EastEnders viewers are predicting a familiar face will head back to Walford in the coming weeks, after a comment made by Kathy Beale in a recent episode of the BBC soap
There could be another familiar face heading back to EastEnders according to a new theory.
A comment made by Kathy Beale on Monday night certainly sparked suspicion that a former character could be rejoining the show. While it may have been an innocent remark with a perfectly good explanation behind it, some fans wondered if it was all a major clue.
Kathy revealed to returning character Nigel Bates this week that she was actually now Kathy Cotton, after her marriage to Rocky, real name Tom Cotton. The pair married in 2023 while he was soon revealed to be married to his ex-wife Jo in a bigamy twist.
Jo left the Square without spilling the beans, so as far as others are aware the marriage was legit. Rocky left the show in 2023 after his gambling addiction left him in debt and so he caused a fire at Kathy’s café.
His secrets and lies all became too much and she ended things, before he got too close to the truth about Keanu Taylor’s murder. Kathy took brutal action to stop her and The Six being exposed and shopped him to the police over his insurance scam, linked to the fire.
Rocky has been offscreen ever since with actor Brian Conley leaving the role in 2023. It was revealed he’d been given a 10-year sentence in prison, but might he be about to make a shock return?
There could be another familiar face heading back to EastEnders (Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
As a Cotton, a key family on the BBC soap, could they bring him back for the show’s 40th anniversary episodes? Fans believe Kathy keeping the Cotton surname instead of her famous Beale surname might be a clue.
Perhaps it’s a sign we have not seen the last of Rocky, and perhaps a return is on the horizon. A theory read: “Maybe Rocky will come back now the Keanu stuff is over.”
It comes ahead of another big return, as Ross Kemp is set to reprise his role as Grant Mitchell. He spilled: “I’m delighted to be returning to EastEnders as the show heads towards its 40th anniversary. EastEnders has always meant so much to me, so to return as the show is about to celebrate such a special anniversary, is an absolute honour. Grant has never been far from the action and let’s just say, this time is no different as he certainly comes back with a bang.”
Soap boss Chris Clenshaw also reacted to the exciting news, promising the anniversary and Grant’s comeback would be “unmissable”. He said: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Ross Kemp back to EastEnders as he reprises the legendary role of Grant Mitchell. Whilst I’m not currently revealing exactly what brings Grant back to Walford, I can say that his return will play a significant part in the show’s 40th anniversary, and will make up many moments of truly unmissable TV.”
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
