EASTENDERS has brought back two Walford icons after 16 years for Billy Mitchell’s stag do.
The BBC soap has been celebrating its history with a long-list of returns ahead of it 40th anniversary and while that’s only a week away, they haven’t slowed down the surprises.
EastEnders has revealed two new returns[/caption]
Garry and Minty’s return has delighted fans[/caption]
Instead fans watching today’s episode – which is now available to watch on BBC iPlayer – were treated to surprise appearances by Garry and Minty.
Actors Ricky Groves and Cliff Parisi left fans stunned with their returns after 16 years away.
Garry was last seen in 2009 having left Walford with wife Dawn on their wedding day with daughter Summer.
While Minty left the following year having split from tragic Heather Trott.
The pair’s return was kept totally secret by soap bosses with scenes seeing them surprise Billy on his stag do airing tonight on BBC One.
Updating Alfie Moon on his life since leaving Walford, Garry claimed he was a sports broadcaster living in a penthouse with two cars.
However Minty let the truth slip and revealed he was actually working as a bingo caller and was living in Minty’s loft after splitting from Dawn.
Their brief return delighted fans who took to social media to gush about the episode.
One wrote: “It was so lovely to see them again, they slipped back into their roles effortlessly and you can see they were having a ball being involved in those big community scenes!”
A second said: “Very happy about this. Whilst rarely being main characters in the own right, they were both really good supporting characters, and just added to the overall feel of EE.”
Another added: “It was such a nice surprise to see them, and this is coming from someone who has no affection for either characters.
EastEnders’ 40th anniversary cameos so far
With the 40th anniversary of EastEnders coming up, fans are looking forward to some more incredible cameos from iconic faces of Walford’s past. But who have we had so far?
Tracy-Ann Oberman – Oberman returned as Chrissie Watts, a character she last played nearly two decades ago.
Paul Bradley – Bradley returned as Nigel Bates, a character he last played over 25 years ago.
Micheal French – French returned as David Wicks, a character he last played two decades ago.
Patsy Palmer – Palmer returned as Bianca Jackson, a character she last played in 2019.
Coming up this year…
Ross Kemp – Kemp will reprise his role as Grant Mitchell, a character he first played in 1990. The BBC has described Kemp’s storyline as “explosive”. Kemp said it was an “absolute honour” to return to the show.
Other aspects of the 40th anniversary celebration include: A wedding between fan favorites, A huge explosion at the Queen Vic, and A live interactive episode.
“Clenshaw really is spoiling us with all these mini returns, his love for the show just oozes out with stuff like this.
“It’s got me excited again for any returns for the 40th if they are pulling out returns like this a week BEFORE the big birthday week.”
