EastEnders showrunner reveals the soap’s milestone 40th anniversary celebration will see the return of several beloved characters
The BBC’s EastEnders, created by Julia Smith and Tony Holland, premiered on 19 February 1985 and will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2025.
In recent years, the soap has delighted fans with the return of Kathy Beale, Cindy and Peter Beale and Lauren Branning.
Executive producer Chris has already hinted that more familiar faces will be visiting Walford in the run-up to the anniversary.
He told The Sun: ‘As we head into our 40th year, I think the nostalgic element means a lot. We’ve got a lot of goodies in store for the autumn and the end of the year.’
EastEnders showrunner Chris Clenshaw (pictured) has hinted that the soap’s 40th anniversary will see the return of several much-loved characters
BBC’s EastEnders, created by Julia Smith and Tony Holland, premiered in 1985 and will celebrate its 40th anniversary on air in 2025 – pictured: fan favourite Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp)
In recent years, the soap has delighted fans with the return of Kathy Beale, Cindy and Peter Beale (pictured) and Lauren Branning
Asked if that meant long-lost characters would return, Chris replied coyly: “Maybe. It all depends on the story and where the characters are. But it has to come from the character, it has to come from the story.”
When asked if he had planted any hints in the scripts, Chris added: ‘It depends when they look back, but probably yes. The 40th has been in the works for a while and Christmas has been on the way for a while. There’s a board in the story office and everything is connected. I liken it to a tapestry board, everything has to fit together.’
Several former cast members previously returned for Dot Cotton’s funeral in 2022.
Among them were Colin Russell (Lord Michael Cashman CBE), Barry Clark (Gary Hailes), George ‘Lofty’ Holloway (Tom Watt), Mary ‘the punk’ Smith (Linda Davidson) and Disa O’Brien (Jan Graveson).
Jacqueline Jossa (Lauren Branning) also returned and has since become a regular fixture.
Michelle Collins’ character Cindy Beale, who was murdered in 1998, has been causing a stir since 2023.
She has resumed her relationship with her ex-husband Ian Beale, but she continues to pine for her second ex-husband George Knight.
However, this did not stop her from sleeping with George’s son in breathtaking scenes in June.
Michelle Collins’ character Cindy Beale, who was murdered in 1998, is currently in a love triangle with her ex-husbands George Knight (Colin Salmon, left) and Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt).
Fans will remember that Cindy and Ian have twins: Lucy and Peter Beale.
Lucy was brutally murdered by her half-brother Bobby, Ian’s son. Cindy only discovered this when she returned.
With her second husband George, Cindy has daughters Gina and Anna Knight. George is currently married to Linda Carter’s mother Elaine.
Their youngest daughter Anna will soon see her world come crashing down when something is spiked in her drink.