George Knight (Colin Salmon) is set to receive a chilling shock in forthcoming EastEnders episodes – as adoptive father Eddie (Christopher Fairbank) stages a return.
Auf Wiedersehen, Pet star Fairbank portrayed Eddie across 16 episodes in early 2024, and was eventually sent down for the murder of George’s birth father, Henry Asare, four decades previously.
An EastEnders spokesperson told Radio Times: “We can confirm Christopher Fairbank will be returning to EastEnders for a short stint later this spring.”
Arriving into Albert Square alongside wife Gloria (Elizabeth Counsell), it quickly transpired that their motives for reuniting with their son were deeply sinister.
George discovered that he was adopted from West Africa as part of a baby farming agreement, and when Henry was sent to the UK to collect him, Gloria pleaded with Eddie to do whatever it took to stop him.
With a number of his racist cronies, Eddie beat Henry to death before stuffing his body into a suitcase and throwing it into the canal. A young George witnessed the incident, unaware of Henry’s true identity.
In court, George gave Eddie a damning character reference, and he was put behind bars. On the same day, Gloria became unwell and passed away.
He took control of the funeral arrangements, banishing George from attending the ceremony and not telling him when it was taking place.
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The news, which was first reported in The Sun, couldn’t come at a worse time for George, who seems to finally be back on the right path towards happiness following the birth of his daughter, Ivy.
He’s also launched a new business venture, Knight Fusion, and has formed a relationship with Ivy’s rather complicated mum, Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington).
At the time of his casting in 2024, Fairbank said, “I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to join the cast of EastEnders. Everyone has been so welcoming, and it’s been fantastic to meet and work with the brilliant actors involved in the show.”
Read more:
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- EastEnders airs shock passion for Zack Hudson in early BBC iPlayer release – and it’s not Vicki Fowler
- 6 EastEnders spoilers next week: Ravi Gulati’s mental health worsens and Grant Mitchell return teased
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Authors
Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at Radio Times, covering all of the hot gossip and spoilers from Weatherfield to Walford, Emmerdale to Hollyoaks and everywhere in-between. He joined the team from Metro, where he spent two years as a Soaps Reporter and previously worked on the sets of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
