Exclusive: EastEnders’ Danny Hatchard promises “explosive” Lee Carter return

EastEnders star Danny Hatchard has promised "explosive" scenes when Lee Carter makes his return to Walford. Danny was revealed last month to be returning as Lee, having last been in the soap full time in 2020.

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Speaking about Lee's arrival back in Albert Square, Danny told Digital Spy exclusively: "Well, I can’t say too much about the timescale of when he actually returns, but what I can tell you is that I'm filming at the moment, and it's a very explosive return.

"It is my most exciting return yet. This is my fourth return, and I've got a lot to sink my teeth into. Let's just say that."

Danny is returning alongside Maddy Hill, who plays his sister Nancy, as part of a big storyline ahead of Kellie Bright's exit after 13 years playing Linda Carter.

The actor said it was "nice" to be asked back as Lee, adding: "I've been back a few times over the years, but the show means so much to me, it means so much to my culture and to the people that I grew up with.

"So it's always an honour to be asked to come back and be a part of it, and I think this year is special, I think it really is."

While we know Linda will be leaving early next year, Danny says he doesn't even know how his return will factor into her exit.

"I think they intentionally didn't tell me how it all happens for a reason, because they probably don't trust that I'm going to keep it a secret!" he joked.

"So no, I don't actually have any idea how it all happens. All I know is that it's going to be very exciting and well worth watching."

Danny's last appearance on the soap was in 2024 during a special episode which explored what would happen if Linda died from her alcoholism.

Speaking about getting to work with Kellie and Maddie again, Danny said: "Being able to work with Maddy, being able to work with Kellie, being able to just kind of get my teeth stuck into the work back on EastEnders, but also being able to work with two amazing actresses, then being able to work with Charlie [Suff], being able to work with Harriet [Thorpe]."

Reflecting on the 2024 episode, Danny said it was "brilliantly done", adding: "Chris Clenshaw did a wonderful job with all of that."

Looking to the future, he added: "I think Ben [Wadey, current executive producer]'s really hit the nail on the head with this. I'm really excited for people to watch it. I think it's going to be top notch."

EastEnders airs on Mondays-Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.

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