ROSS Kemp hinted at an explosive EastEnders return almost a YEAR ago to The Sun.

The actor sent BBC soap fans into a frenzy after it was revealed that he would be making another huge comeback as Grant Mitchell.

Ross, 60, first rose to fame playing the legendary EastEnders hard-man back in 1990.

Although he first departed the long-running show after nine years, he has since made two returns to Albert Square in 2005 and 2016.

It has now been revealed that the fan-favourite character will return to Walford ahead of the serial drama’s 40th Anniversary celebrations.

But it turns out, he previously told The Sun that a return could have been on the cards a year ago.

When he was specifically asked if he would make a comeback, he implied that door was always open if bosses gave him the chance.

He told us: “I would never, ever say no to that. Why would I?

“And I don’t think I’ve ever said no to most things that I’ve been offered to do. You would be cutting your nose off to spite your face to say no.

“And also it would look unkind, I think. You know, as I say, I owe it so much.”

He also hinted that he was ready to return to acting with the daily graft of scripts and lines after spending the last few decades making documentaries.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun’s TV Mag, Ross said: “If you look at what year it was, it was 89 to 99 Which is quite a long time ago.

“And for the last 25-30 years, I’ve been making documentaries.

“I had gone back and I went back specifically for Barbara’s [Windor’s] leaving storyline because she asked me, and she was a very dear friend of mine.

“But, you know, I owe EastEnders, a lot. And I’m not one of those people that would ever try to forget that, not that I would probably ever be able to.

“But I wouldn’t want to either, you know, it was a platform that helped me travel the world and meet some of the most bizarre and most interesting, and occasionally some of the most dangerous people that exist in it, and on it!”

Precise details surrounding his comeback storyline currently remain under wraps.

But his brother Phil (Steve McFadden) is struggling as his ex-wife Sharon (Letitia Dean) is in a romance with his long-lost cousin Teddy (Roland Manookian).

His estranged best friend Nigel Bates (Paul Bradley) also made a shock return after 26 years away.

Speaking on his return, Ross gushed: “I’m delighted to be returning to EastEnders as the show heads towards its 40^th anniversary.

I don’t think I’ve ever said no to most things that I’ve been offered to do

Ross Kempspeaking to The Sun

“EastEnders has always meant so much to me, so to return as the show is about to celebrate such a special anniversary, is an absolute honour.”

He added: “Grant has never been far from the action and let’s just say, this time is no different as he certainly comes back with a bang.”