EastEnders boss teases returning characters with "surprises on the horizon"

 "Keep your eyes peeled."

Over the past 12 months, EastEnders has brought back a number of familiar faces to Albert Square, including the likes of Zoe Slater, Anthony Trueman and Chrissie Watts. This April, Grant Mitchell also made another surprise comeback, as he supported his loved ones amid Nigel Bates' dementia battle.

Following the show's BAFTA win for Best Soap last night (10 May), executive producer Ben Wadey was asked about the possibility of more character returns in the near future. Though he didn't give away any names, Wadey teased some "surprises on the horizon" in the next few weeks.

I mean, we've got an amazing cast already working on the show every single day, so it's about who's there as much as who we might bring back," he said.

"But I would keep your eyes peeled in the next few weeks; there may be a couple of nice surprises on the horizon."

When asked about the soap's enduring success, Wadey credited "fresh ideas" from the writers, as well as "the legacy of the programme".

Forty years of amazing stories and amazing characters. We've got the best writing team in the business, who just come every single month with ways to keep the show fresh. Like The Six [storyline] - so good and original, it pushed the show forward.

We just did a flashforward for our New Year's Day episode last year, to keep the audience guessing. So I think it's about getting that balance of looking at the legacy, but also stories that are making the show feel modern and relevant today."

While Wadey didn't reveal much about the returning characters, we already know that Gemma Bissix (Clare Bates) and Jon Lee (Josh Saunders) will soon be reprising their roles for Nigel's upcoming funeral.

The beloved character tragically passed away two weeks ago, with his wife Julie and best friend Phil Mitchell by his side. Bissix already returned for a brief stint earlier this year but will be back with Lee to bid Nigel a final farewell.