Jessie Wallace appeared to drop rumors of a secret wedding to boyfriend Justin Gallwey on Friday – shortly after calling him a “husband”.
The EastEnders actress sparked inevitable speculation on social media thanks to her last Instagram post the day before, in which she hinted at something more than a committed relationship.
Sharing a photo of herself wrapped in Justin’s arms as they relaxed in a London pub, Jessie, 50, added the simple caption: ‘My husband’.
Nothing to see here: Jessie Wallace appeared to drop rumors of a secret wedding to boyfriend Justin Gallwey on Friday – shortly after calling him a ‘husband’.
However, the wedding ring one might expect to see was notably absent as the actress ventured out shopping near her home in the English capital.
Jessie, best known for her role as feisty man-eating Kat Moon, was without jewelry of any kind as she walked out of a local supermarket.
Instead, the British star looked understated in a plain black dress and tasselled ankle boots as she geared up for her trip home.
Large, heavily tinted sunglasses completed the look, while her long black hair was pulled back into a messy bun.
Missing: The wedding ring one would associate with a recent wedding was missing as she shopped near her home in North London
Cryptic: The EastEnders actress sparked inevitable speculation on social media with her latest Instagram post, in which she hinted at something more than a relationship
Jessie and Justin are said to have known each other since they were teenagers and Justin described their relationship as “very close”.
Justin hinted at his plans to propose last month, commenting on a photo of Jessie and her friend Jaime Winstone modeling matching costume jewelry on the set of a special flashback episode of EastEnders.
Taking to Instagram, he wrote: ‘See I told you you would have a ring on that finger by the end of the year’
Discreet key: Jessie, best known for her role as fiery man-eating Kat Moon, was without jewelry of any kind as she walked out of a local supermarket
Don’t bother me: Instead, the British star looked understated in a plain black dress and tasselled ankle boots as she geared up for her trip home
Finishing touch: large, heavily tinted sunglasses complete the look, while her long black hair was pulled back into a messy bun
According to The Sun, Justin helped the EastEnders actress battle her drinking demons after she was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer in June.
Justin, who is said to keep a Toy Story Jessie doll in his van, told the publication: “Our relationship is going well.” We are very close.’
Speaking about the police incident, he added: ‘I apologized and so did Jessie.
Romance: Jessie and Justin are said to have known each other since they were teenagers and Justin described their relationship as ‘very close’ (pictured October 2021)
The actress and her new boyfriend have reportedly enjoyed a string of romantic dates in recent months, including trips to high-end restaurants and European excursions.
A friend said: ‘Justin has been a loving and calming influence on Jessie and helped her get away from drinking and partying.
They added that the incident with the policeman was ‘unique’ and that they are now working to get ‘back on the straight and narrow’.
Support: It is understood that Justin helped the EastEnders actress fight her alcohol demons after she was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer in June
The actress expressed deep regret “after allegedly telling a police officer to ‘fuck you up’ for ‘five minutes of carnage’ outside a nightclub.
Jessie allegedly kneeled the officer in the groin before being arrested and placed in a police van, but was later released without charge.
She has since been warned by BBC chiefs that her behavior was “unacceptable” after the incident, with Wallace expressing “deep regret”.
A BBC spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Senior bosses have spoken to Jessie Wallace about the incident and have made it clear that this type of behavior is unacceptable.’ Jessie expressed her deep regret.
And friends are said to have urged the star to ‘step back and slow down’ after the ‘unprofessional’ incident.
A friend told the Mirror: ‘She has to take a step back, slow down and try to get her head around. It goes without saying that this behavior is deeply unprofessional.
Earlier today, Wallace was with her new boyfriend watching a Madness concert in Thetford Forest, Brandon – where she posed for photos with fans.