Patsy Kensit is returning to Holby City after nearly a decade away.
The 51-year-old actress is reprising her role as Faye Morton for a special episode, which will air in the autumn, as part of the hospital soap's 20th anniversary.
In preparation for the role, Patsy spent three days shadowing a real nurse and watched open heart surgery as part of her research.
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Her character, who was last seen on the Holby wards nine years ago, has a very chequered history.
Faye arrived at Holby with a mysterious past, including two dead husbands and a disabled son, in January 2007.
Through flashbacks, viewers discovered that Faye left her husband dead at the bottom of the stairs after a row in Dubai.
She returned to the UK with Jac Naylor and Joseph Byrne, who is also returning for the 20th anniversary special.
After a failed relationship with Sam Strachan, she turned her attention to Joseph and helped him cope with being tormented by Jac.
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In dramatic scenes, she was shot in the back by a crossbow when STI clinician Tim attacked his colleagues.
More of Faye's dark history was exposed when she revealed she was married to an older man called Donald, who left her with lots of money after he died.
The police started an investigation as they found it suspicious that two of her husbands had died.
While searching for Faye, who then fled to South Africa, Joseph discovered she had a secret son called Archie.
Archie, who had Lowe syndrome, was kidnapped by Faye's first husband and needed emergency surgery.
Faye and Joseph got married but were rocked by Archie's sudden death after his nurse accidentally gave him the wrong drug.
Faye was arrested for murder and suspended from her duties but was acquitted when Lauren confessed all.
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In the wake of the tragedy, Faye grew apart from Joseph and they separated.
She started a relationship with Linden Cullen but discovered she was pregnant with Joseph's baby.
After suffering a breakdown after Linden's shock death she was admitted into a psychiatric ward, where she gave birth to Harry.
In December 2010, Faye left her job at Holby, gave baby Harry to Joseph and went to live in France.
What does the future hold?
Patsy has teased that there are a "lot of surprises" ahead for Holby City fans.
The actress said: "It’s a great honour to be asked back. As soon as I got the script I sat down and read it as fast as I could, which shows what a gripping episode it’s going to be.
"Faye has changed quite a lot, it’s very feisty and there are lots of surprises! It’s also really exciting to be working with Rosie and Luke again; we always had a fantastic time together on set and that’s not changed at all."
Simon Harper, Executive Producer of Holby City said: "Holby’s 20th anniversary year continues apace with the return of these two huge, iconic characters after a decade away.
"It will be a particularly nostalgic and exciting treat for long-term viewers of the show as old Holby collides explosively with the present.
"Joseph was the love of Jac’s life, and as if that in itself weren’t enough to rock her world, he turns up with the woman who is Jac’s sworn enemy!
"It was for Joseph’s sake that Jac sent Faye packing in 2010 and as far as Jac’s concerned, it’s the ultimate insult and comes at a time when she is already feeling off-balance both professionally and personally.
"Continuing our current trend to go off format where story earns it, this unique episode concentrates entirely on this classic Darwin trio with all their past tensions and rivalries bubbling to the surface, leaving poor Fletch having a lot of catching up to do!
"With tears, laughter, passion, high stakes surgery and the acerbic one-liners flying thicker than a blizzard, it’s quintessential Holby City.
"It’s both exciting and emotional to welcome Luke and Patsy back to the Holby company – we feel so lucky and privileged to have wooed them back to celebrate the show’s history, and I cannot wait for this gripping and darkly comic story to hit the screen."
*Casualty airs Tuesdays on BBC One at 8pm
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