Pregnant Maddy Hill glowing with bump ahead of EastEnders return

| Soaps Reporter Published August 26, 2026 9:00am Updated August 26, 2026 9:29am EastEnders actress Maddie Hill returns to work showing off baby bump (Picture: ISOIMAGES LTD) EastEnders star Maddy Hill is glowing as she heads back to Albert Square, with a prominent baby bump on display. The Nancy Carter actress is gearing up for an exciting return to the BBC soap alongside on-screen brother Danny Hatchard, who plays Lee Carter, and she has now been spotted arriving for work at Elstree Studios. Maddy, 36, has not publicly announced a pregnancy or commented on the pictures, but she was seen sporting a ‘baby on board’ badge as she made her way to the EastEnders set. Maddie was sporting a ‘baby on board’ badge (Picture: ISOIMAGES LTD) Fans will be thrilled to see Nancy return to Walford, but what’s brought her back? (Picture: ISOIMAGES LTD) The soap favourite kept things casual for her day of filming, wearing a bright yellow vest which stretched over her bump and left part of her stomach exposed. She teamed it with comfy, low-rise joggers as she left the station and headed towards the studios. Maddy has always kept her private life firmly out of the spotlight, rarely discussing her relationships or life away from EastEnders. Her latest appearance comes at a particularly exciting time for Carter fans, with Nancy officially on her way back to Walford, and there could be plenty of drama waiting for her. She’ll be joined by Danny, 35, as Lee, with the siblings set to make their comeback this autumn. Plot details are being kept secret for now, but the reunion comes after the news that their on-screen mother, Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), would be leaving the BBC soap after 12 years in Walford, as EastEnders boss Ben Wadey revealed. On-screen brother Lee is also staging a return (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron) Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. One person who certainly won’t be expecting them is their mum Linda Carter (Kellie Bright). Linda has endured an enormous amount of drama while her children have been away, and Nancy and Lee’s arrival is set to shake up life for the family once again. Ben Wadey revealed: ‘We are absolutely thrilled to have Maddy and Danny back in Walford, bringing two much-loved pieces of the Carter family back together. And whilst Linda is delighted to have her children all together again, she’s got a lot to catch up on…’ Nancy was last a Walford regular in 2022, when she left following the devastating breakdown of her relationship with Zack Hudson (James Farrar). Their romance came crashing down after Zack cheated on her with Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf), with Nancy eventually deciding it was time to leave the Square behind. She and Lee made a brief appearance in a funeral dream sequence in 2024, but this latest comeback will see the pair properly thrown back into the action. The Carters first made their appearance in Walford in 2013 (Picture: BBC/Kieron McCarron) And Maddy certainly isn’t hiding her excitement about being Nancy again. Speaking to the BBC after news of her return was confirmed, she said: ‘I am SO excited to be returning to Enders for a short stint and stepping back into Nancy’s shoes (or basketball shorts!). I’ve missed her! ‘I’m especially looking forward to seeing lots of familiar faces and acting alongside my incredible on-screen family.’ Maddy and Danny have already been busy filming their new scenes, and it sounds like Nancy and Lee won’t simply be popping into the Vic for a quiet drink before disappearing again. Deals of the Day Shop MySweetSmile's biggest Bank Holiday offers before they end Back-to-school shopping just got a lot cheaper thanks to Primark The back-to-school essential parents forget every year – and it could cost them Simba's cooling mattresses are now up to 30% off ahead of the bank holiday The best hosepipe ban-friendly products to protect your garden this summer The siblings are expected to ruffle a few feathers as they attempt to slot themselves back into the Carter family fold. Arrow MORE: Happy ending looms for Linda amid Kellie Bright’s EastEnders exit– but Max may ruin it all Arrow MORE: EastEnders fans ‘work out’ another major death – and it’s devastating Arrow MORE: EastEnders boss reveals changes to Sean Slater amid ‘exciting’ plans The Soaps Newsletter – Daily All the latest soaps spoilers and gossip, in your inbox every morning.