John Partridge thrilled by his EastEnders return

Former EastEnders star John Partridge is set to make a return to the soap for its 30th anniversary.

John, who played Christian Clarke from 2008 to 2012 and made a reappearance last year after Lucy's death, is going to be part of the special episodes to mark the anniversary week, as he comes back to Walford for his sister Jane's (Laurie Brett) wedding to Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt).

He said: "I am honoured to be returning to EastEnders at this most exciting time to celebrate 30 years of the show, and more importantly to find out who killed Lucy!"

EastEnders executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins added: "How could Jane get married to Ian (again) without her brother there?

"Johnny Partridge and Christian Clarke are loved by the audience and his EastEnders family, and we are all thrilled to have him back for our anniversary. And we'll be putting Johnny's extensive theatre experience to good use, as he is plunged into EastEnders' live week."

The 30th anniversary week is set to reveal who killed Lucy Beale at Easter last year, and will also include live elements throughout the episodes.

Other former Albert Square stars making their return for the celebrations include Barbara Windsor as Peggy Mitchell and Jo Joyner as Tanya Cross.

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.