Ruby Allen has few in the way of allies when she returns to EastEnders next week – but that is something actress Louisa Lytton is hoping soon changes.
The 35-year-old star has revealed who she thinks her on-screen alter-ego is most likely to end up in a relationship with.
Ruby was last seen being carted off by police back in 2021, after Jean Slater (Gillian Wright) framed her for drug charges to avenge Ruby wrecking her daughter Stacey Slater’s (Lacey Turner) life.
Since then, Sharon Watts learned – via Ruby’s former prison cellmate Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman) – that Ruby had secretly given birth to ex-husband Martin Fowler’s (James Bye) baby.
The truth about Martin’s secret son comes spilling out in dramatic fashion next week – and while he’s less than pleased to see his ex-wife, Louisa isn’t ruling out the possibility of a reunion for him and Ruby.
Speaking to Metro about revisiting their history, she explained: ‘When James and I first started the Ruby and Martin relationship, we had all of two days on set and then we went into lockdown. So when we came back to continue the storyline, everything was behind a screen and we weren’t allowed to touch.
‘We felt as actors we didn’t get the shot we wanted to give them the relationship and chemistry on screen. I’m hoping for that reason we get to see if they can rekindle something. I think Ruby loves the idea of him as a family man.’
Louisa believes there’s also ‘plenty of opportunity for her to have other relationships’ on the Square.
‘There’s quite a few new characters,’ Louisa teased. ‘There are characters such as Zack Hudson (James Fararr) – they had a flirt a few years ago. She also had a relationship with Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) in the past…’
As Louisa mentioned, many new faces have joined the show since she was last on set, and there are a few she’s hoping to share scenes with.
‘I’d love to work with the new Mitchells, because obviously the Allens and the Mitchells were rivals,’ she said.
‘Zaraah Abrahams is one of my closest friends so I would love to do some Ruby/Chelsea storylines. They’ve both got children now so it would be lovely to do that.
She added: ‘I think she needs to be more cemented into the show.’
EastEnders airs Ruby’s return from Monday 18 November at 7.30pm on BBC One, and from 6am on iPlayer.
