EastEnders is set to welcome back character Dean Wicks onto Albert Square in a surprising twist for viewers.

Played by actor Matt Di Angelo, Dean was last seen back in 2016 and is the son of Shirley Carter (Linda Henry) and brother of Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) who had a rape storyline involving Mick’s wife Linda (Kellie Bright) in 2014.

After facing backlash from the family, Dean left Walford but is to return after a seven-year break.

Dean's return will see Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) left in "horror" as Dean returns to Albert Square to work as the Beale family’s new business partner.

Dean Wicks to return to EastEnders

Away from EastEnders, actor Di Angelo has appeared on the historical series Borgia and the crime show Hustle as well as competing on Strictly Come Dancing.

Speaking of his return, Di Angelo said: "In all honesty, he doesn’t want to come back to Walford. He’s sort of forced back there because his daughter, Jade is very ill.

“She has cystic fibrosis and needs a transplant, which has to be done at the hospital nearby.

“Dean has to live there so he’s on call for her appointments and in case the transplant comes through, and they need to move fast.

“He’s reluctant because he knows the repercussions of returning, but ultimately, he has to help his family.

“Dean also needs to make a living whilst he’s there, so he’s invested in a new business, which will be revealed as Cindy (Michelle Collins) and Ian’s (Adam Woodyatt) new pie and mash shop, Beale’s Eels.”

Jade Green is the daughter of Shabnam Masood (Rakhee Thakrar) and Dean from a brief relationship.

EastEnders said his return will bring drama to Linda as well as her family, friends and neighbours as Dean protests his innocence to anybody who will listen.

Before leaving EastEnders, Dean was acquitted off-screen for his attempted rape of Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons) after pleading not guilty and did not appear to take any responsibility for his actions against Linda.

Di Angelo said: “With Dean, it’s hard to know whether he accepts the fact that he raped Linda or whether he is so blind to his actions that he doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong.

“You watch him, and you think, ‘How can he be so deluded?’ But I guess my job as an actor is to try and pick apart his inner psyche to see whether, deep down, he accepts that he’s raped Linda.

He also said that fans will have to wait until Christmas to find out if it is Dean’s body on the floor following a flashforward episode that hinted at the death.