SHOCKING NEWS JUST DROPPED! EastEnders confirms three returns including seriously controversial villain

EastEnders has got not one, not two, but three returns lined up, two of which will have broken hearts, while the other looks set to cause further misery.

Clare Bates (Gemma Bissix), the daughter of Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley), Josh Saunders (Jon Lee), the son of Julie Bates (Karen Henthorn) and Joel Marshall (Max Murray), the misogynistic incel who terrorised Walford, will all be staging returns in the coming weeks.

The nation sobbed collectively this week when our beloved Nigel finally passed away after a long, painful battle with early-onset dementia.

His funeral will reunite his former family unit, who all initially departed Albert Square together back in 1998.

While we’re yet to learn the reason behind Joel’s comeback, it’s sure to spell trouble for his dad Ross Marshall (Alex Walkinshaw) and step mum, Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig), who he viciously attacked.

While Joel was recently sentenced to six months in a young offenders unit, Max has reportedly already returned to filming, with his return scenes imminent.

Clare Bates’ return

With Nigel rapidly deteriorating, Julie decided to finally close the deep chasm that had developed between herself and her husband with his adoptive daughter, Clare, summoning her to the Square.

‘It was a real pleasure to be asked to reprise the role of Clare for Nigel’s storyline, I was hoping to get the call as I think the fans wanted EastEnders to revisit their relationship,’ Gemma said at the time.

‘Nigel and Clare were a formidable pairing in the 90’s with a very unique stepfather/stepdaughter relationship!’

With Nigel unable to recognise her, Clare was left utterly bereft, encouraged to press on by Lexi Pearce (Isabella Brown), who Nigel had taken to calling Clare. They took Nigel from the hospital back to the Vic for a final drink before he was admitted into a care facility.

After some gentle coaxing from Julie, Nigel began to reminisce about taking Clare swimming as a little girl, before finally looking her in the eye and remembering her.

When they accompanied him to the care home, however, Nigel lashed out, leaving Clare with a bloody lip. Unable to cope any further, she fled.

Upcoming scenes will see her return for the funeral, however: ‘When I returned earlier this year, we always knew Clare had to come back for Nigel’s funeral,’ Gemma said.

‘He meant so much to her, and it felt right to be there for the conclusion of his story, as everyone came together to say their final goodbyes’.

Josh Saunders’ return

For actor Jon Lee, it’ll be the first time he sets foot on the Square in nearly three decades.

‘It was quite surreal stepping back on to Albert Square after so many years as it’s so familiar to so many of us. It was lovely to see my onscreen family again,’ he said.

Josh’s initial stint on the show saw him develop a romantic relationship with Clare, all while his mum, Julie, was dating Clare’s dad. The four left for a new life in Scotland in 1998, with Clare revealing that their romance hadn’t lasted when she returned ten years later.