Back to the Square

The BBC has confirmed that Danniella Westbrook will reprise her role of Sam Mitchell in BBC One soap EastEnders but Westbrook isn’t the only actress to have returned to the soap over the past few years. We take a look at other characters that have popped back to Albert Square recently.

Diane Butcher: March 2008

Diane Butcher first appeared in EastEnders in 1988 when the rest of her family, led by Frank, moved into Albert Square. In 1990 a depressed and lonely Diane ran away from the Square but was eventually tracked down by Frank after three months. In 1991 Diane left the Square and moved to France. In 1993 a week’s worth of episodes were filmed in France and Diane appeared in them and also returned in 1994 after Frank disappeared. In 1997 another set of episodes were filmed in France in which Diane featured. Diane later turned up in the Square for a while before leaving again. Diane returned in 2008 for Frank’s funeral. It had been over 11 years since her last time in the Square and she had changed a lot in that time. She was now a lesbian and still living in Paris, where Frank had spent his final days. Frank wanted his funeral to be held in Walford and Diane honoured his wishes. After the funeral Diane went back to Paris and Pat has visited her twice since then.

Steven Beale: 2007 – 2008

The “demon” off-spring of Cindy Beale and Simon Wicks, although Ian Beale was considered the father for several years before Cindy confessed. Even though Ian was not Steven’s biological father he raised him as his own child but Steven was his mother’s son and was problematic to say the least. In 2002 after Ian found out Steven had been writing poison pen letters Steven discovered that Ian wasn’t his real father. Ian decided it was for the best if Steven went to live with his real father, Simon, in New Zealand. Life with Simon however, wasn’t what Steven hoped for and he felt largely ignored by his real father. This led Steven to become bitter, jealous and full of anger – which he focused on Ian. Steven became obsessed with Cindy, who had died years earlier, and the idea of reuniting all of her children. Steven returned in 2007 and started to send messages to Ian supposedly from Cindy. He lured Ian to a flat where he held him captive for several weeks before Jane and Lucy realised the truth – Steven accidentally shot Jane. Steven stayed in the Square after this determined for Ian’s forgiveness and attention and after a short time it seemed to work but then Lucy went missing. Steven hoped it would make Ian need him more and so he had convinced Lucy to go missing. At this time Steven was struggling with sexuality and realised he was bisexual, making a pass at Jane’s gay brother Christian. Eventually Steven’s role in Lucy’s disappearance was uncovered and Ian rejected Steven once more.

‘Mad’ Doctor May Wright: – May – June 2008

Poor old Doctor May Wright only ever wanted a child of her own but sadly for her she couldn’t have one. But then her lying, cheating husband Rob got his mistress, local slapper Dawn Swann, pregnant and suddenly for May everything seemed to fall into place. Rob and May could bring Dawn’s child up as their own and everything would be hunky dory. All May had to do was offer Dawn some money and she had the child she always wanted. But then Dawn had second thoughts and didn’t want to give up her child and so Rob and May conspired to kidnap Dawn so May could perform caesarean on Dawn to get the child. Dawn escaped and May was arrested. But you can’t keep a mad girl down for long and in May 2008 May returned once more and befriended Dawn’s new boyfriend Jase, who didn’t realise who May was. However, getting close to Summer via Jase didn’t work so May went for the direct approach – smashing her way into the Miller household and knocking Mickey unconcious while making a grab for Summer. However, it all ended in tragedy when May blew herself up by turning on the gas in the house and lighting a cigarette.

Clare Bates: February 2008 – August 2008

During her first time in the Square Clare which such a sweet girl who wouldn’t harm a fly. Then she left, grew up and came back via Hollyoaks – well maybe that’s just the actress but Clare Bates in her second Enders stint had far more in common with Clare Devine of Hollyoaks than her early persona. Clare retuned to Walford in the most glamorous way possible – being thrown out of a moving vehicle. Having returned to Albert Square Clare realised she didn’t really know any one apart from Ian Beale and Dot Cotton – so she set to work on manipulating then. Clare then set her sights slightly further afield and tried to work her magic on Bradley Branning as well while befriending Chelsea. However, after a few months her gold-digging ways were exposed and although she was trying to change Bradley ordered her to leave before she hurt anyone else. Clare was last seeing heading north to a village called Hollyoaks.

Nasty Nicky: Christmas 2008 – Present

Nasty Nick Cotton always returns to Albert Square and his “Ma” at some point, he’s like a bad smell – he just won’t go away. Each time he turns up he promises poor old Dot that he really has changed and he really is a new person but it’s all lies, all part of his scheme to fool Dot. Usually he’s after scamming money out of her but a couple of times it’s to plot her death – for the inheritance. So after a long absence Nasty Nick returned once more to his childhood home of Albert Square to really ruin Dot’s Christmas but this time he had his “daughter” Dotty with him. Together “father” and “daughter” are plotting to kill poor old Dot as little miss Dotty pretends to be all perfect and innocent but behind that mask is a calculating little Madame.

Bianca Jackson: April 2008 – Present

Bianca returned to Walford out of desperation as she and her brood had nowhere else to go. Since leaving Walford Bianca had managed to acquire several more children, some were hers and some were not. After being thrown out of her flat Bianca desperately needed somewhere to go but her mother Carol had washed her hands of Bianca. So Bianca decided to turn to her grandmother Pat Butcher and turned up in Albert Square just after the funeral of Frank Butcher – her former father-in-law. So Bianca was back in the Square and settled back into life but her big mouth hadn’t gone away in her years away from Walford and soon she was arguing with her neighbours once more – it was like she had never been away.

Ricky Butcher: March 2008 – Present

Ricky returned to Walford in March 2008 to honour his father’s, Frank, dying wish that his funeral should be held in Walford. Ricky and sister Diane returned to Walford to sort out the arrangements and inform Frank’s ex-wives Peggy and Pat about his death. Since leaving the square Ricky had got himself a “WAG” style girlfriend Miranda who wasn’t overly impressed with being in Walford – it was little below her. Ricky was annoyed that his son Liam, who lived with Bianca, was present at the funeral but soon Liam, Bianca and the rest of her brood tumbled back into his life. Miranda left Ricky when she discovered that Frank hadn’t left him any money in his will and so Ricky decided to stay in Albert Square to be close to Liam.

Janine Butcher: March/April 2008, December 2008 – Present

Janine Butcher left Albert Square in 2004 in the back of a police car after Pat Butcher, her ex stepmother, framed Janine for the death of Laura Beale – who had in fact died quite accidentally. However, it was revenge on Pat’s part for the death of Janine’s short-lived husband Barry Evans who’s death wasn’t so accidentally. Four years later Janine came back to the Square in an expensive car for the funeral of Frank – and doubtless hopeful of a large inheritance. Janine didn’t stick around for long once it was realised there was no money. In December 2008 Pat and Ricky were tipped off by Doctor Legg that Janine was calling herself Judith Bernstein and was planning to marry a wealthy and elderly Jewish man. Ricky, Pat and Billy Mitchell gate-crashed the wedding to expose Janine but in doing so her elderly husband died and Janine was thrown out in the streets. So Janine returned to Albert Square doubtless plotting her revenge.