EastEnders boss Dominic Treadwell-Collins has made no secret of the fact that he wants actor Ross Kemp to bring his Grant Mitchell character back to EastEnders.
And now it looks like it’s happening…
According to reports today, Grant will storm back into Albert Square early next year in a desperate to bid to save his alcoholic brother Phil (Steve McFadden), who has fallen off the wagon - hard - following his brutal beating at the hands of vicious gangster Gavin Sullivan (Paul Nicholas).
“The fact that you’ve got Phil, Kathy [Gillian Taylforth], Sharon [Letitia Dean]…there’s a person missing, isn’t there?” says Dominic. “To get all four on screen at the same time is a dream. As an EastEnders fan, you want to watch that.”
And he has been in contact with Ross to talk about a return, 10 years after he left the soap.
As they were… Grant, Kathy and Phil
“Dominic has been quite encouraged by the response,” and insider has told the Mirror.
Phil certainly needs help from someone, as viewers will see this week.
He falls back into Albert Square in Monday’s episode a bloodied and broken man - but he refuses to talk about what Gavin did to him.
On Tuesday, Phil collapses and is rushed to hospital. The police turn up but he sends them away. He does have a heart to heart with Sharon but still won’t reveal exactly what happened to him.
Phil is going to need a lot more than a kiss from Sharon to get better
It’s his son Ben (Harry Reid) who finds Phil struggling to come to terms with everything that has happened to him.
Just what did Gavin do?
Whatever it was, it sends Phil back to the booze - and that’s never going to end well.
Will Grant be his saviour?
Ross has been making award-winning documentary series since he departed EastEnders.
But on a return to Walford, Ross recently said: “Yeah, if it’s the right time, definitely. Why not?”
And who knows? He could bring Peggy (Barbara Windsor) back with him…
If Grant's coming back for Phil he could bring mum Peggy, too…
EastEnders continues on BBC1, Monday, October 26, 8.00pm.
