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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Gemma Jones

EastEnders' Ross Kemp speaks out on returning to BBC soap

EastEnders legend Ross Kemp has spoken about whether or not he would ever return to the long-running BBC soap.

Appearing on ITV's Loose Women today the actor, who played the infamous Grant Mitchell for more than 10 years, spoke of what it would take to get him to reappear on the programme. He initially appeared on the daytime talk show to help promote his latest career venture.

Still working with BBC One, Ross will be hosting his very own quiz show for the first time ever. In The Bridge of Lies, the series will see teams of contestants attempt to cross a bridge consisting of stepping stones with various truths and lies based on general knowledge categories.

READ MORE: BBC EastEnders Slater sisters and where the actresses are now

Talking about what makes the quiz show unique, Ross said: "It’s very physical. The contestants are not just standing behind a podium answering questions; they have to physically make their way across the bridge, and that’s no easy feat.

"We also get to watch contestants reacting to how their fellow team members play the game. We see inside the various group dynamics and get an insight into how these people interact with each other. It can all get a little bit soapy actually."

But while appearing on Loose Women, the panelists wanted to know if there was a chance he would ever return to acting now that he was taking on a presenting role. Carol McGiffin asked Ross if he missed acting.

The actor said: "Is it missing me is the question. You know what at my age, rule out nothing - just do what seems right at the time."

Carol then said: “What about EastEnders? If they said to you tomorrow, ‘Please come back’, what would you say?”

Ross said: “How much? Rule out nothing. As long as it was enjoyable, I’d do it. And I did do it for 10 years."

Since leaving the series in 1999, Ross Kemp hasn't given an exact reason for leaving the BBC One soap, but he has gone on to explore other avenues in showbiz such as appearing in many documentaries. He has also starred in ITV's TV movie Hero of the Hour as well as series In Defence.

Ross' character Grant left the square to move to Brazil after surviving a horrific car crash. He reprised the role for a special episode in 2016 to film Barbara Windsor's final moments on the soap.

Speaking to The Guardian at the time, Ross Kemp said: "When I was approached about returning to EastEnders for Barbara’s final episodes, it was something I could not turn down.

“Barbara is a very close friend, so when I learned of the storyline it felt right that the Mitchell brothers are reunited with their mother for the last time."

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