BBC’s EastEnders, created by Julia Smith and Tony Holland, premiered on February 19, 1985 and will celebrate four decades on air in 2025.
In recent years, the soap has delighted fans with the returns of Kathy Beale, Cindy and Peter Beale, and Lauren Branning.
And executive producer Chris has teased that more familiar faces will swing by Walford in the lead up to the anniversary.
He told The Sun: ‘As we head towards our 40th year, I think the nostalgic element means a lot. Into the autumn and the end of the year, we’ve got quite a few treats coming up.’
EastEnders showrunner Chris Clenshaw (pictured) has hinted that the soap’s 40th anniversary celebrations will see the return of several beloved characters
BBC ‘s EastEnders, created by Julia Smith and Tony Holland, premiered in 1985 and will celebrate four decades on air in 2025 – pictured: fan favourite Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp)
In recent years, the soap has delighted fans with the returns of Kathy Beale, Cindy and Peter Beale, (pictured) and Lauren Branning
Asked if that meant a return for long-departed characters, Chris coyly replied: ‘Maybe. It all depends on the story and where the characters are. But it has to come from character, it has to come from story.’
On whether he had been planting hints in scripts, Chris added: ‘It would depend when they’re looking back from, but probably. The 40th has been in the works for quite some time and Christmas is well under way. In the story office there is a board and it all connects. I compare it to a tapestry board, everything has to fit together.’
Several ex-cast members previously returned for Dot Cotton’s funeral on 2022.
They included Colin Russell (Lord Michael Cashman CBE), Barry Clark (Gary Hailes) George ‘Lofty’ Holloway (Tom Watt), Mary ‘the punk’ Smith (Linda Davidson) and Disa O’Brien (Jan Graveson).
Jacqueline Jossa (Lauren Branning) also returned, and has since become a permanent fixture once again.
Michelle Collins’ character Cindy Beale, who was killed off in 1998, has been making waves since her 2023.
She has resumed a relationship with ex-husband Ian Beale, but is pining over her second ex-husband George Knight.
However, this didn’t stop her sleeping with George’s son in jaw-dropping scenes which aired in June.
Michelle Collins’ character Cindy Beale, who was killed off in 1998, is currently in a love triangle with ex-husbands George Knight (Colin Salmon, left) and Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt)
Fans will remember that Cindy and Ian share twins Lucy and Peter Beale.
Lucy was brutally murdered by her own half-brother Bobby, Ian’s son, which Cindy discovered only as she returned.
With second husband George, Cindy has daughters Gina and Anna Knight. George is currently married to Linda Carter’s mother Elaine.
Their youngest daughter Anna will soon have her world come crashing down around her as she gets her drink spiked.
