EastEnders first-look pictures reveal Grant’s return – and Mitchell family reunion after 10 years

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Grant Mitchell, known as one of EastEnders’ toughest characters, is coming back to the show later this month. Actor Ross Kemp will reprise the role.

Kemp last appeared as Grant Mitchell in February 2025 for a special episode celebrating the 40th anniversary of the BBC soap opera. He made a brief return when there were worries about his on-screen brother, Phil Mitchell (played by Steve McFadden), and Phil’s declining mental health.

Paul Bradley, who plays Nigel Bates – Grant’s friend from school – also appeared in the show. Nigel was diagnosed with early-onset dementia and Grant offered him a place to live at his villa in Portugal, but Nigel preferred to stay with Phil.

Earlier this year, it became known that Nigel was very ill and someone would try to convince him to return. Next week’s episodes reveal that his estranged son, Mark Fowler (played by Stephen Aaron-Sipple), is the one who contacts Grant, even though Sam (Kim Medcalf) doesn’t want to see her brother.

Viewers will soon see Mark meet his father for the first time, after discovering the truth about his family history in 2016.

I’m so thrilled to hear that Ross Kemp is returning to EastEnders as Grant Mitchell! He said he’s genuinely delighted to be stepping back into the role, and honestly, so am I. It’s going to be fantastic seeing him back later this year.

Beyond showing Grant’s efforts to rebuild his relationship with his son Mark, I’m particularly proud to be involved in Nigel’s moving storyline about dementia. This story is especially meaningful to me because someone close to my family has experienced the condition firsthand.

TopMob can confirm that Kemp’s comeback scenes will air on Monday 27 April.

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Recent pictures from the filming location reveal Grant reunited with his siblings, marking the first time they’ve all been together since the funeral of their mother, Peggy (Barbara Windsor), ten years ago.

This project marks a reunion for actors Kemp and Medcalf, who haven’t worked together in 20 years. The last time they shared a scene, Danniella Westbrook played the character of Sam.

In a recent photo, taken in the kitchen of the Mitchell family’s home – where they’ve lived for the past 16 years – Grant is pictured with Mark. Will these two be able to build a connection?

After Ross Kemp’s return was announced, executive producer Ben Wadey expressed his excitement, saying they were delighted to have him reprise his iconic role as Grant Mitchell. He emphasized the Mitchell family’s importance to the show and shared his anticipation for viewers to see them together again.

Read more about Ross Kemp’s return to EastEnders in next week’s TopMob magazine.

Don’t miss EastEnders! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now to get daily TV recommendations, features, and more.

Authors

Michael AdamsSoaps Editor

Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at TopMob, providing the latest news and spoilers for popular shows like Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, and Hollyoaks. Before joining TopMob, he worked as a Soaps Reporter at Metro for two years and even worked on the sets of Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

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2026-04-16 22:38