In December 2017, it was announced that Jean would be reintroduced as a regular character, along with Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) and Mo Harris (Laila Morse).

Jean's storylines include supporting Stacey with her bipolar disorder, relapsing and attempting suicide after Stacey flees Walford due to being framed for attempted murder by Janine Malloy (Charlie Brooks), a feud with Pat Evans (Pam St Clement), an unlikely friendship with Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd) in which he begins conning Jean in a storyline tackling investment fraud, revealing to Stacey that her deceased husband Brian had been bigamous, being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and suffering another bipolar episode after her medication becomes ineffective.

Other storylines include a failed marriage to Ollie Walters (Tony O'Callaghan), and relationships with Billy Mitchell (Perry Fenwick), Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt), Daniel Cook (Adrian Edmondson), and Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman).

and Bradley died in the subsequent police chase by jumping off the roof of the Queen Vic that Stacey finally sees sense and begins to trust Jean again.

Jean is heartbroken by her departure; she grows depressed and Stacey's relative Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) finds her in the bath fully clothed attempting to drown herself.

She develops crushes on Alfie's distant cousin Eddie Moon (David Essex) and Janine's uncle Norman Simmonds (George Layton), but her interest is not returned by either.

Jean begrudgingly agrees to take the blame as Mo has a previous conviction, but the stress causes another mental breakdown; she obsesses over Shenice Quinn (Lily Harvey), a young girl who the Moons care for, believing she is an angel.

As Alfie has hired Ray Dixon (Charles Venn) as a professional chef, Jean is fired from the pub kitchen, but is given the job of events manager.

Barmaid Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons) discovers the money missing, so a worried Jean asks Michael to return it, but he denies any knowledge of her investment.

Jean forms an unlikely friendship with Shirley Carter (Linda Henry) and supports Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) following his nervous breakdown.

Drowning her sorrows with Shirley and Bianca Butcher (Patsy Palmer), Jean realises that she has left her handbag at the restaurant and they break in at night to retrieve it.

When Stacey returns to Walford, she publicly confesses to killing Archie, which leads to her clearing Bradley's name and being imprisoned with a five-year sentence, and Lily is temporarily left in Jean and Ollie's care.

Later that year, Stacey leaves Walford with her children to stay with Jean, after admitting to cheating on Martin with Max Branning (Jake Wood).

Kat returns to the house after Jean sees her from the upstairs window and upon learning the truth of what has been going on, she is annoyed with Mo, but is forced to hide in a cupboard when Ian visits with the raised money.

After overhearing Kat and Stacey discuss cancer, Jean leaves Walford, staying in a caravan in Wales under the pseudonym, "Petronella Mills".

When she learns that the cancer has gone, she initially lies, saying the consultant mixed up her results and she has to wait a few days, but Mo then reveals the truth about the outcome.

She's a character that's grown after being created for a week of episodes back in 2005 for that big storyline where Stacey found Jean in the flat that was all boarded up.

"[5] In Jean's original storyline and initial episodes, which show a much grittier persona, Stacey returns to live with her mother, who suffers from bipolar disorder, amidst one of her mental breakdowns.

[8] Wright received an immensely positive reception from her character's bipolar storyline, with viewers of the serial approaching her with their stories relating to Jean's.

She told Louisa Baldwin of Eastern Daily Press that a woman approached her on the tube and informed her that after watching Jean's storyline, she realised her son has bipolar disorder.

Series consultant Simon Ashdown said the storyline tests Jean, adding, "you'll see her attempt to adopt more of a maternal role towards Stacey.

"[7] In an interview with entertainment website Digital Spy, Wright discussed Jean's complex character, saying "She's slightly quirky and off-kilter but also has bipolar, if that makes sense?

"[10] Executive producer Bryan Kirkwood added: "Gillian has brought real heart and pathos to the role of Jean Slater, a complex and fragile character who has really been taken into the public's affection.

[14] Michael, seeing that Jean is an easy target, decides to con her again by asking her for a second investment by "lending" him Alfie Moon's (Shane Richie) savings.

[24] Jean and Ollie drove away from the show's fictional setting of Albert Square in a convertible sports car, although originally, writers planned for them to leave in a Ford Fiesta, which Wright found "utterly boring".

"[27] Executive producer, Dominic Treadwell-Collins also commented: "We are so pleased to have Gillian back with us to reprise her role as Jean Slater, albeit briefly.

Despite it being Stacey's wedding in May 2016, she did not appear, which Laura-Jayne Tyler of Inside Soap said she "couldn't believe" as Jean would normally "turn out for the opening of a gas bill.

Wright and Turner were complimented for giving "graphically powerful performances",[6] and the storyline won a Mental Health Media Award in September 2006.

With Heather Trott, played by Cheryl Fergison] having been brown bread [dead] for over a year, it's time Shirley got a new BFF – and we reckon zany Jean is perfect.

"[45] In June 2019, Wright received the "Best Female Dramatic Performance" accolade at The British Soap Awards 2019 for her portrayal of Jean throughout her ovarian cancer storyline.