EastEnders' star Jacqueline Jossa 'forced to sell home' after quitting the soap

Dominique Hines
·2-min read
Jacqueline Jossa wants to show her true personality in the jungle (Credit: ITV)
Jacqueline Jossa wants to show her true personality in the jungle (Credit: ITV)

Jacqueline Jossa says she was so broke after leaving EastEnders in 2018 that she was forced to sell her home.

The I'm A Celebrity 2019 winner opened up about her struggles to make ends meet after quitting Albert Square to become a mum, on The Sam and Billie Show podcast.

Talking with TOWIE stars Sam and Billie Faiers, Jossa explained: "There's been times where I haven't had money. Before I went in the jungle [for I'm A Celebrity] I was struggling with money. I had to sell my house.

"And then I went in the jungle and had amazing opportunities, so I would never ever ever look at somebody and say, 'They're not hustling enough'. You have to do it."

Read more: Jacqueline Jossa was at her 'lowest' point before I'm A Celebrity

The actor explained that the BBC soap had offered her financial security.

"I was on EastEnders for eight years where you got a set pay cheque every week," she said.

Jake Wood and Jacqueline Jossa as Max and Lauren Branning in 'EastEnders'. (Credit: BBC)
Jake Wood and Jacqueline Jossa as Max and Lauren Branning in 'EastEnders'. (Credit: BBC)

"It was a set pay cheque and I didn't have to do anything else. It was my comfort blanket, it was what I knew. Then it just wasn't."

The star, 29, who has three children with her former TOWIE star husband Dan Osbourne, 30, added: "There's no such thing for me as maternity pay, so when I had kids I had to leave and I had to do magazine covers to make money to feed my kids.

"I'm going to have to do like a shoot. People go, 'Why are you selling your soul?' I'm feeding my kids. That's the difference. I'm not embarrassed, I'm not ashamed.""

Dan Osborne and Jacqueline Jossa with Teddy and Ella arriving to attend the release of the new film Wonder Park at Chessington World of Adventure in Chessington, Kingston upon Thames. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
Dan Osborne and Jacqueline Jossa (Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)

Jossa, whose role as Lauren Branning was one of EastEnders' most popular characters, admitted:

The star has managed to bounce back and now lives in a £1.2 million house in Essex with Osborne and their son Teddy, eight and daughters Ella, seven and Mia, three.

She is currently signed up to ITV's All Star Musicals – the show that sees a line-up of celebrities swapping their day jobs to show off their musical theatre skills.

From Multistory Media All Star Musicals on ITV and ITV Hub Pictured: Jacqueline Jossa. This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms For further information please contact: iwona.karbowska@itv.com / 0207 157 3043
Jacqueline Jossa will next appear on All Star Musicals on ITV and ITV Hub (ITV)

The star also has successful collections with fashion brand In The Style and her last Spring/Summer range sold out in just six minutes.

Watch: Jacqueline Jossa and Dan Osbourne want more children

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