Denise Welch is desperate for a permanent role on 'EastEnders'.

Denise Welch

Denise Welch

The 57-year-old actress is to join the soap later this summer as Alison Slater - the mother of transgender Kyle (Riley Carter Milington) - but, although she's only scheduled to appear in one episode, the blonde beauty is keen to nab a scene with Dot Branning (June Brown) in the future.

She explained: "I'm only in the one episode. If there is one character I would love to share a scene with, though, it's Dot. I was in make-up for an hour with June Brown, who plays her, and it was absolutely brilliant. I am a huge fan of hers!"

But, although she's only managed to pick up a small role in the long-running soap, the talented star still can't believe she was chosen to take on the matriarchal part in the show.

She told Inside Soap magazine: "No matter how long in the tooth you get, it's always exciting to be part of a show you've watched for years. As soon as I arrived, I did a scene in the Square and thought, 'Oh my God, I'm in Walford!' I thought it was so bizarre and I couldn't quite believe I was there."

Meanwhile, Denise is no stranger to soap operas as she previously starred in 'Coronation Street' as barmaid Natalie Barnes for three years from 1997 until 2000.

She's also appeared on 'Holby City', 'Casualty', 'Benidorm', 'Where the Heart Is' and 'The Bill', to name a few.