Peter Beale Is Returning To EastEnders – With Another New Head

Ian Beale’s been having a tough time of it recently as he’s struggled to accept youngest son Bobby’s return into his family after serving his young offenders’ sentence for sort of accidentally killing big sis Lucy nearly six years ago. After kicking Bobby out last week, Ian is in for a surprise as his older son Peter returns to Walford from New Zealand.

Peter Beale will be making his return during the BBC soap’s special 35th anniversary week episodes – which are set to see one character meeting a watery end as a boat party on the Thames goes wrong. Peter is rumoured to be returning with a drug problem, as EastEnders producer Jon Sen told The Sun that Peter’s ‘got a great heart and he's got a very damaged soul. He's returning to Walford to exorcise some demons.’

Newcomer Dayle Hudson will be taking on the role of Peter Beale after the last actor to play the character, Ben Hardy, quit the soap to pursue a career in Hollywood. Dayle who will be the seventh actor to play Peter said:

‘I am really grateful and excited to have the opportunity to work on such an institution of British television, alongside some incredible actors. Peter has been away for some time so I can't wait to find out what he's been up to and I'm very excited to see what the future holds for him.’

Will Jacqueline Jossa return to EastEnders too?

Peter’s return to Albert Square will have fans wondering if this signals a return for fan favourite and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here winner Jacqueline Jossa as Lauren Branning. Peter and Lauren were supposed to have reunited offscreen and were living together with their son Louis in New Zealand. So will Lauren soon be back?

Nothing has been confirmed but Jacqueline Jossa has not ruled out a return to her EastEnders role. After being crowned I’m A Celeb’s Queen of the Jungle in December, Jacqueline told Lorraine Kelly

‘I’d never say never’ and confirmed that she wanted to return to her acting career saying ‘Obviously my heart is with acting, so [I’ll be] back on the telly doing something like that.’