BBC EastEnders clues Dean Wicks is returning: Photo leak, Kathy comment and Gina’s ex

EastEnders villain Dean Wicks is making a shocking comeback it seems, with a reported return on the way on the BBC soap.

The show has yet to officially announce Dean’s return, but a recent photo leak has appeared to confirm the news. That said, it might not actually be that much of a shock for some viewers, as the comeback was teased for months.

Certain scenes in the lead-up to the big Christmas Day murder plot have set the way for Dean, played by actor Matt Di Angelo, to return, much to the horror of Linda Carter. Dean raped his sister-in-law in 2014, but he evaded justice leading to a showdown with his mother Shirley Carter and his brother, Linda’s husband, Mick Carter – leading to an exit in 2016.

With Mick now missing and presumed dead, it seems Dean has picked his time to return – but what brings him back to Walford? Here are all the clues along the way that may have given away the twist that will soon unfold…

Photo leak

Eagle-eyed EastEnders fans were convinced Matt had returned to the BBC soap as Dean after spotting a man who looked very much like the actor in the background of a now-private teaser video.

Aaliyah James, who plays Avani, shared a behind-the-scenes look at filming for EastEnders’ Christmas storyline on TikTok earlier this week, with a picture tribute to the late Lola shown on the bar of the Queen Vic. However, it’s a male actor in the background who has caught the attention of eagle-eyed soap fans.

Shirley twist

A scene earlier this year saw Dean back on screen, sort of, for the first time since his exit seven years ago. In a twist he appeared in a photo sent to Linda, and this was a major teaser that Dean was rejoining the show – with fans convinced from this moment he would return.

After appearing to be estranged from his family for years, it emerged he and his mother Shirley had seemingly reconciled. Shirley’s daughter Carly sent Linda a snap of Shirley to update her on how she was doing, after she took some time out of Walford.

Shirley was grieving the loss of her son Mick and was staying with Carly, but a clue in the photo gave away they were not alone. In the mirror behind Shirley was the reflection of Dean. Linda spotted this and broke down in terror realising Shirley was back in contact with him, meaning he could return to Walford.

Kathy’s comment to Linda

Something Kathy Beale said to Linda in the fallout to the Shirley twist left many fans predicting a comeback was on the cards. The photo itself certainly sparked return rumours, but it was what Kathy said about Dean that convinced many viewers a showdown was on the way.

As Linda sobbed about the photo, Kathy warned that Dean would need to watch his back if he came back. She said she and Linda’s friends would build a protective wall around her and stop Dean if they had to, and it certainly left fans believing this time would come.

Christmas hints