Is Jessie Wallace secretly engaged?

She's been dating boyfriend Tim Arnold since May, and the musician is largely credited with helping her get over her previous heartaches.

But it would seem Jessie Wallace is taking her relationship to the next level after she was spotted wearing what appeared to be an engagement ring on Thursday.

The 41-year-old actress seemed to be sporting a sparking band on her wedding finger as she stepped out to do a spot of Christmas shopping in North London.

 Grasping her bags and a roll of festive wrapping paper in her hand, the dazzling diamond was clear to see as the EastEnders star ran her errands.

Whether Jessie is engaged or not, she didn't seem too happy about life and was sporting a decidedly glum expression as she went about her chores.

The mother-of-one - who plays Kat Moon in the BBC One soap - was dressed casually in black velour trousers, a leather biker jacket and a woolly hat as she wrapped up against the chilly London weather. 

Jessie started dating musician Tim, 37, back in May, after meeting through Tim's godmother June Brown and mother Polly Perkins, who play Dot Cotton and her sister Rose in EastEnders, at the Soap Awards the previous month. 

The composer is largely credited with restoring Jessie's faith in marriage after she called time on her relationship with former fiancee Vincent Morse on their wedding day after he allegedly sent his ex-girlfriend an explicit picture of the soap actress.

And Tim is even said to have changed Jessie's mind about tying the knot again herself, after she vowed never to wed following her devastation over Vince.

A source recently told the Daily Mirror newspaper: 'She had her heart broken into a million pieces and vowed she’d never marry.

Meanwhile, Tim recently spoke about the couple's relationship, admitting they are very much 'in love'.

He said: 'We're in love, what more can I say? We met through my mother so it's all thanks to my wonderful mum. I'm very happy, we are both happy and I'm happy to talk to you about happiness. She is my good lady.'

Jessie has an eight-year-old daughter Tallulah with her policeman ex, Dave Morgan.

A representative for Jessie Wallace has been contacted by MailOnline.