Ricky Butcher is heading back to Albert Square after 10 years away from EastEnders.
Actor Sid Owen, 50, said he is 'delighted' be returning to Walford as mechanic Ricky. He previously starred in the show from 1988 until 2000 and returned sporadically until 2012.
Owen's character is one of the best-known faces from the show and was involved in a number of high-profile storylines, most notably with on-screen wife Bianca Jackson, played by Patsy Palmer.
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Their relationship was a hit with fans and their on-screen wedding drew an audience of more than 22 million.
Of his return, Owen said: “I’m delighted to be back at EastEnders. I can’t wait to see what Ricky Butcher has been up to these past few years and how he’s going to react to seeing some familiar faces including old flames. I’m excited to see the drama unfold.”
Owen’s character is set to reunite with his on-screen troublesome sister Janine Butcher, played by Charlie Brooks.
Brooks last appeared in the soap in March 2014, when her character left for Paris to pick up daughter Scarlett, but made a comeback last year as one of the long-running soap’s best-known villains.
Ricky will also come face-to-face with his ex-wife Sam Mitchell, who is the daughter of Peggy and sister to Phil and Grant Mitchell, played by Kim Medcalf.
She first came to Albert Square in 1990 and was played by Danniella Westbrook.
Chris Clenshaw, executive producer, said: “It is a great pleasure to welcome Sid back to the role of Ricky Butcher.
“Sid helped to create such an iconic character in Ricky who became so synonymous with the show and we couldn’t be more excited to have him back for a while.
“Ricky has so much history in the Square to explore and while a lot of time has passed since we last saw him, it’s fair to say wherever Ricky goes, he always finds himself slap-bang in the middle of mayhem.”
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