FORMER Coronation Street star Jill Halfpenny is set to swap the street for the square as Phil Mitchell's new love interest.
Former Byker Grove star Jill joins the set of EastEnders as Kate Tyler, in an explosive storyline following the death of the character Jamie Mitchell.
She meets Phil in an emotionally charged episode after the death of the young heart-throb when he is mown down in Albert Square by Martin Fowler.
Jill, 26, is no stranger to soaps and joins the BBC show in her first role since she left Coronation Street in 2000 after playing feisty nurse Rebecca - who broke up Martin and Gail Platt's marriage.
Jill, who was born in Gateshead, has to remain tight-lipped about her new part but it can be revealed that she will melt Phil's heart.
EastEnders bosses hope Jill will able to steam up the soap's festive storylines and help them stay at the top of the soaps.
Even when in the local shops, Jill gets recognised and people stop and point.
She said: "Amazingly, I still get it now. Usually, if people recognise me now I presume it is going to be because of Coronation Street.
"But people still say you are Nicola from Byker Grove."
Jill starred in the children's TV series when she was 13 and a pupil at Saint Edmund Campion Comprehensive, in Wrekenton.
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