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12 of the best ever comebacks in soap

Photo credit: Fremantle Media / ITV / BBC / PA Images / Digitalspy.com
Photo credit: Fremantle Media / ITV / BBC / PA Images / Digitalspy.com

From Digital Spy

Soap comebacks are a bit of a risky business – sometimes they're really successful and memorable for all the right reasons, and other times they just suck. Harsh, but true.

So while some people should really have been left in the past where they belong, we can all probably agree that there's nothing better than when a great character returns to the world of soap and they're just as brilliant (if not better) than they were before.

In celebration of those returnees who got us all smiling, here's a shout-out to 12 of the best soap comebacks...

1. Kathy Beale in EastEnders (2015)

When Kathy stepped out of that cab in the EastEnders 30th anniversary live episode, choruses of "OMFG!" were ringing across the country. In fact, her sudden return from the grave ended up being a bigger surprise than the revelation that pipsqueak Bobby had bludgeoned Lucy to death with a jewellery box.

Buzzing viewers were desperate to discover where Ian and Ben's mum had been and why she'd faked her own death 10 years previously, but they had to hold on another few months before the facts became clear.

Okay, so it wasn't really worth the wait, and when Kathy did finally come home to the Square with her evil estranged hubby Gavin not far behind, what followed was one confusing/boring saga after another. But there's still no denying how great that initial return scene was.

2. Peter Barlow in Coronation Street (2016)

Easy-on-the-eye Peter has had more than one comeback during his time on the cobbles, and they've never been a disappointment. When he returned in 2007 with son Simon in tow, he stuck around for seven years and squeezed a lot into that time – alcohol addiction, a deathbed wedding, several steamy affairs and a stint in prison for murder (he didn't do it FYI). Phew!

His most recent return also ended up being an explosive one when Ken suffered a stroke mid-family fight.

3. Aaron Dingle in Emmerdale (2014)

There was a lot of hype surrounding Danny Miller's return to the Dales in 2014 after a two-year break. Angst-ridden Aaron was a firm favourite with the audience the first time around, but would he still have the same appeal? As it turned out, the answer was yes and then some.

The secret to the success was the genius decision to make Aaron fall in love with Robert Sugden. And with that, Robron was born. The boys' dangerous affair won them an army of adoring fans, who've championed the couple from their first kiss right through to their intimate wedding. And beyond…

4. Robert Sugden in Emmerdale (2014)

Robert hadn't lost any of his old cocky charm and manipulative ways when he returned in 2014, but he did have a brand new face! There's always that element of expectation when a character is recast, but now it's impossible to imagine anyone other than Ryan Hawley playing the slippery Sugden.

Since then, Robert's been in the thick of some proper juicy plots – accidentally killing Katie, leaving Lawrence for dead, attempting to murder Paddy (er, can you see a pattern emerging here?).

But of course, the one that everyone is talking about is his unpredictable and totally addictive relationship with Aaron.

5. Stacey Slater in EastEnders (2014)

Stacey left London on a jet plane in 2010 to escape getting done for murdering Archie, and we hoped it wouldn't be goodbye forever. Luckily, Lacey Turner realised she missed her character as much as we did, and rejoined 'Enders four years later.

It turned out Stace had been living under the alias of Jenny Smith in a bid to distance herself from her criminal past, but Kat persuaded her cousin to come home and face the music.

And what a rollercoaster it's been since then – a prison sentence, a battle with postpartum psychosis, and marriage to Martin – with super-talented Lacey winning award after award for her knockout performances.

6. Harold Bishop in Neighbours (1996)

When Harold disappeared during a coastal walk in 1991, leaving behind his specs on a rock, heartbroken Madge thought she'd never see her hubby again. How wrong was she?

Five years later, Harold rocked up in Ramsay Street as a Salvation Army worker suffering from amnesia and calling himself Ted. With the help of counselling, slowly but surely, Harold's old memory returned. He resumed his hilarious feud with long-time rival Lou, started playing the tuba again (our poor ears), and he and Madge remarried in a beautiful ceremony. But their happiness was sadly cut short when Madge died from cancer. Sniff.

7. Warren Fox in Hollyoaks (2016)

Just watching Warren Fox tease his comeback in that shower video, it was clear Hollyoaks had plenty of mischief in store for his second return to the show. In a typical bonkers plot twist, Warren managed got James to get him out of prison, then posed as "Mike Jones" in order to seduce former enemy Mitzeee's sister Maxine, so he could blackmail her to get money to pay his legal fees. Are you keeping up?

About a million (mainly ridiculous) things happened after, but one thing is certain – 'Oaks definitely made the right decision bringing old Foxy back and he's certainly been missed since he left again.

8. Sharon Watts in EastEnders (2001)

As comeback lines go, Sharon's "Bet you never thought you'd see me again" to former mother-in-law Peggy wins hands down. That was 2001, and after six years away, Shazza returned as the new landlady of the Queen Vic, after buying the boozer in a secret deal.

She was the centre of some massive storylines – Dirty Den's return (letdown of the century), but left again after her husband Dennis was brutally murdered.

Fast forward to 2012, Sharon's third return to Walford wasn't met with the same enthusiasm, and her forced relationship with Jack Branning was about as believable as an episode of TOWIE. Luckily, the producers quickly realised Sharon is at her absolute best when she's with Phil and in charge of the Mitchell household, and have mainly kept it that way. Ta for that.

9. Kim Tate in Emmerdale (1997)

There's never been another soap superbitch quite like Kim Tate. The Emmerdale lady of the manor faked her death following her lover Dave Glover being burnt alive in a barn fire back in 1996. Kim returned to Home Farm three months later, but the shock of seeing her was all too much for her husband Frank and he suffered a fatal heart attack, while cruel Kim just stood by and watched.

In a scene that was so deliciously evil, Kim held her compact mirror over Frank's mouth to check he wasn't still breathing, then proceeded to coolly reapply her make-up. Oh, and she ended up receiving half of Home Farm in Frank's will. Mission accomplished.

10. Paul Robinson in Neighbours (2004)

It certainly made us feel good when Stefan Dennis reprised his role as Neighbours' smooth criminal Paul Robinson in 2004. Paul, who was one of the soap's original characters, was reintroduced during that year's season finale, when a devastating fire ripped through the Lassiter's complex.

The Robinson rogue immediately became the prime suspect for starting the blaze. With the episode being left on a gripping cliffhanger, viewers had to be patient and wait until the new season to see Paul back on their screens again. It was worth it though, and it's safe to say that Erinsborough is a far more exciting place for having this wicked womaniser living there.

11. Darryl Braxton in Home and Away (2016)

This whole pretending you're dead thing must be really popular, because that's exactly what Brax did in 2015, after the car that was transporting him to prison plunged into a lake. Later that year, actor Steve Peacocke confirmed he'd returned to the set to film some top-secret episodes, the details of which were kept under wraps until they broadcast.

First came a brilliant and highly-charged two-hander between Brax and Ricky, where he explained his reasons for abandoning her and their baby son Casey. The fans wanted a happy ending, and were rewarded a few months later when Ricky ditched dishy Nate in favour of reuniting with Brax. All together now, aww.

12. Vera Duckworth in Coronation Street (2010)

There wasn't a dry eye in the house when Vera's ghost returned to be with her beloved Jack in his final moments on earth. After telling him off for the scruffy state of his collar (she always did like a good nag), V told Jack they had a bus to catch.

But before they got on, Jack persuaded his little swamp duck (his words, not ours) to have one last dance with him. By the time the track had finished, Jack had slipped away peacefully on his chair, presumably on his way to a better place with Vera. Her fleeting return has gone down as one of the most touching moments in Corrie history. Pure perfection.


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