JESSIE Wallace is planning to marry next year – with her on-screen ex front and centre.
The EastEnders actress, who plays Kat Slater, confirmed she was engaged to her carpenter boyfriend Justin Gallwey earlier this month.
Jessie Wallace is putting together her wedding
Pals said Jessie would be inviting her friends on the BBC soap, including Shane Ritchie who plays her ex-husband Alfie Moon.
A source said: “Jessie is over-the-moon about her engagement and is starting to put plans in place for her wedding.
“At the moment it is looking like early next year in the UK and there could be a possible magazine deal in the works.
“Naturally she will have some of her EastEnders co-stars there, Shane of course.
“It is quite funny that when she ties the knot, Jessie will have Shane there as their characters have walked down the aisle twice.
“Others likely to get an invite include Natalie Cassidy who is a friend of Jessie’s and Emma Barton.
“It is a really special time for her and everyone is incredibly happy for Jessie.”
Jessie, 51, and Justin, 50, were dating for a year before he popped the question.
The pair have known each other since they were teenagers.
While Jessie’s character Kat has been married twice to Alfie, Jessie has never wed.
She was previously engaged to Vincent Morse but Jessie called off their relationship before they could tie the knot in 2011.
Jessie and Shane, 58, who have worked together on EastEnders for over two decades have previously spoken of how close their friendship is.
Shane told HOAR previously: “We just know each other really well as friends off-screen as well as actors, and we can tell each other what we’re thinking, we can tell the truth to each other.”
Jessie added: “We argue, then we won’t talk for a day, and then we’re talking again, and he makes me laugh all the time.”
The EastEnders actress is likely to invite a number of co-stars including Shane Ritchie, who plays Alfie Moon
