EastEnders fans are convinced that an iconic character could be about to make a return from the dead after a mention from Jack Branning in a recent episode of the BBC soap

In tonight’s episode, Jack Branning speaks about his late wife’s death, Ronnie Mitchell, (Samantha Womack), who tragically passed away after drowning in a swimming pool on their wedding day. It will be eight years tomorrow since the character was killed off. Many fans have taken to X, previously known as Twitter, to give their views as many believe she is coming back from the dead while others have said that it was the soaps biggest mistake.

“Ronnie mention??? oh she coming back from the dead #EastEnders ”, one said. “Ronnie mention tonight, rightfully deserved ar cheery queen x #eastenders,” another tweeted. A third chimed: “Yay a Ronnie mention, I don’t care about how they bring her from the dead just bring her back #EastEnders ”.

Some fans were angry at the soap for even killing off Ronnie as one tweeted: “Eastenders you will never be able to justify killing ronnie & roxy #EastEnders ”, another said: “ronnie mitchell mention i am ALIVEEEE. can’t believe tomorrow it’ll be 8 years since they killed her off. biggest mistake ever #EastEnders ”.

Back in 2013, Jack opened up about his late wife Ronnie during an emotional conversation with Stacey Slater (played by Lacey Turner), where they reflected on past relationships and the challenge of moving forward. Stacey queried Jack about whether it was difficult for him to move on from his relationship with Ronnie. “Yeah, we were. I miss her. You know, I walk through the Square and I think I see her jogging past, just like the first day we met,” he answered heartbreakingly.

Stacey then reminisced about her late husband Bradley Branning (Charlie Clements), recalling the tragedy of his death after a fall from the roof of the Vic in 2010. “Me and Bradley were like that,” she revealed. “I mean, we were kids, really, and it always felt so sweet and innocent. Never met anyone like him since.”

Delving deeper into their love lives, Jack questioned if Bradley was the love of her life, to which Stacey disclosed that at times their dynamic felt more akin to friendship and lacked excitement. Their chat briefly touched upon Stacey’s well-known affair with Bradley’s father, Max Branning (Jake Wood), before circling back to Ronnie once more.

Even though he didn’t expressly say it, Jack implied that Ronnie held an irreplaceable place in his heart as he confided: “I love Denise, but, you know, some things you got to work at.”

EastEnders is gearing up for their 40th anniversary in February 2025 and fans are already speculating on the storylines. One fan tweeted: “Me in February voting for a Ronnie and Roxy resurrection, Stacey and Martin endgame, Stacey as new landlady of The Vic, and a Carol return with David #Eastenders ”.

The very first episode of EastEnders aired on 19 February 1985, so Honey and Billy’s wedding will mark 40 years to the day of the soap’s beginnings – as long as it goes ahead, that is. The show will have a week of exciting episodes, returns and even a live episode. In a first for the soap, the anniversary week will have an added twist to include an interactive element where the viewers will be able to choose their desired outcome of a love story.

Whilst those in question currently remain under wraps, their fate will remain firmly in the viewers’ hands and the outcome will play out during the live episode as the cast and crew will be set to adapt the scene to portray whichever result is voted for by the public.