FormerEastEnders stars Jo Joyner and Laurie Brett have reunited and it’s certainly got fans talking.

The popular stars, who played Tanya Branning and Jane Beale on the BBC One soap respectively, posed for a selfie as Jo shared that she was enjoying a little catch up with her ‘buddy’.

Viewers of the long-running serial were quick to speculate if there was a reason for the pair’s reunion, with the conversation swiftly turning to the prospect of a double EastEnders comeback.

‘lets hope it was a dinner with [EastEnders boss] ben wadey,’ wrote fan rcnniemitchells on the social media platform.

There is nothing to suggest this is the case and Jo herself recently stated that returning to the BBC soap wasn’t on the table, but I can see why the idea of having Tanya and Jane back in the Square is appetising – especially given that the stage is, likely inadvertently, set perfectly for such a thing.

As viewers will know, troublemaking lothario Max Branning (Jake Wood) recently set foot back in Walford for the first time in four years.

Within seconds of his comeback, he attempted to reunite with a former flame, revealed that he’d slept with said former flame’s cousin and pretty much removed himself from his kids’ lives in the process.

Even by Max’s standards, that’s quite impressive. And by impressive, I mean low.

Though his visit was fleeting, with Max subsequently fleeing Walford after being ostracised once more, he’s back in a more regular capacity at Christmas – and the juicy drama set to unfold smells delicious.

This is where both Tanya and Jane would come in.

Max’s return is part of an effort to revitalise the depleted Branning clan, with stalwarts Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) and Jack (Scott Maslen) having at one stage been the only on-screen members of the iconic fold.

Lauren’s brother Oscar (Pierre Counihan-Moullier) – who might I add is one of EastEnders’ best additions in years – changed all of that when he walked back into her life earlier this year. Oscar has settled in nicely, winning the hearts of not only viewers but his loved ones too, with a lovely dynamic blossoming between he, Lauren and Louie.

Max’s re-introduction then kicked things up a notch, with Oscar’s desire for his dad’s love – and his sheer disappointment when he didn’t get it – allowing star Pierre to deliver some of his best work to date while Lauren star Jacqueline was utterly superb in the emotionally-charged reunion with her on-screen dad.

With the Brannings revitalised and, dare I say, on the cusp of a renaissance era, it’s hard not to speculate about what it would be like if Tanya were to walk back into Walford – if even just to get a deliciously camp reaction from her relating to Max’s latest antics where Zoe and Stacey Slater (Michelle Ryan and Lacey Turner) are concerned.

Tanya, for me,as always one of EastEnders’ finest characters and the true star of the Branning clan. And Jo is an absolute powerhouse – especially when the scene called for heightened emotion, with the Shakespeare and Hathaway star bringing qualities of humanity and grounding to even the most sensational of storylines (cough burying Max alive cough).

What’s more, she and Jake were always electric when performing opposite one another. Their scenes together at Christmas 2007 – when Tanya uncovered Max’s affair with Stacey – remain some of the finest in EastEnders history.

Lauren star Jacqueline and Jo, meanwhile, always made a convincing mother and daughter duo, with the pair captivating to watch whether it be in an emotional scene or a fiery one.

And if you ignore the aforementioned burying-Max-alive story, Tanya was often the most sensible of the Branning clan, capable of wrangling Max into being a better parent and stepping up for his kids. .

With Oscar and Lauren both at odds with their dad – and both in need of a parental figure they can rely on – Tanya would slot right in to the current storylines, thus making this Branning resurgence complete. Though if you could chuck Cora in too, that would be fab.

Jane too would factor in perfectly – and not just as a sounding board for best mate Tanya, who would likely need about six business days to process her ex’s latest scandals.

As viewers recall, Jane last full-time stint saw her forced out of the Square by Max, who was on a very dark path at the time.

Jane covered up Lucy’s death to protect killer Bobby, with Max subsequently serving time in prison for the crime, which led to bad blood between the two.

In 2017, Max left Jane to die in a fire at Walford East, ordering Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell) to kill her. Steven refused, with Max violently pushing him into a kitchen counter, which ultimately cost the young Beale his life.

Jane survived the blaze but was ordered out of Walford by a threatening Max, who vowed to seek revenge on jailed Bobby if she failed to comply.

Though Jane did briefly return to screens for Bobby’s exit in 2024, she has yet to properly settle back into the place she once thought of as home, nor has she dealt with the Max situation. Surely it’s high time he faced the music for leaving her to perish and killing Steven?

With the Steven story set to be revisited in upcoming scenes when Cindy (Michelle Collins) confronts Max over his role in her son’s death, the timing really couldn’t be better for Jane to get in on the action.

Such scenes would also allow us another opportunity to see Jane and Cindy together, albeit on the same side this time, as they hold Max to account for what he did.

Just think of the showdowns.

What’s more, with the Beales still a primary focus, Jane’s comeback would provide a heap of storyline material for her own family too, especially in the wake of Ian’s (Adam Woodyatt) split with Cindy. Would Ian and Jane reunite? Or is she still with Masood (Nitin Ganatra)?

So many questions.

The idea of Tanya and Jane back on our screens would be exciting regardless of the when but I fear the timing really could not be more perfect than it is right now.

And with a Branning-centric flashforward sequence on the table, which will plunge Max into a whole world of trouble come 2027, we can all but hope that our wish will be granted.

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One or stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer.