EASTENDERS viewers have worked out that the actress playing Nicola Mitchell has been in the soap before.

Laura Doddington, 43, joined the BBC One serial drama back in November this year as the new matriarch of the infamous East End family.

Before that, the actress appeared in many major TV projects such as Holby City, Casualty, Doctor Who and The Bill.

However, it turns out that the new soap star had another role on EastEnders when she played a totally different character 15 years ago.

On fan forum site Reddit one fan took to the site after they noticed that the actress had appeared on the soap before back in 2009.

They wrote: “She’s the teacher at a birthing class Zainab and Masood went to!

Fans were in disbelief as they flooded the thread with gushing comments.

One wrote: “Watched this recently and hadn’t recognised her!”

A second stated: “I also love how Stewart was a photographer working for a local newspaper not long before this.”

While someone else added: “Don’t let your dreams be dreams. Good for her.”

BBC bosses previously recruited the veteran actress to play the gobby ex-wife of Teddy Mitchell (Roland Manookian).

She was first appeared on Albert Square as she tried to get her son Harry (Elijah Holloway) out of hot water.

He was arrested by the police after he was suspected of being behind the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend Shireen.

Nicola then appeared at the police station as she gave a false alibi to try and get her eldest child out of the nick.

She wastes no time making her presence felt in Walford as she introduces herself to the rest of the Mitchell’s in grand fashion.

Teddy was less than impressed to have Nicola invading his new neighbourhood, just as he was settling into the place.

But Nicola was determined to stand her ground, as she declared that she was moving in with the family.