With only weeks to go before EastEnders fans will see Lisa Faulkner cause a storm on the square, show bosses have unveiled the first pictures of the highly-anticipated arrival. It was announced last month that the 45-year-old, who won Celebrity MasterChef in 2010, will take on the role of "stylish, sophisticated" businesswoman Fi Browning. Lisa recently told HELLO! about the moment she found out she landed the dream gig. "I literally got a phone call from my agent saying that the producers would really love to meet me to come in and talk about something," she revealed.
Lisa Faulkner is set to play businesswoman Fi Browning in EastEnders
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"I said, 'Ok' and they told me about this character and asked me if I'd like to play her," the star added. "She's a great character, it's really exciting, and it was just one of those things you can't turn down. It always comes out of nowhere, these things, and you go, 'OK, let's jump in'." Although details of her character's storyline are yet to be revealed, Lisa hinted that she will be no doubt spice things up in Walford. In a statement, she explained: "Fi Browning is a hugely exciting character and I'm really looking forward to working with Sean and all the team, and revealing more about her. I can't say any more now as I'm sworn to secrecy, but it's going to be a lot of fun."
"Fi Browning is a hugely exciting character," the star said of her new role
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Executive producer Sean O'Connor has also teased fans, describing Lisa's character as a "no-nonsense but sophisticated business woman" who has her "sights" set on another Walford resident. He revealed: "Fi Browning is something of a departure for EastEnders; a no-nonsense but sophisticated business woman with strength and vulnerability. But does she have an agenda? And who - or what - has she set her sights on?" Meanwhile, it was recently confirmed that Blue singer Lee Ryan is also set to join the show for a short stint to play bad boy "Woody" Woodward. "He's going to ruffle some feathers and obviously break some hearts, so there's a great deal to look forward to as soon as he bursts onto the square," said Sean in a statement at the time. "Lee is perfect casting for Albert Square and we knew straight away we wanted him for the role."