EASTENDERS legend Elaine Lordon made fans do a double take as she reunited with former co-star Lucy Benjamin in a rare snap.
Elaine, who played Slater sister Lynne Hobbs in the BBC soap from 2000 to 2004, smiled for a photo with Lucy, who portrayed Lisa Fowler on/off between 1998 until 2023.
The pair looked in good spirits as they enjoyed a catch-up after last summer.
The photo has since resurfaced as fans reminisce on past Walford favourites star as the soap celebrates its 40th anniversary.
In the photo, Elaine, 58, is seen wearing a black and white striped top and a pair of reading glasses.
While Lucy looked glamorous in a leopard print t-shirt with her curly tresses loosely framing her face.
Lucy shared the photo on her Instagram and wrote: “Oh I love this woman with all my heart! Elaine Lordan.”
EastEnders fans were over the moon to see the two iconic ladies back together.
One wrote: “Awww Elaine looks very healthy and well, she was incredible in EastEnders; We need Elaine to return!!! I’m glad Elaine looks so well.”
A second fan begged: “‘Aaaaah come back Lynne Slater! That would be amazing! She lookin so amazing hope treating her very well well done Elaine.”
“I’m so happy to see Elaine look so well and healthy. Thank you so much for posting this. Sending love to you both; You both look fabulous,” a third commented.
A fourth said: “So lovely to see Elaine looking so well; Great to see Elaine again. Love to you both; Lovely to see Elaine looking so happy and well! Brought a smile to my face!”
Another added: “This is so iconic and brings back so many memories, I would love Lynne Slater to return please tell Elaine, she looks amazing and I hope she’s well.”
It is a big turn around for Elaine, who was pictured in 2018 looking worse for wear after knocking back booze in the middle of the day.
She was convicted of drink-driving and banned for a year after downing five vodkas in 2004, and subsequently axed from the soap.
A source said at the time: “It was decided to make the changes after she had a few problems with drinking. It has been done to help her rather than to punish her.”
Life got worse for Elaine after she left the show. In 2005 her mum took her own life, aged 62.
Nine months later she tragically lost her one-year-old son James. He suffered from breathing difficulties caused by a condition called
diaphragmatic hernia — and died three days after Elaine married his dad, ex-BBC technician Peter Manuel.
She fell pregnant again in 2007, but sadly miscarried shortly after. A year later her dad passed away.
She appeared on I’m A Celebrity in 2005 — but had to be airlifted out after twice fainting on the first day.
Elaine went off the radar for a long time after, but in 2018 she was spotted appearing to be downing mini bottles of wine in the street before midday.
She was last seen in 2020 looking much healthier as she went for a jog with her husband.
Meanwhile, Lucy first joined EastEnders in 1998, but left in 2003.
She had two brief stints in 2010 and 2017, before returning again between 2019 and 2023.
POPE Francis remains in a critical but stable condition as he battles double pneumonia, the Vatican confirmed in its latest health update.
A Tuesday evening statement from the Holy See Press Office revealed that the 88-year-old Pontiff has not suffered any acute respiratory episodes, and his vital signs remain steady.
However, his prognosis remains “guarded.”
“The Holy Father’s clinical condition remains critical but stable. No acute respiratory episodes have occurred, and hemodynamic parameters continue to be stable,” the Vatican said.
Francis underwent a scheduled CT scan in the evening to monitor his bilateral pneumonia, officials said.
Earlier in the day, he received the Eucharist and resumed work activities despite his ongoing illness.
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A WOMAN found much more than she bargained for after appearing on Channel 4’s popular TV show, First Dates.
Despite not finding the man of her dreams, Katie Kumar ended up reuniting with a long lost sister – and the pair have since grown so close they “can’t imagine” life without each other.
Katie shared the incredible story to her TikTok account, @katiekumarr, which has since been viewed 401,000 times.
In her touching clip, she says she appeared on the teen version of First Dates in 2021, wanting to share her experience of being adopted and express her gratitude for the “family and life” she has now.
Katie said she didn’t think she’d be accepted onto the show when she applied.
Instead, she was more interested in spreading awareness by telling the story of her adoption.
Having grown up “in and out of foster care” since birth, Katie said she had some contact with her parents.
Aged three, she was separated from her biological siblings and fostered by a family who later permanently adopted her.
Despite knowing she had siblings, Katie lost contact with them and “never thought” she’d be able to find them again.
Meanwhile her sister Louise, a few years older than Katie, had also been adopted by a different family.
The pair grew up apart from each other, and despite remembering one another, “never knew where to start looking.”
That was until Katie appeared in an episode of Channel 4’s dating show Teen First Dates.
The show aims to help 16 to 19-year-olds “take their first steps in the land of real-world dating.”
Each episode sees host Fred Sirieix play matchmaker with a pair of hungry-for-love teens, who bond over a romantic dinner.
Despite not finding the man of her dreams, Katie found someone else just as significant.
After her episode aired, she received a life-changing Facebook message from somebody claiming to be her long lost biological sister.
The message, from a woman named Louise, read: “Hello love, I know this is so random but I won’t forgive myself if I don’t find out the answer.
“Basically, I seen you [sic] on First Dates and you said you was [sic] adopted, well so am I and I know I have a sister a few years younger than me, she would be your age and her name’s Katie too and I’m from Birmingham too.”
Louise went on to say that the pair shared a white mother and Afghan father.
She wrote: “I know your [sic] probably not my sister and you probably won’t even answer this message but it’s worth asking because what are the chances.”
After confirming their mother’s name, Katie wrote back: “We are sisters?!”
She told Louise their situation was “crazy” and that she’d been left “speechless,” before they continued to verify their relations.
After meeting, the pair grew close and Katie says she is “so grateful” she has her sister back in her life.
She said they get on “effortlessly,” have the same interests and she feels “so lucky” that they have been reunited.
Viewers in the comments were gobsmacked at the emotional story.
One person wrote: “You went on the show to find love, and found love in its most powerful form, I’m so happy for you and your sister.”
While another person said: “This is a true miracle, enjoy the rest of your lives together girlies, I’m so happy you found each other.”
And somebody else commented: “This is insane! Some things are truly meant to be!”
In the UK, there is lengthy process involved with adopting a child and it can take up to six months for the paperwork to be finalised.
To even be considered, you have to meet the following criteria:
You will also have to go through an inital background check and assesment, which will consider whether you are the right fit for adoption.
Potenital parents will also have undergo training and a process to match them with the right child.