HE was one of the original Peter Beale actors – and now Thomas Law is back in Walford reprising the role that launched his career.
Thomas, now 30, portrayed him from 2006 until 2010, when the character was written out.
In 2013 producers recast the role, with hunky Ben Hardy taking over and playing Peter until 2015, when he left Albert Square for Hollywood and landed a part in superhero film X-Men: Apocalypse.
Not to be outdone, Thomas has clearly hit the gym to get himself in shape for returning to soapland.
Speaking about reprising his iconic role, he said: “Over the years I had hoped for a return to the Square, although I never thought it would happen – so it’s an absolute delight to be back in Walford as Peter Beale.
“It’s been great to see familiar and new faces, and I can’t wait to explore the character again in the wake of Cindy’s return – it’s an exciting time to return!”
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Young Peter Beale wasn't the only soap child to undergo a sexy reincarnation when bosses decided to hire a new, older actor – here we take a look at the most drastic re-castings.
Bethany Platt – Coronation Street
Sarah Platt's daughter Bethany was originally played by adorable twins Emily and Amy Walton, then six, until the family went to live in Spain in 2007.
When they returned a few years later in 2015, fans claimed Bethany, then 14, had undergone a serious a glow-up after she was recast as 19-year-old Lucy Fallon.
The ITV soap reinvented Bethany as a teenage tearaway and Lucy stayed for five years.
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Her dramatic storylines included dating a much older man, Nathan, when she was 16, who groomed her and manipulated her into sleeping with his friends as part of a sick plan to pimp her out for cash.
The scenes were difficult to watch and Corrie was praised for bringing the harrowing issue of child abuse into mainstream consciousness.
Lucy left the street in March 2020.
Sonny Valentine – Hollyoaks
Devon Anderson, then 18, joined the cast of Hollyoaks as Sonny in 2006, alongside Nathalie Emmanuel and Ricky Whittle as his siblings Sasha and Calvin.
Sonny was written out of the show after just a year, with bosses citing “time-keeping issues” for his dismissal.
When the character was brought back in 2014 they recast him as hunky Aaron Fontaine, then 25.
This time around Sonny was a ripped cop with a goatie and sharp, short haircut – a world away from the curly-haired teenager that left the village.
Hollyoaks brought the character back over fears for his niece Kathleen-Angel being unsafe with her mum, but he didn't even survive a year on the soap before being killed off.
Nick Tilsly – Coronation Street
One of the most dramatic re-castings was when Nick Tilsly actor Warren Jackson, then 16, disappeared off to do his GCSEs in 1996 – and was replaced by heartthrob Adam Rickitt, then 19, in 1997.
The quick change saw Nick go from a slightly awkward teen to a ripped blonde hunk.
Adam left the Street in 1999 to pursue a pop career, but returned between 2003 and 2004, before he quit for good and was later recast in 2009 when Ben Price took over.
Holly Cunningham – Hollyoaks
Cindy Cunningham's daughter Holly was originally an angel-faced brunette played by 10-year-old Lydia Waters.
She appeared on the soap from 2008 to 2010, when the character was written out.
But producers decided to bring Holly back two years later – and cast a much older actress in her place.
Glamorous blonde Wallis Day, aged 18 in real life, was recruited for the role in 2012 – leaving viewers shocked by how 14-year-old Holly had suddenly aged.
When Wallis quit, she was replaced by the equally glam Amanda Clapham in 2013, with barely a week between her last scenes and Amanda's debut, causing raised eyebrows among fans.
Dotty Cotton – EastEnders
From her arrival on screen in 2008, wayward child Dotty was played by Molly Conlin until 2010 when the character was written out. At the time Molly was just nine.
EastEnders bosses decided to bring Dotty back in 2019 but opted to recast her as Milly Zero, then 20 – two years older than the original actress.
On hearing the news, Molly said: “They did approach me, unfortunately they wanted the new Dotty to go back and appear a lot older and be played by someone in their 20s.
“Of course I would have loved to have returned to EastEnders, but I believe everything happens for a reason”.
Milly left in 2022 after failing to burn her dead grandma's house down and told her family and Watford to “go to hell”.
Steven Beale
Peter Beale isn't the only member of his family to be recast – older half-brother Steven has been played by four actors.
The biggest shock to viewers was the character was recast after being played by Edward Savage for four years.
Edward, who was 13 when he left in 2002, had blackmailed adopted dad Ian over his affair with Janine before leaving to live with his biological dad in New Zealand.
The character's return in 2007 saw him portrayed by hunky Aaron Sidwell, then 19, who was a year older than his predecessor.
Steven went from a gawky blonde child to a slick-haired brunette who proved a hit with women on the Square.
Daniel Osbourne
Ken Barlow's son Daniel has been recast three times – meaning each return to the cobbles saw a different actor play him.
He was first played by Lewis Harvey from 1995 to 1997, then Dominic Holmes took over in 2007 for his next appearance.
The most dramatic recast took place when Rob Mallard took over the character in 2016 which saw the teen move to Weatherfield.
Rob is only a year older than Lewis, but the almost decade gap meant viewers might not have recognised who he was meant to be.
Daniel's reincarnation has seen him become something of a lothario on the cobbles – he's currently dating glamorous Daisy Midgeley.
Ben Mitchell – EastEnders
Phill Mitchell's son Ben has been played by six different actors over the years.
Many viewers will remember Charlie Jones playing the awkward child that didn't have any of his father's violent tendencies.
Charlie was in the role from 2006 to 2010, when he left aged 14, meaning Ben was recast as Joshua Pascoe – who was heavier built than Charlie.
Joshua, then 15, only stayed in the role for two years before the character was written out.
When Ben was brought back in 2014, soap bosses chose Harry Reid, then 22, to take on the role. He was three years older than Joshua.
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It meant Ben's face changed again, and not for the final time. The character left the soap in 2018 only to be brought back a year later played by Max Bowden, then 25.
Max is actually two years younger than his predecessor and doesn't wear glasses, prompting fans to joke that Ben must now wear contact lenses.
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