Shane Richie to return to EastEnders?

Shane Richie has hinted he may return to ‘EastEnders’ next year.
The 53-year-old actor bowed out of the long-running soap at the beginning of last year and has since gone on to focus on his music, but he has teased that he may reprise his role as Alfie Moon – a part he’s played on and off since 2002 – in the near future as John Yorke, who created the character, has reclaimed his job as executive producer.
Speaking on ‘This Morning’ on Friday (17.11.17), he said: "John Yorke, who’s now taken over ‘EastEnders’, in 2001 and 2002 he created the Slaters and the Moons.
"He’s one of the best executive producers I’ve worked with. He’s back at ‘EastEnders’ now, so who knows with Kat [played by Jessie Wallace] and Alfie?"
After Shane and Jessie left the soap, they landed their own spin-off show ‘Redwater’ – created by Dominic Treadwell-Collins – and, although the series ended with Kat lying on a beach in her own blood, the actor doesn’t think the couple are actually dead.
He explained: "We did the very last episode of ‘Redwater’ – Alfie flatlining and Kat lying on the beach in her own blood. So we thought they were dead."
Shane was told that they were only creating one series of ‘Redwater’ but he’s heard through the grapevine that there may be another instalment – but without his character.
He added: "They said ‘Redwater’ won’t be coming back but I keep hearing things that it might be back, not with Kat and Alfie."
And it’s not just Shane that would like to reprise his role in the soap, as Laila Morse – who was known for playing Maureen ‘Big Mo’ Slater – is desperate to return as well.
She said recently: "I had no idea that would be the end of it. Really and truly, I never left! I think I’m with Kat and Alfie in Spain right now, helping them with their kids. But there was no party of anything like that when I left – and that’s after 16 years in the show! … I hope they bring us all back – I loved working on ‘EastEnders’."