Danny Hatchard returned to ‘EastEnders’ to "give people hope".
The 28-year-old actor – who played Lee Carter on the BBC soap from 2014 until 2017 – made a brief return over Christmas last year, but insisted he only made a comeback because it was important to show how the character had grown.
Asked if he has more plans to go back, he told TV Times magazine: "It’s looking like I’m busy for the year, so not at the moment.
"One of the main reasons I went back was to show that Lee was in a better place, because he suffered with depression, and that there had been some progression.
"I think it’s important to give people hope – that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to mental health issues."
However, Danny won’t rule out future stints on Albert Square, and admitted he feels a "loyalty" to the soap for helping to progress his career.
He explained: "I owe a lot to that show and I think loyalty is important in this business, so, if they ever asked me to go back again, I’d always consider it."
The star can currently be seen as soldier Rhett ‘Cheese’ Charlton on BBC drama ‘Our Girl’, and he admitted there is a big difference between his new character and his ‘EastEnders’ alter-ego.
He said: "Although they’re both soldiers, Lee and Cheese are worlds apart.
"Lee’s timid and considerate of others, whereas Cheese has an ego.
"I don’t think Lee and Cheese would get on at all. They’d despise each other!"
Danny has been critical of his soap exit in the past, and hitting out at how "little attention" former executive producer Sean O’Connor paid to writing his character out of the show.
He previously commented: "He could have left a little more attention to detail. I feel it got a little brushed off.
"It was Sean’s decision and I had to respect that. But if I had written it I’d have written it differently."
Danny Hatchard wanted EastEnders return to ‘give people hope’
