Could Ricky be set to stage a return? (Picture: BBC ONE)

EastEnders hints at another major and unexpected return – as legend needs help from a loved one

by · Metro

This article contains spoilers for tonight’s EastEnders, which has not yet aired on TV but is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

EastEnders legend Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) was at her wit’s end in recent scenes, after Bianca Jackson’s (Patsy Palmer) erratic behaviour took a worrying turn, and reached out to an unexpected major character for help.

Bianca was diagnosed with depression earlier this year, and Kat has been adamant that she should see a doctor to help her through it.

However, Bianca has ignored her friend’s advice in favour of pursuing her current goal: Getting Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman) to confess to murder.

Bianca tried to extract a confession from Reiss… (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
…But Freddie interrupted (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Bianca is certain that Reiss was the real culprit of Debbie Colwell’s murder, and was determined to free sister Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) from prison by extracting a confession from him.

In tonight’s episode, she decided to try to get him drunk and record their conversation on Freddie Slater’s (Bobby Brazier) microphone.

Things seemed to be going her way, until Freddie arrived asking for his equipment back, insisting that he needed it for birdwatching early the next morning.

Kat is desperate to get Bianca some help (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

Furious Bianca tried to explain why it was so important for her to keep hold of it, but as she unveiled her plan to take Reiss down, he wandered in, and overheard everything!

Soon, a blazing row took place, with Bianca branding Reiss a murderer and swearing that he will get what’s coming.

Poor Freddie was totally astonished by Bianca’s behaviour, apologising to Reiss before heading home to relay the events to Kat.

Worried for Bianca’s mental health and running out of options of how to help her, Kat went to extreme lengths and decided to contact Bianca’s ex Ricky Butcher (Sid Owen).

Is Ricky set to come back and help Bianca? (Picture: PA)

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She left a voicemail on his phone explaining that she didn’t know what else to do and that they needed to talk about Bianca.

With so many EastEnders stars having returned ahead of the show’s 40th anniversary, could Ricky be the next familiar face we’re set to see as he returns to help Kat get Bianca the help she needs?

Ricky was last seen in Albert Square in January 2023, when he took niece Scarlett Butcher back to Germany with him, following Janine Butcher’s (Charlie Brooks) imprisonment.

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