BREAKING NEWS!!! Walford local deflated as EastEnders legend stages return

Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker) is about to make his long-awaited return to EastEnders next week, but his homecoming doesn’t leave everybody feeling the love.

Patrick’s life has been hellish since Christmas Day, even before the murder of his son, Anthony (Nicholas Bailey).

He learned early in the day that Anthony had infiltrated the search for his and Zoe Slater’s (Michelle Ryan) twins and had tried to throw the Slaters off the scent by telling Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) that they had both died at birth.

Over a tense and uncomfortable Christmas dinner, father and son came to blows and it was clear when Patrick spat that he wished Anthony had died rather than his other son, Paul (Gary Beadle), that things would never be the same again.

With those words ringing in his ears, Anthony headed to the Vic, got into a violent conflict with Zoe and was ultimately killed by his daughter, Jasmine Fisher (Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness), with Zoe, believing Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman) was responsible, taking the rap for her daughter.

With Zoe in a cell, Jasmine introduced herself to Patrick as his granddaughter, but her volatile nature and hair trigger temper unnerved him, and he soon found himself deeply obsessed with an AI recreation of Anthony, particularly when the truth was exposed and Jasmine was held in remand before her trial.

Said trial drew the attention of Jasmine’s estranged twin brother, and Anthony’s other child, Josh Goodwin (Joshua Vaughan), who Patrick battled through a period of doubt to form a relationship with.

Giving a character statement at Jasmine’s trial affected Patrick deeply and Kim and Denise Fox (Tameka Empson and Diane Parish) suggested some time away following the conclusion may do him good.

Next week sees the patriarch finally return home, much to the celebration of his nearest and dearest, when he swoops them all up for a family drink at the Vic.

While there, he comes across Jasmine, and the two finally have a conversation about where they go from here. She’s left wounded when her grandad tells her that he doesn’t trust her, and any relationship between them is going to take both time and work.

MONTHS have gone by since Patrick Trueman was last seen in Albert Square.

The legendary EastEnders character makes a surprising comeback next week for a devastating reason.

Regular BBC One viewers may remember that Patrick (portrayed by Rudolph Walker) left Albert Square when it became clear he was still head over heels for former flame Yolande.

Patrick and Yolande were once married in 2004 but sadly parted ways when she moved away from the fictional borough of Walford and he struggled with the idea of following her.

However, in March, 2023, he confessed he still harboured feelings for her and decided to take a leap of faith to win his girl back.

Coming up next week, however, Patrick makes an impromptu return as Square residents make some last happy memories with Lola Pearce.

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The hairstylist played by Danielle Harold is at the centre of a ladies’ day party organised by her husband Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick), Denise Fox (Diane Parish) and Kim Fox (Tameka Empson).

Patrick Trueman, on his part, will be joining the celebrations on a covert video call with Rocky Cotton (Brian Conley).

What do they have in mind?

Could Patrick Trueman return to Walford for a last goodbye to Lola as her funeral scenes have recently been filmed?

Lola was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour and her loved ones have been trying to accept her devastating prognosis.

But as she only has a handful of weeks to live, Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) is left unable to cope and spirals out of control.

Next week, he’s unconvinced Lola should be leaving the hospital after another health complication.

Lola is welcomed home by Walford residents who rally around the family for support.

This leads Ben to lash out against both Honey and Billy Mitchell (Emma Barton and Perry Fenwick) as he accuses the family of accepting Lola’s prognosis far too easily.

Despite his own pain, Jay Brown found a way to make the most out of Lola’s short time as his wife and he decides to head to the Arches to confront Ben.

But the conversation soon escalates when Jay makes a shocking confession which leaves Ben furious.

Later on, Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) tries to talk some sense into his son by opening up about his mother Peggy and implores the mechanic to stop being so selfish.

Awash with guilt, Ben heads to No.18 to apologise… but later leaves a voicemail for Dr Washington requesting help to ensure Lola will still be alive by September.

Can he ever accept that Lola has run out of options?

EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.