5 min read
EastEnders legend confirms more big returns after Jake Moon
metro.co.uk
Monday, February 16, 2026
More returns you say?! (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron) In recent years, EastEnders has had the strongest ‘return’ game in all of Soapland. Former boss Chris Clenshaw, during his three year tenure between 2022 and 2025, oversaw the comebacks of undisputed Albert Square l...
In recent years, EastEnders has had the strongest ‘return’ game in all of Soapland.
Former boss Chris Clenshaw, during his three year tenure between 2022 and 2025, oversaw the comebacks of undisputed Albert Square legends like the newly blended Beale/Branning clan: Ian (Adam Woodyatt), Cindy (Michelle Collins), Peter (Thomas Law) and Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa), Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley), Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) and Lisa Fowler (Lucy Benjamin) to name but a few.
The returns of iconic Walford figures continued under new boss, Ben Wadey, with Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan), Max Branning (Jake Wood) and Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) all coming home to the most dramatic borough of London.
According to Shane Richie (Alfie Moon), the returns are set to continue, with the Moon being reinvigorated with faces from the past…
More Moons to return?
Speaking to The Sun, Shane said: ‘I know they’re really looking at the Moon family tree and bringing back some of the Moons.’
He then went on to tease the return of his younger brother, Spencer (Christopher Parker).
‘Alfie just left now to see Spencer in Australia, so who knows what happens after that and who will come back.’
Spencer was a fan favourite during his tenure on the Square, with he, Alfie and Victoria ‘Nana’ Moon forming a beloved family unit. The nation wept along with the hapless brothers when Nana passed away.
This branch of the Moons were a family of kind-hearted, good-intentioned folk, though despite their best attempts, they more often than not end up in a spot of bother. There were much darker Moons that surfaced later, though.
Michael Moon (Stephen Shepherd), who’s evil managed to make his wife, the truly wicked Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) look sympathetic was a prime example of the darker side of the family, alongside his dad, Eddie (David Essex).
While Danny Moon (Jake Maskall) committed the heinous crime of murdering Dennis Rickman (Nigel Harman), though his mental state had clearly been affected by his association with ruthless mobster, Johnny Allen (Billy Murray).
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The most recent return has been that of Jake Moon (Joel Beckett), Alfie’s long-presumed dead cousin, and, according to Alfie actor, Shane Richie, he certainly won’t be the last.
So who might we see again?
Well, Danny is dead, as is Michael, and Eddie left the Square under a cloud. We think the returns with the most potential are Eddie’s two youngest sons, both of whom made a much better impression on their neighbours (and viewers).
Anthony and Tyler (Matt Lapinskas and Tony Discipline) were worlds apart from their sociopathic brother and devious dad, much more in the vein of an early Alfie and Spencer.
While Joel Beckett has confirmed that his return is only temporary, could his and Alfie’s reunion give way to a Spencer comeback and see them joined by Anthony and Tyler to truly bolster the beloved clan?
Fingers crossed!
Recent big EastEnders returns – who's back?
Mark Fowler Jnr
Mark Fowler Jr (Stephen Aaron-Sipple) recently returned to Walford with a brand new face and a brand new career, having become firmly ensconced in the underworld.
Accused of being a grass working against his own drugs gang, Mark has tracked the real mole, Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara), back to Albert Square. Though Ravi has managed to keep his true identity hidden and even win Mark’s trust after a violent attack, surely it won’t be long until the truth is revealed?
Chrissie Watts and Jake Moon
One of Walford’s most iconic villains, Chrissie, returned as part of Zoe’s ongoing arc revolving around her search for her long-lost child (later, children).
Still fuelled by an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, Chrissie allied with Zoe’s daughter, Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness), to launch a campaign of terror on her former frenemy.
Chrissie’s boyfriend, Jake, followed closely behind her. Revealing that Chrissie’s desire to hurt Zoe had ultimately blown them apart, he visited Zoe to learn exactly what happened between them on Christmas Day.
After reuniting with Alfie, Jake agreed to help Zoe’s mum, Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) track Chrissie down in an attempt to free Zoe, reuniting with his long-time love.
Debbie Bates and Barry and Pat Evans
Barry and Pat Evans (Shaun Williamson and Pam St Clement) and Debbie Bates (Nicola Duffett), though both long deceased, returned as a hallucination suffered by Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley).
As Nigel’s dementia symptoms continued to increase in their intensity, desperately confused, he headed to the Queen Vic, where his altered-reality took him back to the 90’s.
Trapped within his hallucination, Nigel imagined his ex wife, the Evans’ and younger versions of both Phil and Grant, before his wife, Julie Bates (Karen Henthorn) and the real Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) arrived to comfort him.
Max Branning
Max landed back in Walford like a red-headed wrecking ball, igniting a Slater civil war and causing havoc at Lauren’s surprise wedding to Peter, before disappearing and re-emerging in time for a Christmas fight with brother Jack (Scott Maslen), sleeping with Cindy before utterly ruining Lauren and Peter’s son, Jimmy’s christening.
With a flash-forward New Years episode dedicated entirely to him, Max looks set to be a central figure in EastEnders, as we learn who he’s marrying, who he’s impregnated, who he’s tried to have murdered…and why Ian is his best man.
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