Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp)

[Perdita]

There's been loads of speculation lately on whether Grant Mitchell will be making a return to Walford for good, now that Michelle Fowler (the baby mama of his son Mark Jr) is back on the square.

And it seems Ross Kemp isn't ruling anything out just yet. Speaking to OK! Online, he said: "You know what, in life, particularly if you work in television, who knows? Never rule out anything!"

Grant briefly returned to Albert Square last year for his mum Peggy Mitchell's final episodes.

Grant Mitchell returns to EastEnders for Peggy's funeral
© BBC
At the time, executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins said: "Grant Mitchell is an EastEnders legend and finally he is returning home to Walford to say goodbye to his mother and be reunited not just with his old loves but also his brother.

"We are all so excited finally to have Ross back on the Square - and to have Ross Kemp, Barbara Windsor, Steve McFadden, Letitia Dean and Gillian Taylforth all on screen together at the same time."

Grant Mitchell (ROSS KEMP), Peggy Mitchell (BARBARA WINDSOR), Phil Mitchell (STEVE MCFADDEN) *STRICTLY NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNTIL 00:01HRS, TUESDAY 10th MAY, 2016* ***FORTNIGHTLIES PLEASE DO NOT USE (SOAP LIFE AND ALL ABOUT SOAP) Grant & Phil take Peggy's arms and walk her home across the Square.
© BBC KIERON MCCARRON

Kemp first appeared in EastEnders in 1990 and left in 1999, but has since made a couple of brief returns.


Digital Spy

[lizann]

on line talk he is returning

[lizann]

sort of back for 40th anniversary

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eas...y-documentary/

[parkerman]

on line talk he is returning

Will he bring his Bridge of Lies with him?

[lizann]

grant returning

[Perdita]

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eas...tchell-return/

EastEnders has confirmed that Ross Kemp will reprise his role as Grant Mitchell for the soap's 40th anniversary celebrations.

The iconic character, who was last seen in Walford in 2016, will return for a short stint in the New Year as the soap prepares to celebrate its anniversary in February with a week of memorable episodes, including a live broadcast from BBC Elstree Centre.

Grant's return has been confirmed to be "nothing short of explosive", as he arrives amid his brother Phil's ongoing mental health struggles, the return of his estranged best friend Nigel Bates after 26 years, and the news that his ex-wife Sharon is now dating his long-lost cousin Teddy.

"I?m delighted to be returning to EastEnders as the show heads towards its 40th anniversary," Kemp, who made his first appearance as Grant in 1990, said of his upcoming return.

"EastEnders has always meant so much to me, so to return as the show is about to celebrate such a special anniversary, is an absolute honour.

"Grant has never been far from the action and let?s just say, this time is no different as he certainly comes back with a bang."

EastEnders executive producer Chris Clenshaw added: "We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Ross Kemp back to EastEnders as he reprises the legendary role of Grant Mitchell.

"Whilst I?m not currently revealing exactly what brings Grant back to Walford, I can say that his return will play a significant part in the show?s 40th anniversary, and will make up many moments of truly unmissable TV."

Clenshaw recently revealed that most of the anniversary's "explosive" storylines have already been shot, and warned viewers to be prepared for anything.

[lizann]

good to have him back, and seems ageless

[Perdita]

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eas...n-possibility/

EastEnders icon Ross Kemp has refused to rule out the possibility of returning to the soap in the future.

The actor and documentarian reprised his role as Grant Mitchell for the BBC soap's 40th anniversary celebrations back in February, with the character returning to Walford after a nine-year absence.

After a storyline which saw him reconnect with his brother Phil, Grant once again left Albert Square as he returned to his home in Portugal, though Kemp expressed optimism that it wouldn't be the last time we see the character.

"You just don?t know, do you?" he teased during an appearance on Loose Women. "You don?t know what?s in the minds of the people who work on it. I?ve also known that without it, I wouldn?t have had the career that I?ve had.

"I?ve always owed it a great debt ? it was very good to me, and hopefully I was good to it, [so] why not keep it that way? I?ve always believed that you should leave doors swinging rather than shut them."

Kemp, who debuted on the soap in 1990 before departing nine years later, continued by expressing his joy at his latest comeback, sharing: "It was so wonderful to jump into Grant?s leather jacket again, which I can still get in.

"I?m talking about the past, and they?re really busy doing their own thing. I just parachute in and exit generally by the tube station. But they?ve [co-stars] got to be welcoming, because it?s like a high-speed train - you?ve got to jump on it at the right time or you miss it.

"So luckily, Steve McFadden (who plays Phil), Paul Bradley (who plays Nigel Bates) and Letitia Dean (who plays Sharon Watts) opened the door for me. It was like going back home ? it was great."

Kemp's latest comments come after he admitted that his most recent stint had left him "fried", with the actor explaining: "Grant comes back and within a minute he's fighting, crying, making love. Then he's crying about it [and] fighting again ? he's never just sat in the launderette."