EastEnders star Jo Joyner has revealed that in forthcoming episodes, we’ll see her character, Tanya Jessop, “bottle it” when she has to attend hospital for treatment for her cervical cancer.

Jo explained that Tanya will struggle to decide whether or not to put herself through the trauma of having radiotherapy and chemotherapy later this month…

However, after a heart to heart with her daughter Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) Tanya will decide to go ahead with the lifesaving treatment.

Speaking to Soaplife, Jo said, “[Tanya] bottles it. While Lauren pops away to get a drink of water, Tanya escapes to the toilet and thinks to herself, ‘I’m too scared’…

“Then she meets this woman called Siobhan who asks Tanya if she’s a patient on the cancer ward.

“Tanya shakes her head and says actually she was just leaving.”

But as Tanya walks away, Lauren catches up with her.

Of that, Jo said, “Tanya struggles to justify her decision in the face of Lauren’s logical arguments and ultimately decides to go through with it.

“It turns out Siobhan is a cancer patient, too. They share a moment of understanding and agree to be ‘text buddies’.

“She’s remaining positive and thinks she has a good chance…

“It’s not until later that she goes, ‘Oh God no, maybe I will die from it and this is actually horrifying’ and she spins out.”