Fair enough we got Kathy back, with a dreadful storyline but at least she's back in the land of the living. We even got Nick Cotton back until he was stupidly killed off even though it was the first time he'd actually been entertaining in years. But everyone else who has returned has been a recent departee who was deadwood the first time around.

Jack Branning - This is the biggest joke ever. This plank of wood left the show to the sound of viewers cheering that he'd finally gone. RACK were a snoozefest. It's going to be boring as **** watch Joke and Ronnie Dead Eyes breathing through their noses at each other for the next gawd knows how long.

Squiggle - She's only a recurring character right now but how long before this absolute bore returns for good? It was the right decision to axe her and she should stay a guest character because her own storylines induced comas nationwide.

Robbie Jackson - Why did this muppet even come back? We barely even got a look at Wellard 2. He added nothing to Carol's exit storyline. She didn't even go with him!

Sonia Jackson - Why? Just why? She peaked long ago and had run out of steam yearsbefore she left the main cast.

Martin Fowler - I liked the James Alexandrou version but this version is dull and doesn't even have the benefit of having worked with Pauline or Mark previously. He's basically Martin Fowler in name only.

Charlie Slater - The only good thing about this boring bastard coming back is that he's going to die at long last.

Kat and Alfie - Just let them go. They were done a decade ago. Their 2nd stint was total shit.

Honey Mitchell - All to justify Billy Mitchell's continued pointless presence. Deadwood brought back to prop up deadwood. She was axed for a reason and Billy should have gone with her.

Kim Fox - She is singlehandedly destroying this show. Can't act to save her life, isn't funny and is a pain in the arse.

Dean Wicks - Another character who has managed to bring the show and the Carters to their knees. Awful actor playing a sleazy dirtbag of a character who sticks around like a bad smell. It isn't like his first stint was anything to write home about considering he was axed.

Jean Slater - I know she has her fans but she annoys the crap out of me. Every single time she returns she's more childlike, annoying and screechy than before. It's like nails down a chalkboard when she's on screen.

Tanya Branning - This was an ego stroke for the actress. The character did nothing to warrant a comeback. The most notable thing she did besides salivate over Max was mess up her lines. But you just KNOW she'll be back in 2016 even though she and Max have said and done it all as a couple.

Ryan Malloy - I'd wager this character was meant to appear more frequently but something happened to derail the storyline. No doubt he'll be back in 2016 too. He can't act and the character was bland. DEADWOOD.

Jane Beale and Stacey Slater have returned with mixed results. Personally I always thought Jane was dull and rolled my eyes at her return but this stint has been far better than her last one. She's a twisted bitch but at least she's watchable. On the other hand you've got Stacey. She came back to the square and was a breath of fresh air. Now she's back to being a cheating slag and a moody cow. And once again a mental health storyline is thrown at her to make the viewers forget what she's done to her friend and Martin. Shabnam seems to have resonated with viewers but I'm not that into her. She's too prickly. I can see her return has been successful though as has the return of another recast of Ben Mitchell.

The less said about Peggy's cameos the better.

So which driftwood from the swamp of shitty characters will be back next?
. How long before we see Chelsea, Squiggle's one expression fits all sister make a comeback?

My prediction is Banshee Breath Bianca will be back alongside her badly acted kids and that bald bloke she's shacked up with. Bianca was a truly spent force long before she left but that clearly isn't going to stop DTC if his other returnees are anything to go by.

And here's a few more.

- Joey Branning. Because we ALL loved him.
- Syed and Christian. Because they weren't boring AT ALL.
- Carly Wicks. We clearly need more shouty women.
- Zsa Zsa Cater. Tina has flopped and this is all that's left for her.
- Garry Hobbs and Minty. I'm going out on a limb because the quality of returnees is so bad under DTC this pair actually stand a real chance of making a comeback.
- Gus. Even Gus has a real shot at coming back with DTC in charge.

And every time one of these turds is returning there will be speculation it's going to be someone great like Grant, Zainab or Janine and it will not be.

I thought bringing back Robbie Jackson was really scraping the bottom of the barrel, but at least it was only a guest stint. Jack the Plank is apparently back full time. This was a character who spent his entire original stint doing nothing but impregnating Mitchell women. He was there seven years and his exit storyline was wrapped up within the space of ten minutes, such was his impact on the show. Now he's back to 'save the show'. *sigh*

DTC was the producer who brought back Deano Wicks, one of the most irritating shit characters of all time, and turned him into a rapist. As if he couldn't get any worse!

I predict the likes of Mickey Miller, Gus and Juley will be next. Soon there'll be no barrel left to scrape.

I like Jane and i'm glad she was brought back and her and Ian re-married as I always loved them as a couple. Having her dispose of Lucy's corpse has tainted that a bit but that's for a another thread...

I actually don't mind the new Martin Fowler at all he's very similar in looks, personality and mannerisms to the previous actor so the recast hasn't bothered me. And its nice to have a Fowler back onscreen again.

However every other person you have mentioned OP I wholeheartedly agree with you. DTC seems to be obsessed with bringing back all of the really dull, boring characters of recent years who I was glad to see the back of when they originally left.

I forgot about that irritant. Yep. He'll be back too.

Did you see DTC, Lamb and that other guy wanking each other off on Twitter about Jack's return? They actually think Jack is a secret worth keeping for 6 months! They're deluded

Scott Maslen is not bad looking so I guess DTC & Alex Lamb might fancy him.

They just make the show for themselves these days. At least somebody is pleased to see Jack back.

I can tolerate Martin. It's probably the fact he's with Stacey that puts me off him since she's such a dreary character.

When boring characters were axed in the past you could rest assured you'd never have to clap eyes on them again. With DTC in charge it's a certainty they will return - especially if they're from the Santer era.

Kathy is a bore and her return has done nothing for me at all. Bad actress, bland character.

I hope Kat comes back. Before leaving she started to get really good again. An inherently watchable character played by a good actress.

Zainab, Janine, David would all be good returns too. Aside from these and a few others I'd prefer if they concentrated on creating exciting new characters instead of looking backwards all the time

Kat, Alfie, Jane and Stacey still have a place in the show and I don't mind Martin even if he is boring but I'd swap any of these returns for Zainab. Agree with you on the others.

Who knows Anyone could roll up.

The man is delusional... Why couldn't he have done the decent thing and spout his crappy fan fiction online somewhere, instead of imposing it on the actual show?

OP, loved that trek through EE character history - full of nostalgia.

Maybe Sanjay and Gita will return? Or Phil's ex Lisa? Tiffany back from the dead?

I like Kim and I think Jean is ok in small doses (and I thought Lucas was a good villain) but apart from that I completely agree with your post.

As for who will return, I'm thinking Spencer & Vicky Moon.

Lisa making a guest return wouldn't be so unrealistic seeing as how Louise is coming back. I always liked Lisa's character. I rooted for her when Phil bullied her into a shell.

You clearly are an EE aficionado. Is your arrow like Phil Mitchell's cirrhotic liver - impossible to mend?

Yes

Thinking of asking for my username to be changed to Droopy_Arrow

Tanya or Zainab surely. Or maybe a recast Johnny or Peter. Personally I quite like the returns (even though I hate most of the returning characters) as it feels more realistic, instead of family members vanishing never to be seen again.

I respectfully disagree with a lot iof this post.

Kathy, Martin, Kim Kat and Honey have all worked well. Ryan was pointless. Libby isn't massively contributing. Sonia and Robbie are a waste of time. Jack with work could be good.

Stacey and Jane would have been had they been given better material.

Chelsea Fox was an awful character, so maybe her.

Although if this thread said which best character will DTC bring back, I think we all know Shanice would win hands down. The girl is an icon.

Surely Monty the Snake is due a return? Bobby needs a friend right now .

Although, he'd probably end up killing it like he did the Spider .

It breaks my heart that spider never had a name.

Juley, Connor, Nigel Bates, Minty, Naomi, Callum, and Shirley Benson are all due dramatic returns very soon, surely.

Ah yes, the legendary Shenice. What a soap icon she was

That girl had so much screen presence, she shattered my TV I tell ya.

They should bring back Shenice and make her the new landlady of the Vic.

Maybe he will push the boat out and bring back Polly Becker from the late 90s. One of my least fave characters ever!

The first thing that comes into my head when I think "Crap of the Crap EE Characters from the recent past" is the Miller family, so probably them.