EastEnders boss Ben Wadey has opened up about Sean Slater's permanent return to Walford, teasing big plans for the character as he comes back to the Square. Rob Kazinsky is reprising his role as Sean, with the character set to make his comeback after more than a decade away.
Sean has already been a huge presence in EastEnders history, known for his unpredictable behaviour, complicated relationships and ability to cause chaos wherever he goes. While fans can expect plenty of the classic Sean when he returns, executive producer Ben Wadey has hinted that there will be some changes as viewers meet him as a 40-year-old man.
Producer's excitement over Sean's return
Speaking about bringing Sean back permanently, Ben said: 'Sean is one of those characters who just promises chaos and energy and unpredictability.'
The producer admitted he was a big fan of Sean during his original stint on the BBC soap in the noughties, making the character's return particularly exciting for him. 'I was such a big fan in the noughties when he was so prevalent in the show,' he explained.
Sean's connections and unresolved history
Sean's return also comes at an interesting time for the Slater family, who have remained at the heart of plenty of drama in Walford. According to Ben, Sean has enough history with the residents of Albert Square to immediately make an impact. 'He is arriving at an interesting point for that Slater clan. He has connections all over the place,' he said.
One of the relationships Ben is particularly interested in revisiting is Sean's connection with Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd). Sean knew Amy when she was a child and, despite all the years that have passed, that history is something he still remembers. 'He saw Amy as a child briefly and still holds onto that a little bit,' Ben teased.
But Amy isn't the only familiar face Sean has unfinished business with. His complicated history with Max Branning (Jake Wood) is also set to come back into play, while his relationship with Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) is similarly far from straightforward. 'He and Max have somewhat of a checkered past. He and Jack are also very complicated,' Ben revealed.
What to expect from an older Sean
That means Sean isn't simply returning to Walford to reconnect with his family – he is stepping straight back into a Square filled with people who already have strong opinions about him. 'He is one of those characters who can land back into the show and immediately have conflict or love with everyone,' Ben said.
However, fans shouldn't expect Sean to be exactly the same man they remember. With Rob now returning to the role as Sean reaches his forties, Ben is keen to explore what all those years away have done to him. 'I am interested in who Sean is at this age. As a forty-year-old man,' he explained.
The good news for viewers is that growing older doesn't necessarily mean Sean has suddenly become sensible. Ben is keen to retain the qualities that made him such a memorable character in the first place. 'Seeing him grow up a little bit, but not too much, because you still want the fun of classic Sean Slater.'
It sounds like the cast and crew are already enjoying having him back. Rob has been filming for several weeks, and Ben revealed that seeing the first footage of Sean's return has been a particularly exciting experience. 'It's been great. He's been filming for a couple of weeks now,' he said. 'I get to go in and look at the daily footage, and just looking at some of those early scenes and be like 'Okay Sean is back'.'
And Ben has promised there is plenty more to come. 'I cannot wait for you guys to see him. We have very exciting plans.' So, while Sean may have grown up since his last full-time stint in Walford, it sounds like viewers can still expect the same unpredictable energy that made him such a fan favourite.
