Laurel’s son heads back to the village.

Emmerdale has confirmed that Arthur Thomas’s return scenes will air next week.

The teen character has been absent from screens in recent months, with his family mentioning that he was away in Australia.

Show bosses wrote in the temporary exit plot as Alfie Clarke, who plays Arthur, was busy completing his GCSEs and finishing high school.

Arthur has missed some dramatic times for his family, including his mum Laurel ending her marriage to husband Jai.

Next week, Arthur makes his return to Mulberry Cottage, interrupting a loved-up moment for his sister Gabby and her new boyfriend Vinny Dingle.

Gabby recently moved back into Mulberry on a temporary basis, deciding to give Billy and Dawn Fletcher space at Home Farm while their baby son Evan is unwell.

Arthur wastes no time before confronting Jai about the stress that Laurel is facing due to the divorce.

Jai has been playing some ruthless tricks on Laurel to make sure that she doesn’t get what she’s legally entitled to in the split.

While Jai doesn’t take Arthur seriously at first, he soon realises that his stepson means business this time. Should he be worried?

Rosie Bentham, who plays Gabby, recently addressed the current changes for her character as the show revisits her connections to Laurel and Mulberry Cottage.

In a chat with Digital Spy and other press, Rosie explained: “I’m getting to work with Charlotte [Bellamy, who plays Laurel] again a lot more, and it’s really nice. It’s different, it feels very different, but it’s really nice.

“I do love the ruthless side of Gabby and bringing out the ‘Kim’ bad side. I love playing bad. I think it’s really fun. But it’s nice that she’s got that contrast.

“It feels like Emmerdale six or seven years ago, for me – back at Mulberry Cottage with Laurel. I love that but I would still like to have the ruthless bossiness. But she’s still a manager and owner at The Hide, so she still has that as well.”

Emmerdale airs Arthur’s return on Thursday, August 29.