TEN years after terrorising Albert Square, Walford’s pint-sized troublemaker is back – grown up, but still set to cause a stir.

I can reveal Dotty will return to EastEnders this autumn and will continue her reign of terror when she starts university in London. The part will be played by a new actress — Milly Zero, known for playing Hannah in CBBC’s All At Sea — after Molly Conlin stepped down.

Dotty is set to return in the autumn and is being played by Milly Zero

Dotty’s last stint on the soap saw her wind up grandma Dot, play pranks on the late Jim Branning and run rings around her dad, “Nasty” Nick Cotton. But in 2009 she was shocked to find out her mum Sandy was still alive when she came to the Square looking for her.

The pair were seen leaving to start a new life in the US, before moving to Wales. Now she’ll return with Dot, played by June Brown, after she visits the pair there.

EastEnders boss Jon Sen has already ­promised the youngster will be back “with a bang”.

Milly Zero said: “I am honestly so excited to be playing Dotty Cotton and joining the E20 family, especially playing alongside June Brown, who I have been watching on my telly since I was a young girl.

It's been 10 years since Dotty Cotton was last up to no good in Albert Square Credit: Handout

“Her and Dotty have such an interesting relationship to explore with a complicated history, so I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them. It all feels very surreal and I am buzzing already.”

I doubt it will be long before their “complicated history” rises to the surface.



Cooking Jess the way I like

JESSIE J has set up a vegan kitchen in her dressing room at The Voice Kids – as she hates the food cooked on set by ITV staff. The singer even has her own portable stove and disappears from filming to cook her favourite dishes, according to the show’s digital host Aj Odudu.

Jessie makes her own vegan dishes with an electric camping stove in her dressing room Credit: PA:Press Association

In an exclusive interview, AJ said: “She’s basically turned her dressing room into a vegan kitchen. Will.I.Am is vegan as well but Jessie really is quite a fussy eater so she will just knock it all up herself.”

She added: “She has one of those electric camping stoves and everything and she really commits to the cause. She does come on set and share her vegan crisps with us all sometimes, which is nice.”

AJ also revealed Jessie’s Hollywood actor boyfriend Channing Tatum sometimes calls by the studio. She said: “He’s such a cheerleader for her. Everyone gets very excited.”

It comes ahead of The Voice Kids final this Saturday, which will feature a performance from Little Mix. Maybe Jessie will cook them some veggie snacks too.

bizbit VIEWERS mocked a pair of contestants on The Drop after they stuck their final £7,500 on Africa being bigger than the Moon, declaring, “We’ve beaten the drop” – and lost the lot. Fans of the C4 show branded Elaine and Linda “dumb”.



J-Lo's 50th

FORMER Coronation Street star Ryan Thomas clearly got lost on the way back to The Rovers.

Ryan Thomas managed to bag himself an invite to J-Lo's birthday bash Credit: Splash

The TV star made an unexpected appearance at Jennifer Lopez's star-studded 50th birthday party on Wednesday night — despite having no link whatsoever with the A-lister.

Ryan managed to wangle an invite to the bash, held at the Miami home of Gloria and Emilio Estefan, from his pal and PrettyLittleThing founder Umar Kamani.

Ryan shared videos on Instagram from star-studded event including several of DJ Khaled and Fat Joe performing together, with J-Lo dancing and twerking in front of them.

J-Lo’s gold-themed party also featured a six-tiered cake and she was presented with a £111,000 Porsche as a gift from her fourth husband-to-be Alex Rodriguez.

Ryan had the opportunity to mingle with Fat Joe and DJ Khaled Credit: Splash

Jennifer may have turned 50 but she certainly doesn't look it Credit: Rex Features

Ryan appeared to be having a great time surrounded by A-listers Credit: @ryanthomas84/ Instagram

Ryan follows in the footsteps of fellow former soap star Sid Owen who went viral back in 2013 for photobombing US rapper Chris Brown during a night out in LA.

Ryan’s night-out with J-Lo comes just days after he announced his engagement to long-term girlfriend Lucy Mecklenburgh. He’s obviously aiming high for a wedding singer.



Moment of sleuth for Kym

KYM Marsh has already got her next gig lined up months before her character, feisty Michelle, leaves the Cobbles. The Coronation Street star will join reporter Ashley John-Baptiste for new investigative series For Love Or Money.

Kym is showing no signs of slowing down

The show focuses on online romance frauds and Kym will be tracking down the scams that see daters conned out of tens of thousands of pounds.

It’s part of a raft of new shows coming to BBC daytime including Night Force – a look at Tyne & Wear, the nightshift capital of the UK – and Call That Hard Work, a documentary about people who are proud and passionate about their role.

I’ll stick with Bargain Hunt, thanks.

bizbit RICKY Gervais is to make a guest appearance in an episode of Scooby-Doo. The comic plays a version of himself, with his own name and familiar comic tics in new animated series Scooby-Doo And Guess Who?

soapbox

DAMON has his Hawaiian-themed stag night in Hollyoaks – but the limbos and grass skirts fail to keep his emotions at bay.

Maxine’s still lying to him that she’s dying, and fresh news about her “diagnosis” sends shockwaves through the village.

Breda catches Darren on the way back from the stag do, so decides to keep an eye on him.

Meanwhile, over on Neighbours, armed with the DNA proof that Dee, Heather and Andrea are related, Toadie arranges for Heather to be hypnotised to see if she can remember the truth about the birth.

must watch WHAT? The Lateish Show with Mo Gilligan, C4, 10pm.

WHY? Mel B, Pixie Lott and comic Lee Mack join Mo for the second episode of his show, in which he fronts iconic studio games where viewers at home can win prizes.

EastEnders Dotty Cotton tries to murder evil dad Nick after refusing to kill grandmother Dot