As one original EastEnder leaves, another two return - though only for a little while. Who would have thought that one day we'd see Lofty Holloway and Mary Smith back in Walford again? Even though the passing of the legendary Dr. Legg was very sad, it was great to see the return of two characters who reminded those of us who had watched EastEnders from the very beginning, of the good ol' days of Albert Square. The only disappointment was that it wasn't long enough.
It's got fans thinking about who they would like to see making a welcome return to the soap. New characters are great but there's something about a familiar face that gets us feeling all nostalgic. In more recent times, EastEnders have brought back a few of the old faces: Mel Owen, Ruby Allen, and soon we'll see the return of Sean Slater. But as for the Michelle Fowler debacle, yeah, let's not go there!
So EastEnders, if you still want to bring some past characters back to Walford, this lot would be great for starters!
1. GRANT MITCHELL
Walford was never a dull place when Grant Mitchell was around. If he wasn't the cause of all the drama, he was in the middle of it. Walford could be a scary place with Grant around but it could also be a safer place with people running to Grant whenever someone needed 'sorting' - a lot like they do now with his brother Phil.
Walford is still standing but it has never been the same since hard-man Grant left for a new life in Portugal with his daughter, Courtney. During his time on the Square, the mechanic turned Queen Vic landlord attacked Eddie Royal; married Sharon Watts; torched the Vic with Sharon inside; divorced Sharon; had a one-night stand with her best friend Michelle; fathered a child with Michelle; had a one-night stand with Tiffany Raymond; fathered a child with Tiffany; married Tiffany; had an affair with Lorraine Wicks; got back together again with Tiffany; had an affair with mum-in-law Louise; watched Tiffany get knocked over by Frank Butcher; had an affair with sister-in-law Kathy; rescued Ian Beale's sons after they had been kidnapped by Cindy; had an affair with Jane Beale; helped put Chrissie Watts behind bars; had an affair with... Goodness Grant, you have been busy! If Ross Kemp hadn't had left when he did, no other character would ever have had any storylines! And of course one of Grant's biggest storylines can be summed up in one word - Sharongate!
There's always a possibility that Grant Mitchell could find himself back in Walford, to lock horns with Phil, get all misty-eyed over Sharon... and EastEnders' fans would always be happy to welcome Grant back to the Square - though hopefully it'll be for longer than a brief guest appearance.
2. KELVIN CARPENTER
Gonna Make Something Outta Nothing...
There are plenty of youngsters running around the Square today but back when EastEnders first started, the original group of young 'uns were Sharon, Michelle, Ian and Kelvin. Sharon and Ian are still living in Albert Square and still the best of friends. Michelle made her infamous visit two years ago. But viewers haven't seen Kelvin since he quietly slipped out of Walford without saying goodbye to anyone, missing his own leaving party to head off to university.
Hardworking, studious, showing that he could give Ian Beale a run for his money in the entrepreneurship stakes, Kelvin also showed his musical abilities in the (shortlived) group he set up with Sharon, Simon and Ian - and a couple of others - called The Banned. The song the group wrote Something Outta Nothing actually became a real-life Top Forty hit! Kelvin had flings with both Sharon and Michelle (the dawg!) as well as a relationship with older woman, health visitor, Carmel Roberts, which naturally caused quite a stir in Albert Square.
On two occasions in more recent times, viewers thought Kelvin might be heading back to Walford to catch up with his old mates - but both times hopes were dashed. Who knows if Kelvin will ever make a return, but it's time he was reunited with his best mate, Ian. Kelvin might be the only person who can sort out that Mr. Beale.
3. THE SLATER GIRLS
"You can't tell me what to do. You ain't my muvver."
"YES, I AM!!!"
OK, this is three characters instead of one, but despite the shouting, temper tantrums, and non-stop fallouts, the Slater girls have always been a pretty tight unit so they could count as one. Kat might be living with Stacey, Hailey, Jean and Mo but it's probably time she had her sisters Lynne, Little Mo, and Zoe back again. With the exception of Kat, none of the Slater sisters have ever returned to the Square since leaving, and seeing as there was always plenty of drama with those girls, is it any wonder that fans want them back?
The revelation that Kat was Zoe's real mother was one of EastEnders' biggest storylines, and viewers saw plenty of ups and downs in their relationship - and judging by references made to Zoe, it would appear that years later, nothing's changed between mother and daughter. A possible return by Zoe wouldn't just cause drama between her and Kat, but it would also stir up a lot of unresolved tension between her and Sharon due to Zoe's role in the murder of Sharon's dad, Den, and Zoe's relationship with Sharon's late husband Dennis.
And now that Honey and Billy Mitchell have split up, perhaps there's a second chance for Billy and the first Mrs. Mitchell, Little Mo?
Also as the most sensible of the Slater sisters, Lynne needs to be around to keep her younger sisters in order. Yeah, no one fancies her chances but she can try!
4. CHRISSIE WATTS
If Sharon Mitchell thinks she's got issues caught up in a Phil-Sharon-Keanu-Louise love square, with Karen Taylor baying for her blood, then what would she do if her former stepmother Chrissie Watts was ever to set foot back in Walford?
When it was announced that back-from-the dead Den Watts was going to be joined by his new wife, no one thought they would ever take to the second Mrs. Watts. Den's marriage to Angie was never a bed of roses, but their tumultuous partnership kept viewers enthralled. Could anyone ever step into Angela Watts's stilettos?
But then along came feisty, big-hearted, curly-haired Chrissie, who made firm friends with most of the Square, doted on Den's kids, and put Den in his place far better than Angie ever could. Unfortunately that place turned out to be a hole in the floor of the Vic's cellar! Yep, Chrissie was the woman who finally finished off Dirty Den for good which is why she's now on a daily diet of porridge!
Chrissie was basically a nice lady who did a terrible thing because she had the misfortune to fall in love with the wrong man. If ever she should be released early from prison (And why not? Janine was!) there's probably a million places other than Walford where Chrissie would rather be, but we hope that she does make it back to the Square to ruffle a few feathers and give Sharon's lips something to really quiver about!
5. ANTHONY TRUEMAN
When was the last time that Dr. Trueman came back to Walford to pay his old dad, Patrick, a visit? Kind, good-natured, with a strong set of morals, Anthony was the complete opposite of his wayward brother, Paul. In fact the naughtiest thing Anthony ever did was defy his mother, Audrey, by taking up with loud, brash Kat Slater.
Actually that's not quite true. Anthony did have relationships with both Kat and Zoe, flitting between mother and daughter which led to the two women coming to blows on more than one occasion. So the good doctor wasn't quite so squeaky clean after all! But still a lot better behaved than most of Walford's inhabitants.
And now that Kat has returned, and Alfie has left, could the spark between Dr. Trueman and Kat still be there?
Who would you like to see back in Walford?
Photos from YouTube
Word cloud by Angel Noire