EastEnders legend makes epic return to soap after a decade off screen as new villain arrives on the square

AFTER ten years away from the square, Sid Owen reprises his role as the iconic Ricky Butcher in the BBC soap, along with a new villain.

Ricky will be reunited with his troublesome sister Janine (Charlie Brooks) and ex-wife Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) later this year.

But what has Ricky been up to during the past decade?

Ricky has always had a way of causing trouble for himself and those around him and this time promises to be no different.

Sid Owen said: “I’m delighted to back at EastEnders. I can’t wait to see what Ricky Butcher has been up to these past few years and how he’s going to react to seeing some familiar faces including old flames. I’m excited to see the drama unfold.”

Chris Clenshaw, Executive Producer, said: “It is a great pleasure to welcome Sid back to the role of Ricky Butcher.

"Sid helped to create such an iconic character in Ricky who became so synonymous with the show and we couldn’t be more excited to have him back for a while.

"Ricky has so much history in the Square to explore and while a lot of time has passed since we last saw him, it’s fair to say wherever Ricky goes, he always finds himself slap-bang in the middle of mayhem.”

Actor Navin Chowdhry is set to make his EastEnders on-screen debut, taking on the role of the incarcerated Panesar patriarch Nish Panesar.

Emerging from a 20-year stretch behind bars, Nish is determined to rule the roost and rekindle his marriage to Suki and his family.

But will his family accept him back into the fold, or will they realise the manipulative man he really is?

Navin said: "I’ve never worked on a show like EastEnders, so it’s been a new experience for me; but I loved the storylines and I’ve got a keen interest in this family because there’s so much happening at all times!

"Nish is an interesting character – slightly unconventional, and with that brings drama, and mayhem.

"I think there’s a good man under there but turmoil follows these guys [the Panesar’s] around so I'm excited to join in and set off a
few more explosions and fireworks.”