Jacqueline Jossa wants Mark Wright to join EastEnders

Jacqueline Jossa wants Mark Wright to bag an 'EastEnders' role so she can kiss him.

The 18-year-old actress - who portrays Lauren Branning in the BBC One soap - hopes the 'Only Way Is Essex' star lands a role in the show so her "minx" of an alter-ego can hook up with him.

She told BANG Showbiz: "Do you know what? I think Mark would be really good in 'EastEnders'. I watch 'The Only Way Is Essex' and I think he's alright.

"Lauren's being a bit of a minx at the moment so it'd be good if he came in it so they could get together."

However, Jacqueline's co-star Shona McGarty - who plays troubled teen Whitney Dean in the BBC One soap - admitted she is worried the tan-tastic hunk could steal her crown as the "most orange person in 'EastEnders'.

Speaking at Monday night's Inside Soap Awards at London's Gilgamesh venue - which saw 'EastEnders' crowned Best Soap - Shona said: "I don't want his fake tan showing me up! I'm the most orange person in 'EastEnders' at the moment and I want to keep it that way."

Mark recently confirmed he had met with producers of the soap to discuss taking up a role.

He said: "I'm still really pursuing the acting and I have spoken with one of the producers of 'EastEnders'. I want to play a hard man role but to be honest, I reckon I could pull anything off."