Gray Atkins has made a dramatic return to EastEnders after more than four years away, with actor Toby-Alexander Smith reprising his role as the notorious serial killer. The villain, who murdered three major characters, appeared in episodes airing on Monday and Tuesday (June 29 and 30), now available on BBC iPlayer and set to broadcast at 7:30pm on BBC One.
Gray's Criminal History and Return
Gray first arrived in Walford in 2019 with his wife Chantelle Atkins (Jessica Plummer), whom he abused behind closed doors. In devastating scenes the following year, he murdered her. Over the next two years, Gray killed Kush Kazemi (Davood Ghadami) and Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White) while embarking on a relationship with unsuspecting Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams), who later gave birth to their son Jordan. Gray was finally imprisoned in 2022 with help from Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty), and Chelsea moved on with her life.
Sheila's Desperate Move
Four years later, the prospect of Gray re-entering her life terrified Chelsea. She cut contact with his grandmother Sheila (Sheila Ruskin), whom she had contacted after Jordan was injured in a hit-and-run. Sheila provided financial support and, after Jordan returned home from hospital, hoped to spend more time with him. However, when she arrived in Walford uninvited for the second time in less than a week, Chelsea berated her for crossing boundaries. Fearing permanent loss of access to Jordan, a desperate Sheila visited Gray in prison, urging him to help her stay in his life.
Manipulation Unfolds
In the subsequent episode, Gray's advice proved effective: Chelsea allowed Sheila to see Jordan anytime. Gray, true to his manipulative nature, asked Sheila to keep visiting him and update him on Jordan. The question remains whether she will comply, potentially reopening old wounds for Chelsea and threatening the stability she has built.
