EastEnders‘ chief Chris Clenshaw has tantalisingly teased that some legendary characters could be making a dramatic return to Albert Square for the show’s monumental 40th anniversary celebrations next year.
“The 40th has been in the works for quite some time,” the soap’s mastermind revealed, suggesting that sharp viewers may have already caught “Easter egg” clues in previous episodes. He elaborated: “The nostalgic element means a lot.”
Devotees of the soap are abuzz with speculation that Ronnie and Roxy Mitchell might make an astonishing return from the dead after Cindy Beale’s stunning reappearance last May, despite her supposed death in ’98. Michelle Collins stepped back into Cindy’s shoes, who was believed to have died from complications during childbirtha fact disclosed to her former flame, Ian Beale.
The ill-fated Mitchell sisters met their demise on Ronnie’s wedding day, as Samantha Womack’s character leapt into a pool to save Roxy (Rita Simons), only to be pulled under by her wedding dress, leading to their sorrowful exit.
Cast your mind back to when ‘Dirty’ Den (Leslie Grantham) shocked everyone with his return in 2003, a full 14 years after being written out, as reported by the Mirror. With several other fan favourites still out there, the stage is set for potentially explosive returns, reports the Daily Star.
Den’s second spouse, Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman), dispatched him once more in the Queen Vic pub 2005 as part of the soap’s momentous 20th anniversary specials. Tracy has since hinted at a potential return for her character, noting that Chrissie could be “due for parole at any point now” given her 2006 sentencing.
“She’s served longer than most actual murdering prisoners and if she’d had a better lawyer, she would have got mitigating circumstances,” she previously jested.
Chris scoop suggested that the soap “may” bring back old characters, adding, “It’s not just because of the lovely reaction. It all depends on the story and where the characters are.”
“As we head towards our 40th year, it is the history of the show. I think the nostalgic element means a lot. But it has to come from character, it has to come from story.”
The details of any forthcoming storyline or returning characters are shrouded in secrecy, yet they’re set to evolve from this year’s Christmas plot, typically a high-drama affair. Last year’s festive narrative saw The Six murder suspects revealed over time, leaving viewers hanging in suspense over the fatal outcome.
The shocking reveal was that Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) killed Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) by striking him with a deadly blow from a meat thermometer.
EastEnders‘ Chris was spilling all the festive secrets at the TRIC Awards where the soap earned a nomination for Best Soap.
He teased: “Christmas is well underway,” and continued, “In the story office there is a board and it all connects. I compare it to a tapestry board, everything has to fit together. We’ve got the new Mitchells coming in that will stir some trouble up. And as we head through into the autumn and the end of the year, we’ve got quite a few treats coming up.”
EastEnders is available to watch Mondays to Thursdays on BBC One from 7:30pm
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