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‘This feels like

coming home’

EastEnders’ Mel Owen is finally reunited with her missing teenage

son this week. Actress Tamzin Outhwaite reveals all about
her storyline and her happiness at returning to Albert Square…

onfident, smart and sassy, Mel seen her working for Ciara, the EastEnders before quitting in 2002.
Owen has been charming her vengeful ex-wife of criminal Aidan She went off to try her hand at
way around Albert Square like Maguire, in a bid to find the other roles, appearing in shows
Cshe’s never been away. But missing money from the New such as New Tricks and Hotel
Tamzin Outhwaite admits that Year’s Day heist, which Ciara Babylon, but when she was
appearances can be deceptive. For believed was hidden somewhere in approached about returning she
while self-assured Mel already has the Square. And she credits her admits it was an easy decision.
most of Walford eating out of the co-stars Steve McFadden (Phil A single mum to Florence, nine,
palm of her hand, Tamzin herself Mitchell), Adam Woodyatt (Ian and Marnie, five, following her
suffered from plenty of first-day Beale) and Letitia Dean (Sharon divorce from Miranda star Tom
nerves when she returned to Watts) with helping her settle back Ellis, Tamzin was loathe to take on
EastEnders last month. in so smoothly. any work that took her away from
Not that she has any complaints. “It was a bit scary, but Steve and her children. “My pool of
“Coming back absolutely petrified Adam have been amazing and I’ve possibilities of work was getting
me, but when you get a job been working quite closely again smaller and smaller,” she concedes.
it has to scare you and with Tish and she’s just a “I needed to be in London and I
if it doesn’t scare very funny, strong couldn’t do any theatre, because I
you it’s not really “COMING BACK woman, on and off was recovering from a foot injury
worth doing,” PETRIFIED ME, BUT A screen. So it’s been [Tamzin fractured her metatarsal
she explains. lovely so far; it’s felt bone while rehearsing for the West
Tamzin was NEW JOB HAS TO SCARE YOU. like coming home,” End musical Stepping Out last year].
immediately IF IT DOESN’T, IT’S NOT she smiles. “It left me with TV and films in
thrust back Tamzin, who London, which was quite minimal;
into the action, REALLY WORTH DOING” lives in north most stuff is away. So when I
with a dramatic London, spent four worked out what I actually needed
storyline that has TAMZIN OUTHWAITE action-packed years in to do to continue working as an

From left: Tamzin as EastEnders’
Mel marrying Steve Owen (Martin
PHOTOGRAPHS: BBC Kemp) in 2001 after a fling with
Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden); as
Sgt Jo McDonagh in Red Cap (2001);
and as Hotel Babylon’s General
Manager Rebecca Mitchell (2006)

6 SATURDAY MAGAZINE