EastEnders to air Grant’s return this week

2016: EastEnders fans will catch a glimpse of Grant this week.

Ross Kemp will make his much-anticipated first EastEnders appearance in ten years this week (w/c 9 May), with his iconic character Grant Mitchell featuring in a surprise scene.

After Peggy (Dame Barbara Windsor) returns to the Square and learns that nothing more can be done about her cancer which has spread, news of his mum’s plight soon reaches Grant and losing her is the one thing that could lure him back to Albert Square. What will happen when Grant and Phil come face-to-face once more?

Fans need to keep an eye out as to which day this week Grant will make his first appearance.

Early Days: Grant in his role of Queen Vic landlord in 1993.

Ross made his first ever appearance as Grant in 1990 when he arrived in Albert Square with brother Phil. The pair quickly became a hit with viewers, peaking in popularity during the Sharongate saga which spanned 1992-1994 and saw Grant’s wife Sharon have an affair with Phil following Grant’s unreasonable behaviour.

Grant’s other storylines saw him in another stormy marriage to Tiffany Raymond which ended in her tragic demise leaving Grant to bring up their daughter Courtney alone, as well as numerous fallings out and scrapes with his brother. Ross left the series in 1999 but returned for separate stints in 2005 and 2006 which saw Grant help get sister Sam out of prison and have an affair with Ian Beale’s partner Jane.

The BBC announced that Ross would reprise the role again in January – shortly after Dame Barbara Windsor announced she was quitting the role of Peggy for good. Ross said of his return at the time:

“When I was approached about returning to EastEnders for Barbara’s final episodes, it was something I could not turn down. Barbara is a very close friend so when I learned of the storyline, it felt right that the Mitchell brothers are reunited with their mother for the last time. I am really looking forward to going back to EastEnders and filming what are set to be some classic EastEnders episodes.”

Peggy (Barbara Windsor), Phil (Steve McFadden) and Grant (Ross Kemp) in 1998.

EastEnders airs Monday and Friday at 8.00pm and Tuesday and Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One, with repeat screenings on UKTV’s W at 10.00pm. Viewers can also catch up online via BBC iPlayer.