It’s always a joy when a familiar face returns to Albert Square. This week’s EastEnders has served up not one, but two surprise comebacks.
The first of these was Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) – almost exactly two years since her last appearance – to tell ex-fiancé Zack Hudson (James Farrar) that she’d moved on and was seeing a new fella.
It seemed a little out of the blue, but actually was the catalyst for a much bigger slice of drama. He made one last attempt at wooing Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) ahead of her wedding to Ross Marshall (Alex Walkinshaw), but when this proved unsuccessful, alluded to him that she’d been cheating again.
There were two notable absences ahead of the ceremony. Vicki’s mum Michelle, played originally by Susan Tully and later Jenna Russell, and her adoptive half-sister Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean).
For the last seven months, Sharon and young son Albie have been staying with Michelle in Florida, and last week we learnt that they’d been warned not to splash out on expensive flights for the occasion.
However, in a nice surprise for both Vicki and the viewers, Sharon rocked up in Walford on Tuesday – with Albie in tow – and it’s safe to say she’s missed out on an awful lot during her time away.
In today’s episode, she quizzed best pal Linda Carter (Kellie Bright), who was reluctant to divulge that she’d slept with her ex-husband Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp). She’s still in the dark about Vicki and Zack’s affair.
But is this a fleeting visit for Sharon? Or is she back for good?
Is Sharon Watts back in EastEnders permanently?
During today’s episode of This Morning, the daytime show’s soap expert and EastEnders scriptwriter Sharon Marshall spilled some gossip about Sharon’s future on the Square.
“[She] had one small pink bag, just for her make-up,” Marshall joked to hosts Siân Welby and Craig Doyle.
“She’ll come back for a very short stint just for the wedding, and then go off. But then she is back for good in about a month’s time.”
The journalist concluded by implying the “world is healing” as a result of the return, and we’re inclined to agree.
Radio Times understands this to be true, and more details will be revealed in forthcoming episodes.
With Ross asking Vicki outright whether she cheated with Zack, and her silence pretty much confirming it, tomorrow’s instalment looks set to be explosive.
Yet another EastEnders wedding for the soap history books!
Read more:
- EastEnders advanced spoilers tease world-crashing week for Ian Beale in ‘The Night That Changes Everything’
- EastEnders airs unannounced exit for beloved character in early BBC iPlayer release
- EastEnders legend teases “dangerous” dynamic between Max Branning and Cindy Beale
- EastEnders boss teases “emotional” Denise Fox scenes from blood cancer storyline after 20 years on the show
- EastEnders wins Soap award at BAFTA Television Awards 2026 as fan-favourite delivers speech amid anniversary
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