As sad as the news that Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) was leaving EastEnders was, we were all excited that the other Carter kids, Lee and Nancy (Danny Hatchard and Maddy Hill) were returning softened the blow.
Of course, we had no idea how they’d come back, and when they finally made their return, we were rocked to realise Nancy was very pregnant…and Lee’s the dad?
Thankfully, the nightmares viewers had about a grotesque incest plot were quickly put to rest when Nancy revealed that she was acting as a surrogate for Lee and his girlfriend, Jess (Emma Lau), though the story he told his mum about her having walked out on him didn’t quite ring true.
While Linda insisted on joining Lee in tracking Jess down and talking some sense into her, they return to Walford next week and find her waiting for them in Peacock Palace, with a few revelations in store that could crack the foundations of the Carter clan.
On the twist, Danny teased: ‘When Lee and Linda return to Walford this week, they find Jess waiting for them, who has a few bombshells of her own to drop, her arrival sparks another wave of drama for both the Carters and the wider Square.’
While on-screen, Lee’s facing an enormous amount of drama, off-screen, Danny couldn’t be happier to be back in Walford.
‘It just felt like coming home,’ he said of his return.
‘I’ve got such a love for Lee, and over the years, he’s had a real impact on many viewers, because of that, I feel a huge responsibility when it comes to bringing him to life.
What better place to do that than somewhere you feel so valued and loved?
‘I’ve been part of the show periodically for over 12 years, so it really feels like I’ve grown up here.
‘Being back and working with the likes of Kellie Bright again has reminded me just how much I love what I do.’
On returning alongside his on-screen sister, Danny said: ‘We’ve known each other for such a long time, so there’s a brilliant familiarity between us on set.
‘Sometimes I have to remind myself we’re not actually a real-life family.
‘It’s easy to forget because of how close we’ve all become over the years.
‘The people I work with on EastEnders, and the cast in particular, genuinely feel like part of my inner circle.
‘I love them to bits. For me, the Carters are my Albert Square.’
On his desire to return to the show, Danny said: ‘I’d always wanted to go out there and try other opportunities within my career, but I also hoped there’d be an opportunity to return because of how much I love both the character and EastEnders.
‘Being able to return at different points throughout the show’s history and the characters life has been brilliant, in many ways, it’s been lifesaving and has reinforced my love for this line of work, coming back always reminds me why I love acting.’
Danny went on to praise Kellie, speaking of the ‘love and respect’ he has for her: ‘Whenever we’re in a scene together, I feel that maternal energy from her so strongly, and she brings out something in me as an actor that I wish I could access every day because she’s just phenomenal.
‘She’s been such an important part of my journey, not only as an actor and in Lee’s story, but also as a person.
‘I really adore having her in my life.
‘I’m so glad the Carter children have reunited for the wider farewell of such an iconic character.
‘Linda and Kellie deserve that.’
While we can’t reveal just what Jess will reveal to the Carter clan, Danny spoke on the importance of his upcoming plotline: ‘The storyline itself meant a lot to me, and it felt really important to get it right. Out of all the storylines I’ve been involved in, this was one I was particularly excited to take on and really get my teeth into.’