EastEnders’ Joe Swash has opened up about his surprise return as Mickey Miller in this week’s episodes.
Viewers were left shocked when Mickey made an appearance in Monday’s episode, 13 years after he last set foot in Albert
Square.
This exciting return was kept a complete surprise, and Joe has explained what it was like to go back to the BBC soap after so long.
“It was amazing to go back,” he said. “I was super honoured to be asked back. It was so nice to see all the new crew and the crew that was there back in the day when I first started. It felt like home.”
Mickey, who now owns a successful chain of eco-friendly B&Bs, returned to help save the market when he heard it was being threatened with closure.
He also volunteered to be the photographer for the cheeky calendar Mo and Kim were organising, but in today’s episode, Mickey got recruited to be in the calendar himself and ended up posing for some rather revealing snaps.
Mickey had a heartwarming reunion with his former partner-in-crime Mo, and just before he left, the pair had an emotional chat – where Mickey thanked Mo for all she had done for him.
“Maybe dad was right,” he remarked. “We’re no Butch and Sundance, and leaving was the right decision, but this place will always feel like home, Mo.”
“Big Mo is a terrible influence for Mickey,” Joe explained. “Mickey would do anything for Mo and she has him wrapped around her little finger.
“Working with Laila Morse again was an absolute pleasure. I worked with her so much and she was a bit like my EastEnders mum. She used to pick me up and drop me home!”
Reflecting on the years he spent playing Mickey, Joe also paid tribute to the iconic actors he was able to work with on the show.
He said: “Looking back, working with Barbara Windsor, Wendy Richards, June Brown and the legend John Bardon. I was so lucky to work with these legends!”
