Jacqueline Jossa ‘is being lined up to replace Michelle Keegan in BBC drama Our Girl’… after star quit to spend more time with her family
She proved to be a fan favourite when took out the jungle crown on the last season of I’m A Celebrity!.
And now it seems Jacqueline Jossa is set to replace Michelle Keegan as the main role in the BBC One military drama Our Girl.
The former EastEnders star, 27, will reportedly step into the lead role after Michelle, 32, announced her exit earlier this month.
New gig? Jacqueline Jossa is allegedly set to replace Michelle Keegan as the main role in the BBC One military drama Our Girl
A source told The Sun: ‘Jacqueline is keen to replace Michelle on Our Girl and has been encouraged to go for it by her former colleague and pal Lacey.
‘And bosses at the Beeb want a mainstream signing and feel the Queen Of The Jungle fits the bill perfectly.
‘The series hasn’t yet been greenlit, nor any contracts signed, but she’s in a good position to bag it if it all goes ahead.’
MailOnline has contacted Jacqueline’s representatives for comment.
Moving on: Michelle recently announced her exit after four years on the show in order to spend more time in the UK with her family
If the plans go ahead, it would make Jacqueline the third UK soap star to play the lead with another EastEnders favourite Lacey Turner having played the role prior to Michelle’s arrival in 2013.
Lacey starred in the first season as main character Molly Dawes, but was replaced by Michelle after just once season, playing the new lead Lance Corporal Georgie Lane.
Michelle recently announced her exit after four years on the show in order to spend more time in the UK with her family.
Soap stars: If the plans go ahead, Jacqueline the third UK soap star to play the lead with another EastEnders favourite Lacey Turner (pictured) having played the role prior to Michelle’s arrival in 2013
Original: Lacey starred in the first season of military drama series as main character Molly Dawes, but was replaced by Michelle after the first season
The demanding filming schedule of the show has seen the Stockport born star travel to South Africa, Nepal and Malaysia for several months of filming a year.
Michelle’s husband Mark Wright, 32, recently moved back to the UK from Los Angeles where he was working on US TV.
When speaking with The Sun about her decision the ex-Coronation street star said: ‘I’ve had the most incredible four years on the show and I want to thank the BBC for giving me such an amazing opportunity.
‘Playing Georgie has been a life changing role for me. I’ve loved every second of the adventure so it was a very hard decision to make not to return.
Family first: The actress decided to leave in order to spend more time in the UK. Her husband Mark Wright recently moved back to the UK from Los Angeles where he was working on US TV
‘I feel it is the right time to explore other exciting opportunities but I’m so happy to be part of the new series coming soon so it’s not the end just yet.’
The show producers are currently looking for another female to play the lead in the hit series, which starred former EastEnders actress Lacey Turner, 31, for its first run in 2014.
Meanwhile, Michelle’s husband star Mark left his dream presenting role in ‘lonely’ LA to be back with his gorgeous wife in February last year.
Thankful: The demanding filming schedule of the show has seen the Stockport born star travel to South Africa, Nepal and Malaysia for several months of filming a year
Army girl: She said, ‘I feel it is the right time to explore other exciting opportunities but I’m so happy to be part of the new series coming soon so it’s not the end just yet’
The stunning couple met on a New Year’s break in Dubai back in December 2012, with the pair tying the knot in an idyllic ceremony in May 2015.
However they have endured long distance for most of their relationship in order to focus on their respective careers.
In a recent frank discussion on his Heart radio show, the hunk revealed he felt ‘sad and lonely’ while in Hollywood ‘chasing the money’ as a presenter on Extra TV.
In love: Michelle’s husband Mark, 32, recently moved back to the UK from Los Angeles where he was working on US TV show, Extra
He said: ‘Now I was fortunate enough to get an amazing job in Los Angeles, somewhere where I’ve always wanted to work, in Hollywood.
‘I was living in the hills, Beverly Hills and the Hollywood Hills – life was great, so I thought.
‘Four, five months in, I sat back and I was a bit lonely, I wasn’t that happy, and obviously I went there to get a better job and to get more money as we say.
‘I was without my wife, who wasn’t living there because she couldn’t and my family wasn’t there, my mum, my dad, my brothers and sisters, my friends.’
Family first: In a recent frank discussion on his Heart radio show, the hunk revealed he felt ‘sad and lonely’ while in Hollywood ‘chasing the money’
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