EASTENDERS’ Branning family had a very early off-screen Christmas party last night, reuniting for a festive knees up.
The popular soap clan were in fine spirits as they hit a fancy London restaurant.
Jacqueline Jossa, Jake Wood, Scott Maslen, Ellie Dadd, Kitty Castledine and Pierre Moullier pulled crackers and donned Christmas hats during the fun-filled catch up.
They flexed their miming chops too as they sang to 4 Non Blondes’ I said What’s Going On?
The group enjoyed cocktails and couldn’t stop laughing, showing the chemistry on-screen carries over into real life.
Jacqueline, 33, shared pictures and videos from the night out on Instagram, and Ellie commented: “The best family ever.”
Co-star Emma Barton left love hearts, while Jake commented: “Famalam [love hearts].”
The evening comes hot on the heels of Jac’s girls’ night out with Jessie Wallace, 54, Heather Peace, 50, and Michelle Collins, 63.
Earlier this year, Jacqueline’s character, Lauren Branning, was plunged into a heartbreaking storyline.
Lauren’s baby son Jimmy received a life-changing medical diagnosis after she noticed something concerning about his eyes.
Hospital tests found that he has optic nerve and chorioretinal coloboma, causing severe sight impairment.
She wrote on social media at the time: “Thank you so so much. Being gifted with this story has been a dream and I’ve found strength in the story.
“This is many people’s reality, many people that have DMed me and I feel so lucky to be able to tell a version of your story.
“I thought I would find it really really tough but I found it gave me this crazy sense of strength.”
Her performances earned her a nod in the serial drama performance category at the NTA’s in September.
But Jac urged fans to vote for co-star Steve McFadden instead, and he ultimately won the award.
She said: “I’m over the moon to be short-listed for serial drama performance. It is a huge moment for me.
“I am of course still rooting for the one and only Steve McFadden as I truly feel it’s his year and I’d hate for EastEnders fans to split the vote and then he doesn’t win!
“He deserves it so much. I am more than happy with a nomination. Maybe next time babe.”
Speaking to the Daily Mirror at the ceremony, Jacqueline teased there could be some major characters returning in the new year.
“I’m a massive fan of the show,” she said. “I am so excited for [what’s happening], cut to six months time, where the show will be [in six months’ time].
“It excites me. You don’t know but we know, it’s very exciting.”
