EastEnders brings back huge villain for explosive Linda Carter plot ahead of Christmas murder mystery

EASTENDERS villain Dean Wicks is making his dramatic return to Albert Square after seven years away.

The rapist - who is played by actor Matt Di Angelo, 36 - first appeared as Dean in 2006 and was last seen in Walford in 2016 when he was acquitted of the attempted rape of Roxy Mitchell. 

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Speculation has been rife about his possible return after the soap’s top boss Chris Clenshaw teased a big Halloween story for actress Kellie Bright, 47, who plays Linda Carter.

And now The Sun can exclusively reveal that actor Matt has reprised his role - and he’s already filming.

In 2014, Dean raped Linda in the Queen Vic pub which led to the traumatised mum breaking down and revealing what she’s been through to husband Mick, played by Danny Dyer, 46, on Christmas Day, sparking one if the most dramatic showdowns the soap has ever seen. 

Eagle-eyed soap fans spotted a picture on social media that appears to show Dean back in Albert Square and sat in the pub. 

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Bosses were desperate to keep his return under wraps and had gone to great lengths to keep it top secret and to shock the viewers. 

A source said: “Dean is the ultimate villain so to bring him back was a genius move especially with everything that’s coming up this autumn. 

“There’s also the small matter of the big murder at Christmas, could it be Dean’s body under the tree?

“We know that Linda is one of the women involved, and this just throws another name in the mix. It’s a very exciting time.”

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EastEnders boss Chris previously teased a major Halloween shock for Linda, saying: “Poor Lina’s struggling this Halloween as it’s the first one without Mick.

“Obviously she wasn’t with Mick this time last year, but Halloween was very much their thing, and something they did together in the Queen Vic.

“So, she’s trying her best to make a go of things, but she gets one hell of a surprise that she doesn’t bargain for.”

EastEnders has been approached for comment.