All the EastEnders stars rumoured to be returning to the soap

It's been an exciting time for EastEnders fans with the coming and going of many beloved characters, from Lola Pearce-Brown's (Danielle Harold) upcoming death to the arrival of the mysterious Knight family, featuring the likes of Bond actor Colin Salmon and Strictly's Molly Rainford.

However, as well as brand new characters being introduced to the show by showrunner Chris Clenshaw, 2023 is set to have a few surprises in store with a number of Albert Square icons heading back to their East London roots over the next few months.

We've already seen the likes of Rita Simons return as Roxy Mitchell for a brief cameo, despite the Mitchell sister's memorable death back in 2017, and the soap star has even teased a potential full-time return — so anything is possible in the Square!

With lots of big names both rumoured and confirmed to be reprising their roles on the soap, here's everyone that could potentially be returning to EastEnders over the next year…

Lucy Benjamin as Lisa Fowler

The BBC announced that Lucy Benjamin would be back in Walford as Lisa Fowler, the long-running EastEnders character who first appeared in 1998.

The last we saw of Lisa was in 2020, when she helped her daughter Louise (Tilly Keeper) flee Albert Square after thinking she'd left Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) for dead.

The mother and daughter have been bringing up baby Peggy in Portugal ever since, however Lisa is set to return alongside her granddaughter, with the BBC teasing: "It's unclear what has driven her to seek out Keanu but one thing's for sure, where Lisa goes, trouble inevitably follows…"

Speaking about returning to the soap, Lucy said: "I can't wait to make my return as Lisa Fowler again after leaving for Spain with Louise and granddaughter Peggy, back in 2019. No doubt, in true Lisa fashion, she will bring with her plenty of drama for many of the characters on the Square, which is why playing her is such a delight."

Adam Woodyatt as Ian Beale

While EastEnders fans were treated to a brief Ian Beale cameo back in December when the long-time Walford resident returned for Dot's funeral after two years away from the show, it's rumoured that he'll be back for a longer stint later this year.

Last week, rumours of Adam Woodyatt reprising his role of Ian Beale for an explosive new storyline hit the press, with the former chip shop owner reportedly returning to the soap with his wife Cindy, played by Michelle Collins.

According to a report by The Sun, Ian and Cindy will be seen selling sandwiches in the South of France, with a source saying that "it's not entirely clear how or when they got back together", however Cindy and Ian (played by Adam Woodyatt) "seem to be a couple again".

In one rumoured scene, the reunited couple will be seen arriving in a Citreon van packed with sandwiches whilst Ian uses a translation app on his phone to speak French despite Cindy having died off-screen in jail back in 1998.

Michelle Collins as Cindy Beale

Another EastEnders icon who'll be reportedly returning to Albert Square is Cindy Beale, with Michelle Collins rumoured to reprise the role in scenes airing in the summer.

The soap star last appeared on the BBC soap in 1998, with her character being killed off whilst in jail after 10 years on the show. However, the unfaithful wife of Ian Beale is being brought back from the dead, according to The Sun, with a source telling the publication: "This has been done so secretively but it’s going to be an absolute bombshell — an unbelievable twist."

Since leaving EastEnders, Collins has appeared on Coronation Street as Stella Price and in 2019, said in an interview that it had been "just too long" since being on the BBC soap.

"Apart from the fact I’m dead. If I went back to EastEnders, that would be it," she explained. "I still haven’t shaken off Cindy after all these years."

Peggy Mitchell

Louise Mitchell's baby Peggy will be officially back in Walford alongside her grandmother Lisa Fowler for summer 2023, with the BBC confirming the casting news today (24th May).

While we last saw baby Peggy, who was named after the late legendary landlady of The Vic, in 2020 before she fled Albert Square for Portugal with her mother Louise after the Tilly Keeper character became convinced that she was responsible for the death of Keanu Taylor, Peggy's father.

We don't yet know which child actor will be playing baby Peggy, however the character will be returning in toddler form later this year.

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• EastEnders’ Lola star Danielle Harold on death scene: ‘It’s sad but a privilege’

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