EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders has confirmed when Grant Mitchell will return to the soap, as he reunites in Walford with both his siblings, Phil and Sam, for the first time in over 20 years. In February, it was announced that Ross Kemp would be reprising his role as Grant again following a brief return last year.
Grant and Phil’s childhood friend Nigel is currently in a care home as his early on-set dementia progresses, and in next week’s episodes his loved ones are told that his pneumonia is getting gradually worse.
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Mark feels that his estranged dad should be kept in the loop about Nigel’s condition, but Sam doesn’t want to get in touch with her brother, so Mark takes matters into his own hands and leaves Grant a voicemail.
It has now been confirmed that Mark’s call will be successful, and Grant will return to Walford in scenes that will air on Monday, 27 April.
As he is brought up to date on Nigel’s wellbeing, there is a much-anticipated reunion with Phil and Sam, with a newly released picture from EastEnders showing Ross with co-stars Steve McFadden and Kim Medcalf.
The last time the three Mitchells were in Albert Square at the same time was November 2005, when Phil and Grant teamed up to free Sam from prison for Den’s murder.
They all attended their mum Peggy’s funeral in 2016, during a stint when Sam was played by Danniella Westbrook – but Grant only showed up to pay his respects secretly and from a distance, and he only made a proper return to Walford several weeks later after Sam had left.
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Over the last two decades, Grant and Sam have each come back to the Square on multiple occasions, but their returns have never overlapped until now.
Grant’s return later this month will also be the first time that he has seen his son since Mark discovered his true parentage, and the first time the characters have interacted since Stephen Aaron-Sipple took over the role of Mark earlier this year.
In a statement released back in February when his return was first confirmed, Ross said: “As well as exploring Grant’s attempts to reconnect with his son Mark, it’s especially an honour to be part of Nigel’s powerful ongoing dementia storyline, which holds deep personal meaning for due to a close family connection in real life.”
EastEnders airs on Mondays–Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
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For exclusive soap star interviews, gossip, spoilers and theories every week, don’t miss the Soap Scoop podcast from Inside Soap magazine. The latest episode delves into next week’s soap spoilers for EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale – as Carla and Lisa get married and Charity goes into labour.