Shane Ritchie will reprise his role as Alfie Moon in the long-running BBC drama series EastEnders, according to reports.
The 54-year-old actor will allegedly make his comeback with his onscreen wife Jessie Wallace, 46, after a two-year absence from the show.
It is claimed writers convinced Shane to return to the soap with Jessie to please viewers who love watching the pair.
“With Kat’s comeback the writers knew viewers would ask when Alfie would be back too, so they’ve managed to convince Shane to return,” a source told The Sun.
“It won’t be long-term but he’ll play a role in a number of storylines in the coming months.”
But in an interview with ITV’s Lorraine Kelly Shane told the Scottish television presenter that he had “no plans” to return to EastEnders.
Meanwhile, Jessie, who plays Kat Slater in EastEnders, is expected to make her dramatic return tonight at The Queen Vic.
Kat will burst into the infamous pub in the middle of her own wake, shocking the likes of Big Mo Harris (played by Laila Morse), who pretended she had died.
A scheming Big Mo recently convinced Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) that Kat is dead and that they don’t have the money to pay for her funeral.
Holding a tissue to her nose, Big Mo blurted out the bad news to a distraught looking Stacey who walked in on the tearful matriarch.
Speaking of Big Mo’s cruel plan, soap star Laila teased: “Dear old Mo, she’s in a lot of trouble.
“She’s a very evil lady. If she was one of my relatives, I think I might do her in!”
The actress told Radio Times: “Mo doesn’t give a monkey’s what she does as long as she’s earning a few quid.
“She’d sell her own grandmother if she had one.”
Will Kat cut cunning Big Mo out of her life once she discovers what she has been up to in her absence?
Or could the Slater clan find a way to move past the troubles and tribulations that Big Mo has caused?
EastEnders continues tonight on BBC One at 7.30pm.
