dream job”.

Speaking on the Second Act with Ateh Jewel podcast, 57-year-old Patsy teased her future aspirations: “I’d love to go back on EastEnders. That to me was a dream job.”

Patsy continued: “I was in a relationship at the time, and it wasn’t something that, you know, it wasn’t really a job that I was encouraged to take, and I’ve wanted to be on that show for the last 40 years.”

She also shared insights into her time on the iconic show, noting how she filmed nine episodes that she said “went really well”. However, Patsy “put life stuff first”, admitting that she knew she’d regret it when it happened.

In other news, Patsy — who shares a son, James, with Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr and another, Lennon, with Oasis rocker Liam Gallagher — has admitted that watching her children leave home had left her heartbroken.

Meanwhile, Patsy, who has walked down the aisle four times, has reportedly been enjoying her single status. In 2024, she even revealed she was “not interested” in romance but still does “believe in love”.

Her previous trips to the altar included Dan Donovan in 1988, then Jim Kerr in 1992, Liam Gallagher in 1997, and Jeremy Healy in 2009 – though that union lasted a mere 10 months.

She was also betrothed to Patric Cassidy, with him popping the question at Scott’s in Mayfair, but they called it quits just months afterwards.

While chatting to Hello! last year, she declared: “I wouldn’t want a relationship, I am not interested. I do believe in love.”

She continued: “But for me it’s not something I need. I have been on my own a long time and I like my own company. Now, it’s just adjusting my life to fill the hole that’s in my soul.”

Speaking candidly to the Mirror previously, the Lethal Weapon 2 star disclosed that she doesn’t maintain contact with her former spouses, but stressed her desire for her sons to enjoy a “really good relationship” with their dads.