Danny Dyer has said he would have returned to EastEnders if asked, but fears the opportunity may have passed. The actor, who played Mick Carter until his dramatic exit in 2022, revealed on The Late Late Show that he never received a call from producers to reprise his role.
'I do get a lot of people asking if I'd go back and I'll be honest, I would have gone back if they'd have asked me, but they didn't ask me,' Dyer said. 'I think they've got the hump with me now, I don't know why!' He previously told Metro in January that he believes the show has 'missed the boat' for a return, adding: 'It needs to be something special, I think, for Mick to come back.'
Dyer left the role in 2022, with his final scenes airing on Christmas Day. Mick was last seen diving into the sea to rescue Linda Carter, unaware she had made it to shore, and has been presumed dead since. Reflecting on his departure, Dyer joked that being paired with murderess Janine Butcher prompted his exit: 'They put me with Janine, and when you end up with Janine, you've got to get out. You know she's going to murder you eventually!'
Despite his reservations, Dyer has not ruled out a comeback. 'Who knows? Maybe I will go back. If the appetite's still there for it, then maybe bring Mick back,' he said. Since leaving EastEnders, he has starred in series such as Rivals and Mr Bigstuff, and leads the film Marching Powder. He acknowledged the financial stability of the soap but noted the risk of leaving: 'You could have a really good run, and then it just stops for seven months.'
