EastEnders serial killer Gray Atkins is to return to the BBC soap for a short stint.
Gray will once again be played by Toby-Alexander Smith when he returns in Monday’s episode, having left Albert Square in 2022 when he was jailed for a number of crimes, including the murders of his wife Chantelle Atkins, Kush Kazemi and Tina Carter.
Smith said: “It’s been very surreal returning to EastEnders and stepping back into Gray’s shoes.
“He’s one of the most complex characters I’ve had the opportunity to play and revisiting him after several years has been an exciting challenge to get my teeth into.
“Exploring who Gray is now has been fascinating, and I’m excited for the audience to see this version of him and watch the storyline play out.”
Currently serving a life sentence, Gray will enlist the help of his grandmother Sheila to get close to ex-wife Chelsea Fox when news of his son Jordan’s accident reaches him.
His motives are currently unknown, but an EastEnders spokesperson said Gray will “do his best to inflict chaos on those that used to be closest to him”.
Ben Wadey, EastEnders executive producer, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Toby-Alexander Smith back to the role of Gray Atkins.
“Although his character remains in prison, it will soon become apparent to viewers that Gray’s physical separation from Walford is no match for his levels of manipulation.”
A double episode of EastEnders will air at 7.30pm on BBC Two, with the second part of the latest episode airing at 8pm, both parts are already available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
There will be no episode of EastEnders on Tuesday.
