Tags: Soap Character.
Tanya Lauren Branning (previously Cross and Jessop) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders played by Jo Joyner. She made her first appearance on 27 June 2006. She left the show temporarily on 25 December 2009 for maternity leave and returned for one episode on 23 June 2010. She made her full-time return on 27 September 2010.