EastEnders bosses have officially confirmed Sid Owen’s return to the role of mechanic Ricky Butcher, as the much loved character is thrust into a huge climax for Janine’s (Charlie Brooks) story with departing Mick Carter (Danny Dyer).
Metro.co.uk revealed earlier this summer that Ricky would be back for a stint in autumn, with our EastEnders insider telling us: ‘With Kim [Medcalf] and Charlie [Brooks] back on the Square, it would have been a missed opportunity not to bring Sid back to explore their dynamics.
‘Ricky has two very solid connections in the show, and fans have a lot to look forward to when he re-connects with Janine, Sam and others.
‘The return is temporary, and just one part of a major autumn and winter new boss Chris Clenshaw has in store from EastEnders.
‘He’s come in all guns blazing, and there are big plots and twists ahead in coming months that will have viewers on the edge of their seats.’
And now it has been revealed that Ricky will be pulled back to Janine’s chaotic world, as her scheming and web of lies comes undone.
Janine is in love with Mick, and is doing everything in her power to hold onto him.
This has set her off against Mick’s one true love Linda (Kellie Bright), with Janine framing her for a car crash of which she was herself at the wheel.
With Mick now seeking to support Linda, Janine is upping the stakes and producer Chris has revealed that the final chapter towards the end of the year will be cataclysmic, with Danny leaving his role as Mick in dramatic scenes.
As part of the narrative, Ricky will come home, and Chris couldn’t be more excited to welcome Sid back.
‘It is a great pleasure to welcome Sid back to the role of Ricky Butcher,’ he enthused.
‘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.’
‘I’m delighted to back at EastEnders,’ Sid said.
‘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.’
And so are we, considering what Chris told Metro.co.uk when we paid a visit to the Walford set recently for an autumn launch.
‘Ricky is coming home and his sister Janine is in a relationship with Mick and we’re building to something really climatic between them,’ he revealed.
‘Janine has got her everything finally in Mick and the Vic, but we all know how strong the bond is between Mick and Linda and what they have runs very deep.
‘But we know what Janine is like and what she is capable of and the paranoia sets in. I won’t give away how Ricky comes back but it plays into the Janine story.’
With Sid returning, the revolving door at the Queen Vic will see Danny heading out, with the actor teasing a massive ending for the landlord.
‘We’re still in debate about how I’m gonna leave,’ the star told Metro.co.uk exclusively.
‘We’re negotiating what I think should happen and what the powers that be think should happen’
And, while it was always believed that Mick would not die, it sounds like it may not be as off the table as we think.
‘It may be that we never see Mick again,’ Danny said.
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‘It’ll be an epic ending. It’ll be huge. And I think I want to put a full stop on the job, and I think it’s been an amazing 10 years I’ve had, I’ve loved every minute of it.
‘It’s been a third of my career, but I’m ready to move on and do some other stuff.’
It all forms part of an explosive autumn and winter in EastEnders, with the Panesar family rocked by the much mentioned jailed patriarch Nish.
A storyline involving Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold) suffering a brain tumour will also kick off, while a flashback episode for the Mitchell family will be a catalyst for some major new drama for the clan.
And Shane Richie is reprising his role as Alfie Moon, just in time for Kat Slater’s (Jessie Wallace) wedding to Phil (Steve McFadden).
Meanwhile, Bobby Brazier is being welcomed into the role of Little Mo’s son Freddie, which will impact Billy (Perry Fenwick).
A celebratory episode to pay a final tribute and farewell to June Brown’s iconic alter ego Dot Cotton will also air towards the end of 2022.
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