[bbfan1991]

Gillian Taylforth is joining the cast of Hollyoaks, it has been confirmed.

The actress, who played Kathy Beale in EastEnders for 15 years, will play the mother of five brothers who move into the village.



It has also been revealed that fan favourite Gemma Bissix will return as evil Clare Devine.

The actress first left the soap in 2007, briefly returning in 2009 when Clare tried to get revenge on enemies Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas) and Justin Burton (Chris Fountain), leading to her arrest.

Taylforth, who recently took part in Celebrity Big Brother, previously admitted that EastEnders bosses wanted her back and regretted killing Kathy off.

"They were asking if I could think of any way Kathy could return even though she's been killed off," she said.

"Even one of the executive *producers, John Yorke, told me that *killing off Kathy was the biggest mistake they've ever made."

More details about Bissix's return and the new family that Taylforth's character heads will be revealed soon.