EastEnders ‘lets slip’ character return in new backstage snap ahead of Christmas death

EastEnders has revealed we’re close to seeing a fan favourite back onscreen again, weeks after a sudden exit on the BBC soap.

A behind-the-scenes snap of three cast members appeared to confirm one actor was back on set and filming again, meaning their character should return in a matter of weeks. Unless the snap was an non-recent image, Alfie Moon will be back in Walford in no time at all.

Actor Shane Richie was snapped alongside co-stars Scott Maslen and Lacey Turner, who play Jack Branning and Stacey Slater. Shane was in costume as Alfie, suggesting he is back filming on the BBC soap after a recent exit amid a tough storyline. Alfie took some time out to stay in Spain, as he continued to hide his cancer diagnosis from his loved ones.

Just a few people know he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, with him undergoing treatment in a recent episode. Alfie decided to recover in Spain, leaving his son Tommy gutted – while Tommy doesn’t know about his health battle. Alfie has not been on screen since his exit a few weeks ago.

EastEnders has revealed we’re close to seeing a fan favourite back onscreen again

Actor Shane Richie was snapped alongside co-stars Scott Maslen and Lacey Turner

But amid a possible link to the Christmas death plot soon to air, a new snap of the three cast members was posted on the EastEnders Instagram. Fans were thrilled to see Shane back on set, happy to see Alfie return. Filming is around six weeks in advance so depending when the photo was taken, it could mean he will be back within weeks.

Viewers were left speculating once more when Shane hinted in an interview that Alfie could be linked to the mystery cufflinks which the mystery Christmas Day victim will be wearing. We’ve seen a pair that belong to Nish Panesar being handed around Walford, but now it seems more pairs will be thrown into the mix.

Shane teased something to do with Alfie being on the market and that it was linked to cufflinks. Meanwhile Shane also spoke to The Mirror recently about his ongoing storyline. He told us: “This is absolutely true, I don’t think I’ve told many people this other than my wife – two days before that meeting I went for a health check for prostate cancer.

“Only because it was on my radar. I’m getting to that age now and I’m starting to get reminded by a couple of friends and a close friend of mine who I’ve known since I was 16 went through prostate cancer, thankfully he’s out the other side, and I remember thinking ‘he’s not much older than me’.”