EastEnders icon Pat Butcher, played by Pam St Clement, is favourite to return to the BBC soap for its 40th anniversary celebrations in February

EastEnders’ beloved character Pat Butcher, portrayed by Pam St Clement, is rumoured to make a comeback on the BBC One soap in honour of its 40th anniversary milestone.

Pat, known for her oversized, flashy earrings, first graced Walford in 1986 and swiftly rose to iconic status. In 1989, she tied the knot with Frank Butcher (Mike Reid) in a memorable ceremony, and the couple later took over The Queen Vic.

Over the years, Pat kept audiences hooked with her romantic escapades, four weddings, neighbourhood squabbles, and numerous heated showdowns with her nemesis and close friend, Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor).

However, on New Year’s Day 2012, the feisty leopard print-clad resident of Walford breathed her last, clutching her son David Wicks (Michael French).

Pat’s poignant exit followed a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Yet, that wasn’t the end of Pat Butcher.

In 2016, Pam St Clement reprised her role for a brief appearance in Peggy Mitchell’s final episode, reports the Daily Star. She materialised as a ghost, sharing a final conversation with Peggy before her death.

Now, 13 years after her heart-wrenching on-screen demise, Pat is tipped to return during EastEnders’ 40th-anniversary week in February. As per Gambling.com, Pam St Clement currently stands at evens to reprise her role for the show’s celebratory event.

As the landmark anniversary of the soap approaches, a host of iconic characters have already made brief comebacks, including Laurie Brett as Jane Beale, Michael French as David Wicks, Tracy-Ann Oberman as Chrissie Watts, Paul Nicholls as Joe Wicks, Joe Swash as Mickey Miller, and Louisa Lytton as Ruby Allen.

Maddy Hill and Danny Hatchard also returned to their roles as Nancy and Lee Carter in December for a special episode centred around Linda Carter’s (Kellie Bright) struggle with alcoholism.

In a surprising twist, Paul Bradley made a shocking return on Christmas Eve as Nigel Bates, 26 years after his departure from the show, revealing a heartbreaking dementia diagnosis.

Ross Kemp is the latest big name confirmed to be making a comeback to Walford. While the soap’s producers remain tight-lipped about when Grant will reappear on our screens for the first time since 2016, it’s known that he’ll reunite with his brother Phil (Steve McFadden) and old friend Nigel.

Mimi Keene, who played Cindy Beale Jr, is now the frontrunner at 8/15 odds to make a return to Walford in February, closely followed by Nigel’s wife Julie Haye, portrayed by Karen Henthorn, with odds of 4/6.

Could we also see a cameo from Pat Butcher from beyond the grave?

EastEnders airs Monday – Thursday at 7:39pm on BBC One and iPlayer