It’s a bustling time in Walford as Christmas and the monumental 40th Anniversary celebrations approach, setting the stage for a wave of comings and goings in EastEnders.
Fans have been excited to welcome back several notable characters recently, including Chrissie Watts (Tracey-Ann Oberman), David Wicks (Michael French), and Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer), while the devious Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry) made a dramatic exit this week.
In the coming weeks, the Square will see even more familiar faces return and some departures as well.
Here’s a breakdown of who’s coming back, leaving, and arriving in EastEnders…
Discussing her return, Louisa said, “I’m thrilled to be invited back to the Square to explore Ruby’s story once more and reveal what the last three years have been like for her since leaving Walford. Playing Ruby is always exciting, and I can’t wait for everyone to see what lies ahead for her.”
Nancy and Lee Carter
Actors Maddy Hill and Danny Hatchard were spotted reprising their roles as Nancy and Lee Carter while filming funeral scenes last month.
Also present at what appeared to be a family funeral were Johnny Carter and Elaine Peacock (Charlie Suff and Harriet Thorpe), though there was no sign of Kellie Bright, who plays Linda Carter.
Nancy was seen wearing her signature flamingo earrings, a nod to her mother’s style.
Lee last appeared on the show in 2020, when he encouraged his father, Mick (Danny Dyer), to follow his heart and reconnect with Linda.
Maddy left her role as Nancy two years ago after her boyfriend, Zack Hudson (James Farrar), cheated on her with Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf), and she struggled to cope with her mother’s alcoholism.
Sonia Fowler
Poor Sonia is currently behind bars after being framed for the murder of her fiancé Reiss Colwell’s (Jonny Freeman) comatose wife, Debbie.
As viewers know, it was Reiss who smothered her with a pillow to evade further private care fees.
In the aftermath, the residents have initiated a ‘Save Our Sonia’ campaign to secure her release, with Reiss being her most vocal supporter, as guilt begins to consume him.
Actress Natalie Cassidy is taking a brief hiatus from the soap to pursue other projects, including a television show with comedian Ricky Gervais.
Reiss Colwell
Reiss has been forced out of the area by David Wicks, who was appalled by his treatment of Sonia’s worried sister, Bianca.
Determined to evade the allegations against him, Reiss moved closer to where Sonia is being held.
In upcoming scenes, he returns home to find a hostile Bianca has taken up residence in his house.
Soon, critical CCTV footage that could exonerate Sonia comes to light, and Bianca is eager to get her hands on it!
As Bonfire Night approaches, tensions ignite—especially within No. 25 Albert Square—where Bianca and Reiss face off in a dramatic showdown.
The fallout from their confrontation could have significant repercussions for both of them… will Sonia finally receive the justice she deserves?
EASTENDERS CAST DEPARTURES
Nish Panesar
Nasty Nish was taken away in the back of a police car after confessing to the murder of Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) this week.
As he drove through Bridge Street Market, the six women directly involved watched a fireworks display, believing their nightmare was finally over.
In the moments leading up to his arrest, he made his ex-wife Suki (Balvinder Sopal) promise that she wouldn’t marry anyone else, despite her engagement to Eve Unwin (Heather Peace).
Nish also asked if she would visit him in prison, to which she hesitantly agreed. This suggests that the story isn’t over for the nefarious businessman, a sentiment echoed by fans.
However, it’s known that he is terminally ill, and his health is deteriorating. At this rate, he may die while serving time.
Stacey Slater
Stacey Slater actress Lacey Turner revealed in September that she is expecting her third child.
On Instagram, she shared the joyful news that her children, Dusty and Trilby, will soon have a new sibling.
Along with the photos, Lacey wrote: “Aren’t we lucky…”.
While fans celebrated the announcement, one pointed out that this likely means Stacey will need to be written out of the show to accommodate Lacey’s maternity leave, potentially causing her to miss the big birthday celebration in February.
Though details are still under wraps, it’s confirmed that a live episode will be the highlight of the event.
Linda Carter
Speculation is growing about whether Kellie Bright might be leaving her role as Linda Carter after 11 years.
With her on-screen children and mother spotted filming funeral scenes alongside her close friend Sharon Watts, fans are convinced that Linda may be the unfortunate character facing her end.
In addition to Nancy wearing flamingo earrings, it’s noteworthy that Elaine was seen sporting pink accessories, while the white coffin had a pink rose on top.
Viewers will remember that pink is Linda’s favorite color and also her signature color as part of The Six.
In the past, EastEnders has staged location shots to mislead viewers about upcoming storylines, leading to speculation that there might not be a funeral at all!
EASTENDERS CAST ARRIVALS
Nicola Mitchell
The much-anticipated arrival of Teddy Mitchell’s (Roland Manookian) wife is on the horizon, with actress Laura Doddington cast in the role.
We’ve already heard Harry (Elijah Holloway) warn his dad that ‘you know who’ had been sniffing around their old place, trying to find out where they’d moved to – this is likely to be Nicola.
Teddy also advised Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman) to engage in some creative accounting to conceal his wealth from his partner.
Regarding Nicola’s arrival, EastEnders Executive Producer Chris Clenshaw stated, “Like all the great Mitchell women, Nicola is feisty, strong, and deeply loves her family. She and Teddy have a very complicated history, which will be exciting to explore, along with her relationships with her two sons.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome the talented Laura Doddington to EastEnders to bring Nicola to life.”
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