Phil won’t be too happy when he learns of Keanu’s return (Picture: BBC)
Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) made an explosive return to EastEnders earlier this week, arriving back in the Square on a mission after a three-year absence.
The mechanic rocked up on the night of Dot Branning’s (June Brown) funeral, catching sight of mum Karen Taylor (Lorraine Stanley) for the first time in years.
His comeback will no doubt be well-received by Karen, Bernie (Clair Noris) and Mitch Baker (Roger Griffiths), but just how will Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) take the news?
Keanu, as viewers will recall, fled Walford back in 20120, shortly after Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) gave birth to his child, Albi.
The popular character had been having an affair with Sharon behind Phil’s back, and when the truth came out, he almost lost his life at hard-man Phil’s hands.
Keanu initially faked his own death, with some assistance from Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) and Martin Fowler (James Bye), and he later returned to the Square, much to Phil’s horror.
Phil tried to kill his love rival once more, this time on board the party boat on the Thames, and his actions ultimately led to Dennis Rickman (Bleu Landau), Sharon’s beloved son, ending up dead.
Keanu is back in Walford – but why? (Picture: BBC)
But flash-forward almost three years and Keanu is back.
Phil, meanwhile, is currently on an excursion, trying to work out a way to get DCI Keeble (Alison Newman) off his case, so he’s not in the Square at this very moment, but we imagine he won’t take too kindly to the news of his love rival’s comeback.
‘It’s not long before Phil’s back and we can expect fireworks,’ teased actor Danny Walters.
Consider us excited!
Phil is back in the Square next week (Picture: BBC / Jack Barnes / Kieron McCarron)
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‘Sharon was always the reason that Keanu had a bit of purpose, really, and a bit of drive,’ Danny said of Keanu’s reasons for returning. ‘There was a deep, deep attraction to Sharon that I guess even Keanu couldn’t explain.
‘There is something that he’s drawn to and I think it’s reciprocated because Sharon has someone, not just because he’s younger, but someone who appreciates Sharon for who she is, and that’s why that relationship works so well.’
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One.
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It’s going to be tense.
