Dean Gaffney is returning to ‘EastEnders’.
The 37-year-old actor will reprise his role as hapless Robbie Jackson – who he played for 10 years until 2003 – for a brief stint leading to the departure of his on-screen mum Carol Jackson, who is played by Lindsay Coulson.
Dean said: "Dom [Treadwell-Collins, the soap’s executive producer] decided Robbie kept missing out on cancer storylines and funerals and it was time to come back.
"I would actually surrender me coming back for Lindsey to stay as she is such a great actress. It is a shame she is leaving but I am sure she will go on to bigger and better things, if there is such a thing after EastEnders."
And Dean – who has previously returned for one-off episodes in 2004 and 2010 – is thrilled to be back as he had given up hope of being part of the show again.
He said: "I had hoped Robbie would come back to see his family at some point, but as those years ticked by I got to that stage where I thought maybe not. It is nice to finally come back and be part of it as opposed to being known for once being on ‘EastEnders’."
The popular star was stunned by how much has changed in Albert Square since he left.
He told The Sun newspaper: "It was very nostalgic to look around and to come back to somewhere where you spent a lot of your youth.
"All the shops have changed, the video shop I worked in with Nigel. It is just mad to be back."
Dean Gaffney returning to EastEnders
