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EastEnders’ Tameka Empson hints at Richard Blackwood return

Tameka Empson has hinted Richard Blackwood could return to ‘EastEnders’ at Christmas.
The 41-year-old actress’ alter-ego Kim Fox-Hubbard has been without her husband Vincent Hubbard since April when he was last seen trapped in a car with one of evil Aidan Maguire’s (Patrick Bergin) cronies pointing a gun at him.
But Tameka has revealed a number of questions will be answered about Vincent’s disappearance by the festive period.
She said: "Where is he? I don’t know. There are lots of answers that will come about come Christmas."
Tameka added fuel to the fire by admitting pregnant Kim may not necessarily be a single mother when her little one arrives, which could also mean a new love interest is on the cards.
She said: "Kim is pregnant so obviously the time is coming up where she’s going to have the baby. That all happens and then you see how she copes with being a single mother – or not."
The Walford motormouth gave birth in the Queen Vic toilets during the soap’s live 30th anniversary episode in 2015, and while Tameka will not have to act out such dramatic scenes live this time around, she admitted Kim’s upcoming birth location is "very interesting".
Speaking on ‘Sunday Brunch’, Tameka added: "This time it’s going to be a very interesting location. We’re keeping it local."
If Richard does return to Albert Square in December he may not be around for long because he is going to be busy in the new year competing on ‘Dancing on Ice’.
In April, the 46-year-old star admitted he felt "scared" about leaving the soap and was "a little bit surprised" his contract was not renewed.
When asked if he was surprised about being let go, he said: "I was a little bit surprised, but my agent and myself wanted me to leave at a similar time, so it worked out to be mutual.
"The timing couldn’t have been better. It’s a great platform and it’s regular work, which in the world of acting is a great feeling.
"To leave that is always a scary thing but we believed and knew that we have enough.
"I have a lot of respect for ‘EastEnders’ – they took the risk when they cast me."