Shane Richie has hinted he could make a permanent return to ‘EastEnders’ – after he made a shock comeback in Thursday night’s (24.05.18) episode.
The 54-year-old actor reprised his role as Alfie Moon last night when Hayley Slater (Katie Jarvis) pretended she was going to visit her boyfriend "Dave", only to turn up at Alfie’s hotel room.
Shane has since confirmed he is back for two episodes for the time being, but appeared to drop a huge hint he will return for more.
He said: "I think when you see tonight’s it actually raises more questions, so this is certainly not the last you will see of Alfie. But I can’t say any more than that."
Alfie will also appear in tonight’s episode when viewers will discover why him and wife Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) fell out in Spain.
He added: "Kat and Alfie have so much history and you can’t have one without the other, but at the same time they often can’t live together.
"What’s interesting is after we learn what went on in Spain, which the audience have wanted to know, where the characters go next remains to be seen."
Alfie’s return was kept firmly under wraps by ‘EastEnders’ bosses after Shane met with executive producer John Yorke about a comeback, and the producers went to extreme lengths to ensure nobody knew he was back.
Shane added: "We had code names, censored scripts, cars with blacked out windows.
"Obviously John and the team wanted to keep it a surprise for everyone.
"It was exciting to be back at Elstree, especially without anyone knowing."
In March, Shane admitted he would return to Walford for "the right storyline".
He said at the time: "At the moment I don’t plan to go back because John Yorke has brought back the Slaters.
"I’m always saying when I get asked, I’m no good at saying ‘no comment,’ I find it rude.
"For the right storyline, of course."
Before last night’s shock comeback, viewers last saw Alfie in 2017’s ‘EastEnders’ spin-off show, ‘Kat and Alfie: Redwater’.
The programme saw Kat and Alfie head to Ireland to find her secret son, but the trip nearly killed the pair of them, and the series concluded with the fates of the beloved characters unknown.
Kat was involved in a potentially-devastating boat accident and Alfie, who has a brain tumour, and was last seen on a hospital bed.
Shane Richie hints at permanent EastEnders return
