EastEnders’ Libby Fox actress pays tribute to co-star ahead of emotional return

EastEnders’ Libby Fox actress Belinda Owusu is making an emotional comeback in next week’s episodes of the BBC soap

EastEnders legend Libby Fox has made her way back to Walford in the wake of her mum Denise’s shocking cancer diagnosis.

Libby (Belinda Owusu) first graced Albert Square in May 2006 when the Fox family made their debut on the BBC soap. Just four years later, the studious character bid farewell to Walford to pursue her studies at Oxford University, much to her mother Denise’s (Diane Parish) pride.

Throughout the years, Libby made occasional returns before her final departure in 2017. Yet viewers caught a glimpse of her this January, when she featured in the flash-forward episode set for New Year’s Day 2027, leaving audiences curious about the circumstances behind her comeback.

In upcoming scenes, Libby returns to Walford to rally around her family following Denise’s blood cancer diagnosis, and upon her arrival, it becomes evident that her relatives desperately need all the support available, including sister Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams), who is battling her own demons after son Jordan’s accident.

Discussing her comeback to the BBC soap, Libby star Belinda Owusu praised co-star Diane Parish and revealed she is now the same age as Diane was when she originally joined the programme, reports OK!.

Belinda said: “It’s such a big moment for the family, and Libby would want to be there. When the Foxes first arrived, they were a tight-knit trio of strong women with each other’s backs.

“It’s been lovely to revisit that dynamic within a bigger, evolved family. It also marks Diane’s 20th anniversary, and I happened to be there on the day, which felt very serendipitous.

“We reflected on how full circle it all felt. I’m now the same age she was when she joined, and like her then, I have two children. It was special to celebrate that with her. There’s something meaningful about a show giving you that sense of family over so many years.”

Describing what it was like to slip back into Libby’s character, Belinda admitted: “A lot has changed, yet it still felt familiar.”

She added: “I only filmed one scene with Rudolph for the flashforward, so it was an initial flying visit, but a nice way to ease back in ahead of what was to come with this storyline.

“It was great to reunite with so many familiar faces. Although the sets are different, it felt like home immediately, with a real sense of nostalgia. Diane and Tameka have always felt like family, and it was my first time working with Zaraah as Chelsea, but we clicked straight away.

“It sounds cheesy, but it really did feel like coming home. That speaks to the show’s energy; things change, but the warmth remains.”

EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer