After seven years away, Dean Wicks is back in Walford and intends to stick around.
In tonight's episode (Monday 30th October), Linda received a massive shock for Halloween as Dean Wicks appeared in her kitchen.
In upcoming scenes, Linda will be horrified to learn that Dean plans to make Albert Square his home again as he’s revealed as the Beales’ new business partner.
Dean’s decision to return is driven by his need to be close to the local hospital where his daughter Jade, who has cystic fibrosis, is receiving treatment and awaiting a life-saving lung transplant.
Matt Di Angelo has reprised his role as twisted Dean, who raped Linda in 2014 and was driven out of Walford after being disowned by his family in 2016. Now Linda must contend with Dean being back on the Square and protesting his innocence to anybody who will listen.
Given his reputation amongst Linda’s family, friends and neighbours, Dean’s return is set to create drama for all those involved.
Speaking about his return, Matt Di Angelo said "It feels great to be back. I started at EastEnders almost 18 years ago, which seems like a lifetime ago now. I haven’t been back for seven years, so I was thrilled to be asked again for the third time as I love the people and the show."
Teasing Dean's comeback, he 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."
Adding "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 and Ian’s new pie and mash shop, Beale’s Eels."
"Dean is back in Walford to help his daughter Jade, but to do that, he needs to make a living and be part of the community. I think the biggest challenge is going to be facing the residents of Walford, as everyone has very strong opinions on Dean, and rightly so."
And on why he wanted to return to EastEnders, Matt said "It felt like the right time for me, but also for Dean. When Mick was alive, Dean wouldn’t have dared to come back to the Square because there’s no way Mick would have stood for it. Rightly so, because what Dean did to Linda is unforgivable and even his parents Shirley and Buster turned their backs on him."
"But now Mick’s dead, I think it’s opened up that door to allow Dean to return as Linda doesn’t have him there to back her up. Without Mick, Dean can twist the narrative, and he has more chance of getting away with it."
"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. I don’t think his opinion has changed since we last saw him, and I think that the time that’s passed has only convinced him of his position. That’s what is so complex about him."
On speculation that Dean is involved in the Christmas storyline teased during the flashforward, Matt said "We know that Linda is involved in the Christmas storyline, and we also know that most people in the Square would like to see the back of Dean. But everyone is going to have to wait to find out if Dean’s the body on The Vic floor because I’m not giving away any clues!"
EastEnders continues Mondays to Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One with first look episodes available from 6am on BBC iPlayer
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