Mickey Miller made a very unexpected return to EastEnders, with Joe Swash reprising his role 13 years

after his final appearance.

The comeback, which was not announced prior to the episode going up on BBC iPlayer, delighted a

number of Walford residents, who witnessed their old pal Mickey get out of a car in a suit and make his way to Walford East.

It was just like old times as he reconnected with his former friends, with Mo Harris (Laila Morse) keen to know what he was up to these days.

Mickey explained that he now runs a chain of BnBs called Miller’s Villas, proving himself to have been quite the success in business!

The reason for Mickey’s comeback stems from the potential closure of Bridge Street market and, wanting to do his bit for the cause, he made a generous donation.

Mo, as viewers know, is getting the lads of Walford to take part in a calendar to raise funds. But with the photographer having failed to show up, Mickey decided to offer his support by taking the pictures.

Kim Fox (Tameka Empson), however, noted that Mo was missing a man for the December page of the calendar, which prompted the Slater legend to stare at Mickey, having clearly come up with a solution!

Mickey, as long-time EastEnders viewers will recall, made his debut in back in 2003.

With the character proving a hit with audiences, it wasn’t long before his family were introduced – with the Millers becoming quite the force to be reckoned with, featuring in many a storyline over a four-year period.

Mickey was axed in 2008 and subsequently written out but he later returned for a number of episodes in 2011 as part of sibling Darren’s exit story.

Joe Swash, meanwhile, returned to the Square last year to host the behind-the-scenes special The Six: Revealed, which saw was cast members involved in The Six storyline interviewed by him over the big mystery.

At the time, he addressed the possibility of a return as Mickey, saying: ‘It’s nice to still have a relationship with EastEnders after all these years, which I really like.

‘Whenever I’ve been back there it’s not changed – inside the dressing room, the makeup room, costume room. ‘It’s exactly the same, the same carpet, same doors. So I do get really nostalgic when I go back there. I was 21 when I did that show. So much has happened since then.

‘You tend to forget about it. But it’s so, so nice. If I get a chance to go back, I’ll always go back. It’s a part of me, it’s something that’s a part of my past.’

EastEnders has reintroduced a number of legendary characters in the build-up to its 40th anniversary next year, including Michael French (David Wicks) and Tracy-Ann Oberman (Chrissie Watts).