Adam Woodyatt has revealed the "weirdest" part of his return to EastEnders which he'd been keeping a secret for some time.
The veteran soap actor played Walford resident Ian Beale from 1985 before fleeing Albert Square in January 2021 following a dramatic showdown with his ex-wife, Sharon Watts.
Last year, however, Adam, 54, briefly returned as he was seen lurking in the bushes outside of the church where Dot Branning's funeral was being held before he shot off again.
Now, he's set to make a return alongside his on-screen wife, Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins) who was believed to have died during childbirth in 1998.
Speaking about his and Michelle's return, Adam commented: "Working with Michelle has been, no offence, like putting on an old pair of slippers, it's comfortable."
However, there have been some major changes since Adam was last on the set of the BBC soap which is filmed in Elstree and Borehamwood.
"The weirdest thing for me, since I've been gone, they've rebuilt the lot," he told Radio Times and other members of the press.
He added: "I got out of the car yesterday morning, on the right-hand side was the Square, I've looked and it's literally just disappeared!"
Adam recalled that he knew his on-screen wife Cindy would be returning when he was filming the scenes for Dot's funeral but stated it was on a "need to know" basis.
However, his on-set pal who works in the sound department had been intrigued by what was going on but Adam said he had no intentions of telling him who the mystery blonde was.
Speaking about his return, Adam said: "It's weird saying Ian's back as it never really felt like he was gone, Ian still existed just not in Walford. Now that he is back, he needs to avoid Sharon cooking carbonara and his mum getting him cufflinks for Christmas!"
He is referring to the cufflinks which appear on the mystery man dead seen on the floor in the Christmas flashforward episode.
During Wednesday night's episode, viewers saw Michelle's dramatic return to the soap as she was unveiled as George Knight's ex-wife, Rose.
However, prior to Cindy's return being aired, George had been informed that his ex-wife, who left him, was not in fact named Rose and was using a fake identity.
Some viewers are now convinced they know why Cindy is back – and what her plans are when she makes her return to Walford.
"We all knew it was Cindy Beale… but I can't wait for the fireworks from Kathy, Sharon and what does this mean for Bobby? Will Cindy want revenge for Lucy? Is Lucy's death the reason she abandoned her new family? #EastEnders," one viewer wrote.
A second added: "Wonder how'd she'd react to Bobby? Knowing he killed her Lucy...#EastEnders."
