Thomas Atkinson is reportedly set to return to ‘Emmerdale’ as serial killer Lachlan White.
The 20-year-old actor is being lined up by bosses for a comeback to the ITV soap after his alter ego was sent to prison after trying to implicate Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) in his crimes.
A source told Metro.co.uk that Thomas is set for a return – albeit not a permanent one – with some brief scenes set to air over the coming weeks.
The soap insider said: "Taking a break away from the village was just what Belle needed to get her head together after everything she went through with Lachlan. But as she tries to get back on track, the ever conniving Lachlan hasn’t forgotten about her or the village.
"There are some more brief scenes coming up involving Lachlan but whether he is repentant over his crimes and wants to make amends or whether he has revenge on his mind once again remains to be seen.
"Either way, these are old wounds that Belle really didn’t need to have opened up. Every time she thinks she can forget about Lachlan, things have a habit of coming back to haunt her."
Thomas – who spent four and a half years on the show before his departure – previously hinted Lachlan would return to our screens, admitting there could be a trial after his calculated character was locked up following his kidnapping of Rebecca White (Emily Head).
He said: "Will he be back? I don’t know. You’ll have to ask the soap gods about that. I mean, he’s not dying. He’s going to prison. There could be a trial. You know, we don’t know? We’ll have to see!"