Fri, 08 Apr 22 16:07:00 +0000

EastEnders cast: New, leaving and returning characters

KIM Medcalf is the latest soap star to be reprising her role as Sam Mitchell in scenes to air on BBC One.

With no shortage of drama lined up for the rest of 2022, here’s what you need to know about all the comings and goings in EastEnders.

Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) - returning

Six years after she was last seen in the Square - the last time original actress Danniella Westbrook took on the role - the black sheep of the Mitchell family will be coming home.

Kim Medcalf was chosen to portray Sam once again, as she already has done between 2003 and 2005, when she first replaced Danniella.

"She’s a brilliant character and I can’t wait to get back in The Square this spring and work with the amazing cast of both familiar and new faces", Kim said when speaking of her the role.

Sam will be reuniting with her only son Ricky, whom she left behind with his father Jack back in 2016.

Could she also help her brother Phil during his stay in prison?

Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) - returned

EastEnders legendary character Janine Butcher returned to the soap as part of a “huge story” in 2021.

Charlie Brooks reprised her role as the villain more than seven years after her last stint as Janine.

An EastEnders source said: “Bosses have a huge story planned for Charlie’s return.

“They are keeping tight-lipped about whether Janine will come back as a reformed character after all the chaos she has caused in the past.

“But she certainly has a lot of history in Albert Square so whether she will be welcomed back with open arms or not remains to be seen.

“One thing the viewers can be sure about is that it is bound to be explosive. Wherever Janine goes, drama is never far behind."

Needless to say viewers were warned.

Since her return, Janine has set her sights on Mick Carter after briefly flirting with Zack Hudson.

More recently, she has embarked on rivalry with former Vic landlady Linda Carter.

Speaking of which...

Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) - returned

Linda vanished from the Square after giving birth to her daughter Annie, leaving her husband Mick devastated.

The latter tried to get their marriage back on track but was given the cold shoulder.

The landlady was then seen again in December, 2021, for a one-off appearance as Janine Butcher tried to convince her to get a divorce.

Mick received divorce papers before finding out Tina's body had been discovered under the floorboards of the Argee Bhajee.

Off-screen, actress Kellie Bright welcomed a third child in July, 2021 and took six months of maternity leave before retuning.

Getting wind of Tina's murder and subsequent funeral, Linda came back to Albert Square to pay her respects - and just as her estranged husband was getting closer to Janine.

Confrontations have since taken place and a fight even erupted between the women as Linda quickly recognised who Janine was upon her arrival.

Kelli was tipped to come back ahead of Mick Carter actor Danny Dyer's own exit.

Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) - leaving

After nine years on the iconic BBC One soap, Danny Dyer is throwing in the towel.

The actor will be leaving The Vic and Walford at the end of 2022 - but will his relationship with his on-screen wife stay as tumultuous?

While Danny isn't refusing a potential return to the show as of yet, he has been said to have signed a million-pound deal with Sky.

However, he denied these claims during a chat with his daughter Dani on the Sorted with the Dyers podcast.

"The big news is I've decided not to renew my contract", he said.

"That's all. That's not because I've fallen out with anybody – I love everybody."

"That job has been amazing for me. It's an important part of television. I'm grateful for the beautiful years I've had there."

"I'm going to miss the people massively. It's me taking a risk."

Will Linda kiss and make up before he takes a bow?

Gray Atkins (Toby-Alexander Smith) - left

It was the downfall many EastEnders viewers were expecting with baited breath.

On March 10, 2022, the truth finally caught up with Gray Atkins after Phil Mitchell found Tina's body.

Once his secrets were unravelled for all to see, and after a dramatic cat and mouse chase during which Chelsea Fox, Whitney Dean, Karen Taylor, Shirley Carter and Mitch Baker risked their lives, the police got hold of Gray.

The serial killer was last seen being hauled into the back of a police car, after more than two years of impunity, giving one last enigmatic sign to Karen about Chantelle's death.

Meanwhile, actor Toby-Alexander Smith has been enjoying fatherhood after his girlfriend and Emmerdale star Amy Walsh gave birth to their first child.

However, he is also tipped to be joining the ITV programme alongside his partner as her on-screen new love interest.

Ash Kaur (Gurlaine Kaur Garcha) - returning

While she hasn't officially left the cast of EastEnders, Ash hasn't been seen in Walford since January, 2022.

This all became too much for the doctor as she had been the target of a vile attack alongside Callum Highway, Eve Unwin, Ben Mitchell and Stacey Slater.

But actress Gurlaine Kaur Garcha is expected back on-screen during the spring or the summer 2022.

She recently returned to filming in Elstree and has shared snaps on her social media pages alongside her co-stars.

Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton) - returning?

Much like Kellie Bright before her, Louisa Lytton has been on maternity leave from EastEnders - but her return has yet to be confirmed.

The actress gave birth to a daughter named Aura in August, 2021, and her character also found out she was expecting her own baby behind bars.

Ruby left the Square in September, 2021, after she tried to take down Martin's former wife Stacey Slater.

But when Stacey's mother Jean framed her for drug-dealing, Ruby was taken to jail herself.

During an appearance on Loose Women in October, 2021, Louisa teased her own baby could even be joining her on-screen if she could go back to the show.

Gwen Taylor (Violet Highway) - returned

TV legend Gwen Taylor joined EastEnders as Violet "Vi" Highway, straight-talking grandmother of Callum and Stuart Highway.

Violet made her first appearance in May 2021 just in time for Callum’s dramatic wedding to boyfriend Ben Mitchell.

Violet quickly made clear she wasn’t happy about her grandson marrying into one of the Square’s most notorious criminal families.

Speaking about her character’s arrival, actress Gwen Taylor - who plays Vi - revealed to Digital Spy: "She's very much stuck on Callum's previous ill-fated wedding with Whitney and doesn’t let them forget it.”

"She likes to get a dig in but she also wants to make sure that Callum is going to be alright and not get hurt too. Vi's not totally okay with their relationship but she's accepting it because Callum seems happy.

After leaving in November, 2021, actress Gwen Taylor made her return to Walford in March, 2022, as Stuart Highway has been coming to terms with his cancer diagnosis.

Keegan Baker (Zack Morris) - left

Sandwich maker Keegan left for a new life in Germany, after his estranged wife Tiffany (Maisie Smith) came back to fix their marriage.

The emotional scenes were aired in March, 2022, following Gray's downfall.

Speaking of his exit, actor Zack Morris said: "After five beautiful years on this incredible show, I have made the tough decision to leave Walford and give Keegan Butcher-Baker some well-earned rest."

“This show has quite frankly changed my life for the better. It will always hold a real loving place in my heart."

He later told Metro he would be broadening his horizons.