EastEnders legend Sid Owen will reportedly return to the soap as Ricky Butcher later this year.
The 50-year-old was one of the show's biggest stars in the '90s, forming a successful on-screen partnership with Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson), but he departed Walford in 2012 having played the character on and off for 24 years.
Ricky has been living in Germany in recent years, but with his sister Janine (Charlie Brooks) and ex-wife Sam (Kim Medcalf) now back in the square, The Sun says that he will soon be joining them in E20.
"Bosses have an exciting storyline planned for his return, involving lots of key players," a source told the newspaper.
"Ricky is an iconic character from Albert Square's early days, and has been hugely popular over the decades. He has lots of unfinished business.
"The sky's the limit for script writers. An autumn of bumper storylines is on the cards."
Owen, whose stint is expected to be for a limited period rather than permanent, will begin filming next month.
Neil Wilkes
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