Lucas Johnson will make his EastEnders return in Thursday’s upcoming episode.
Fans were left with their ‘jaws on the floor’ after Denise Fox’s serial killer ex-husband, played by Don Gilet, was briefly seen at the end of Wednesday’s show.
In Thursday’s episode, the two will come face-to-face during a visit as Denise turns to him for support after the cover-up of Keanu Reeve’s murder on Christmas Day.
Denise (Diane Parish) has been struggling to cope after Keanu was killed by Linda Carter in the Queen Vic.
She has been suffering terrible flashbacks with fears she could be linked to the crime after her ‘D’ necklace was accidentally buried alongside Keanu’s body.
![EastEnders: Denise Fox seeks solace in jailed ex-husband as Lucas Johnson makes surprise comeback 2 Lucas Johnson will make his EastEnders return in Thursday's upcoming episode](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/31/18/80694105-0-image-a-25_1706726024772.jpg)
Lucas Johnson will make his EastEnders return in Thursday’s upcoming episode
First look images show Denise looking strained while Lucas seems concerned.
In Wednesday’s show, the exes reunion was teased with Lucas asking her: ‘What are you doing here?’.
Viewers were shocked to see Denise seek help from former pastor Lucas as he made her life hell when he imprisoned her and claimed she had been killed in a bid to cover up his own crimes, before being thrown in prison.
He then made a brief return to the soap in 2020, but was arrested once again after being caught with drugs by police.
It was a twist that left many viewers utterly stunned, with some quickly taking to X, formerly known as Twitter to share their reaction.
One shared: ‘Didn’t see that #DufDuf coming. No idea that they were coming back. Love it when #EastEnders throws a surprise return at you that they’ve kept secret and not publicised.’
A second shared: ‘OMG I didn’t expect that at all – brilliant episode all round!’
![EastEnders: Denise Fox seeks solace in jailed ex-husband as Lucas Johnson makes surprise comeback 4 Fans were left with their 'jaws on the floor' after Denise Fox's serial killer ex-husband was briefly seen at the end of Wednesday's show](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/31/20/80694119-13029815-Fans_were_left_with_their_jaws_on_the_floor_after_Denise_Fox_s_s-a-18_1706731642398.jpg)
Fans were left with their ‘jaws on the floor’ after Denise Fox’s serial killer ex-husband was briefly seen at the end of Wednesday’s show
![EastEnders: Denise Fox seeks solace in jailed ex-husband as Lucas Johnson makes surprise comeback 6 First look images show Denise looking strained while Lucas seems concerned](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/31/18/80694113-0-image-a-27_1706726029165.jpg)
First look images show Denise looking strained while Lucas seems concerned
![EastEnders: Denise Fox seeks solace in jailed ex-husband as Lucas Johnson makes surprise comeback 8 In Thursday's episode, the two will come face-to-face during a visit with Denise trying to seek some clarity on the events of Christmas Day](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/31/18/80694107-0-image-a-26_1706726026502.jpg)
In Thursday’s episode, the two will come face-to-face during a visit with Denise trying to seek some clarity on the events of Christmas Day
![EastEnders: Denise Fox seeks solace in jailed ex-husband as Lucas Johnson makes surprise comeback 10 The latest episode also saw a surprise appearance from Keanu Taylor, as Denise Fox was plagued with visions of him after he was murdered on Christmas Day](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/31/20/79331025-13029815-The_latest_episode_also_saw_a_surprise_appearance_from_Keanu_Tay-a-19_1706731642515.jpg)
The latest episode also saw a surprise appearance from Keanu Taylor, as Denise Fox was plagued with visions of him after he was murdered on Christmas Day
![EastEnders: Denise Fox seeks solace in jailed ex-husband as Lucas Johnson makes surprise comeback 12 80670005 13029815 image a 39 1706727808488](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/31/19/80670005-13029815-image-a-39_1706727808488.jpg)
![EastEnders: Denise Fox seeks solace in jailed ex-husband as Lucas Johnson makes surprise comeback 14 80671035 13029815 image a 41 1706727812710](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/31/19/80671035-13029815-image-a-41_1706727812710.jpg)
![EastEnders: Denise Fox seeks solace in jailed ex-husband as Lucas Johnson makes surprise comeback 16 It was a twist that left many viewers utterly stunned, with some quickly taking to X, formerly known as Twitter to share their reaction](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/31/19/80669993-13029815-It_was_a_twist_that_left_many_viewers_utterly_stunned_with_some_-a-42_1706727818152.jpg)
It was a twist that left many viewers utterly stunned, with some quickly taking to X, formerly known as Twitter to share their reaction
![EastEnders: Denise Fox seeks solace in jailed ex-husband as Lucas Johnson makes surprise comeback 18 While Denise has been struggling, her husband Jack Branning has been far from supportive, instead embarking on a steamy affair with Stacey Slater](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/31/19/80661583-13029815-EastEnders_fans_vented_their_fury_as_Jack_Branning_embarked_on_a-a-43_1706727826526.jpg)
While Denise has been struggling, her husband Jack Branning has been far from supportive, instead embarking on a steamy affair with Stacey Slater
Denise has been struggling to cope over the threat that Nish will go to the police and reveal who was behind Keanu’s death.
And while Denise has been struggling, her husband Jack Branning has been far from supportive, instead embarking on a steamy affair with Stacey Slater.
On Tuesday night’s show, Jack (Scott Maslen) ended up in bed with Stacey (Lacey Turner), six weeks after they shared a passionate kiss.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and from 6am on BBC iPlayer