HERE’S a familiar face who’s returning to EastEnders – larger than life character Stuart Highway.

I can reveal he’s heading back to Albert Square for a limited period, albeit long enough to ruffle a few feathers on the BBC One soap.

It’s been seven years since Stuart – played by Ricky Champ – arrived in Walford and in that time went from villain turned funnyman.

Stuart arrived in Walford in 2018 and went from villain to ­funnyman over the years.

He’s brother to Callum Highway, who is married to the currently incarcerated Ben Mitchell.

Stuart also ended up working in the local funeral parlour, Coker & Mitchell, and then turned his hand to taxidermy before departing EastEnders in 2023.

Bosses clearly didn’t tell him to get stuffed when he left, otherwise he wouldn’t be returning.

Earlier in the month, The Sun revealed that actor Karen Henthorn was returning to the soap for the first time since 1998.

The soap star returns as Nigel Bates’ wife Julie amid his dementia battle.

However, Nigel walked out on her over a year ago without being honest about his diagnosis.

She went up against Nigel’s best pal Phil Mitchell as they rowed over his care.

Karen said: “Even with the Phil situation, Julie knows that as long as she’s with Nigel – and he knows how much she loves him – that’s what matters.

“They are facing a hard road ahead, but they’ve got each other now.

“Julie loves Nigel more than anyone else, and she’ll go above and beyond to help him. Phil can be as difficult as he wants to Julie, she’s not going anywhere.”