EastEnders will be seeing a collection of stars both leave and return to the hit BBC one soap in upcoming episodes as part of explosive storylines

EastEnders will see a collection of stars both leave and return to the hit BBC one soap in upcoming episodes.

It’s been an explosive few months on the soap following the dramatic The Six Christmas storyline and it appears things are only going to get more explosive in the next few episodes.

With dramatic exits on the way, legend returns and new characters, here’s the stars leaving and returning in upcoming episodes this year…

Who is leaving EastEnders?

Bobby Beale

Clay Milner Russell has quit his role as Bobby Beale on BBC soap EastEnders (Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Clay Milner Russell has quit his role as Bobby Beale on BBC soap EastEnders. During his time on the show, Bobby has been in some huge storylines including the death of his sister Lucy Beale.

More recently, he was caught up in a fire at Kathy’s café, where he nearly died when Rocky tampered with the electrics to try and get money from the insurance for his gambling addiction. He has also been involved in a romance storyline with Anna Knight – but the pair nearly didn’t go the distance when his best friend Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier) slept with Anna – there has since been a love triangle between the trio.

“Clay’s a talented actor and he’s ambitious. He was never going to stay in EastEnders forever. He’s loved playing Bobby but he became an actor to play all kinds of roles and he wants to do that. The door is being left open but for now it’s a definite goodbye,” a source told The Sun of Clay’s decision to depart the role earlier this year, which he has held for half a decade.

“Clay is a young actor so he wants to use these years to try his hand at other roles. He absolutely loves working on EastEnders and has made such great friends on the show so it was really difficult for him to make that decision, but having been a part of the show since 2019, he now feels like the time is right to explore other options.”

An EastEnders spokeswoman said in a statement at the time: “We can confirm that Clay will be leaving EastEnders later on this year, and we wish him the best for the future,” but did not reveal how Bobby’s exit storyline would pan out.

Dean Wicks

Dean Wicks star Matt Di Angelo revealed last month that he has left the hit BBC One soap (Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Dean Wicks star Matt Di Angelo revealed last month that he has left the hit BBC One soap and teased a huge twist for his character, which left him surprised. The actor, 37, first made his debut as Dean back in 2006 before leaving in 2008. Matt returned once again between 2014 to 2016 and made a sensational comeback last year as part of the The Six Christmas storyline.

However, despite recently returning, Matt has revealed Dean will be bowing out the soap once again and has given details on his character’s exit. Soap watchers will recall that The Six have framed Dean for the murder of Keanu Taylor and he is currently in prison awaiting trial. Linda Carter is actually responsible for Keanu’s death but the character, as well as Denise Fox, Kathy Beale, Sharon Watts, Stacey Slater and Suki Panesar, have all stuck together to protect Linda and instead frame evil rapist Dean for the crime.

Talking to The Sun, Matt said: “Dean is a bit like the World Cup. You can handle a bit of him every six years or so, and then after a week you’re like, ‘OK enough of this’.” As for whether viewers will see Dean back in Albert Square wanting revenge for being framed, he added: “No, not back to the Square!”

Talking about upcoming scenes with Dean, Matt told the publication: “There is a trial. I know the result of the trial, because we’ve filmed it already. I can tell you – but I won’t because it would ruin the television. We were on location for a full week and most of the trial is filmed. There was a twist at the end of it that sort of surprised me,” adding: “Yeah, it is what it is. I’ve done my trial and yeah that’s it. The end is now. Until I have another child with dirty nappies and I have to go back to work with.”

Who is returning to EastEnders?

Bianca Jackson

Bianca Jackson will make a shock return to EastEnders – but little does she know, someone else is right behind her. Patsy Palmer will be heading back to Walford in the coming months, as she reprises her role of Bianca once again.

David Wicks

EastEnders legend David Wicks will head back to Walford later this year (Image: BBC)

EastEnders legend David Wicks will head back to Walford later this year, it has been confirmed. Actor and soap icon Michael French is reprising his role as the fan favourite once again, 10 years after he was last onscreen. More than 30 years after he debuted in Albert Square as Pat Butcher’s son, the character will head back home for a short stint in the coming months.

Teasing his big comeback, actor Michael spilled: “I feel honoured to be asked to reprise the role of David Wicks once again. It may only be a brief visit, but we know from his past that David never fails to create a lot of drama in a very short time.”

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.