Jossa: 'I want Lauren to be a serial killer!'

Jacqueline Jossa decided she wants her character, Lauren Branning, to become a Walford serial killer.

And the actress hopes that her first two victims are Lauren's friend Lucy Beale and ex-boyfriend Jake Stone.

Lucy is set to be killed of in the coming weeks and Jacqueline admits that the identity of her killer is a hot topic of discussion backstage, but she hope's it's her.

She said: "Everyone keeps saying I'm the favourite to kill Lucy but no one has a clue. She could turn into this raging murderer!"

And talking about Jamie Lomas' exit as Jake, she teased: "I don't know how he goes but I've got a little bit of an inking. Maybe Lauren will do him in, too!"

Jacqueline also revealed how the cast are taking bets on who the murderer is backstage.

Speaking to the Sun, she explained: "Everyone keeps asking each other and we are all putting bets on who we think it will be.

"I've been looking at all the scripts trying to get clues. But there are so many. But then you think, 'Oh no, it can't be them' so I've got no idea.

"The writers aren't letting anything out of the bag."

Could Jacqueline be onto something when it comes to Lauren being Lucy's killer? After all, she has previously revealed she's got a big storyline in the pipeline.

Lucy Beale to hide secret in build-up to death

The build-up to Lucy Beale's death sees her hiding a secret on EastEnders next week.

Lucy, played by Hetti Bywater, isn't her usual self when Albert Square's younger residents gather to celebrate Lauren Branning's birthday.

Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) soon becomes convinced that Lucy is keeping quiet over a secret relationship with Jake Stone, and even searches through her friend's phone for confirmation.

When Lucy catches Lauren snooping, she convinces her that nothing is going on with Jake (Jamie Lomas) - but it's clear that she is hiding something.

Later, after a mysterious phone call, Lucy's behaviour makes it obvious that she would rather be somewhere else than celebrating with Lauren.

When Lucy puts a dampener on Lauren's big night by rowing with Whitney Dean, it gives her the perfect opportunity to leave and head off to meet someone.

At the same time, Jake is busy preparing a meal for two at home. Could this be connected, or is it a red herring?
EastEnders confirmed plans to kill off Lucy last month. The mystery story will begin at Easter and run until the soap's 30th anniversary in February 2015.

A show statement recently teased: "No one knows exactly what happened to Lucy on the night she died, except very few people - even the person responsible for her death.

"Ian will start to question how well he really knew his daughter, as secrets spill out after her death. But one Walford resident has a very dark secret about what really happened the night Lucy died - and viewers will be left guessing for the rest of the year... What killed Lucy Beale?"

EastEnders airs Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays on BBC One.