Gray Atkins has made a return to EastEnders as Toby-Alexander Smith reprises his iconic villainous role. The character was last seen in Albert Square in 2022 when he was sent to prison for murdering Chantelle Atkins, Kush Kazemi and Tina Carter. The serial killer has not been seen since, with Smith now reprising his role for a short stint.
Smith on Reprising the Role
Speaking about his return, Smith said: "It’s been very surreal returning to EastEnders and stepping back into Gray’s shoes. He’s one of the most complex characters I’ve had the opportunity to play and revisiting him after several years has been an exciting challenge to get my teeth into. Exploring who Gray is now has been fascinating, and I’m excited for the audience to see this version of him and watch the storyline play out."
Gray's Prison Return and Plot Details
Gray is currently serving a life sentence in prison but needs the help of his grandmother Sheila (Sheila Ruskins) to get close to ex-wife Chelsea Fox after Jordan's harrowing accident. With motives still unclear, there's trouble ahead but what does Gray want?
Ben Wadey, EastEnders Executive Producer, added: "We’re delighted to welcome Toby-Alexander Smith back to the role of Gray Atkins. Although his character remains in prison, it will soon become apparent to viewers that Gray’s physical separation from Walford is no match for his levels of manipulation."
Fans Spot Problem with Sheila Scene
However, some fans have been left puzzled by his return and connection to Sheila. One fan wrote: "It’s weird to me how they made it seem like Sheila was still in contact with Gray with the way she was stroking his photo in her wallet like she kept in contact with him even though he murdered 3 people. But then when we actually see Gray he says she hasn’t visited him in the 4 years he’s been locked up."
A second added: "I was a bit confused by this. I thought they would be building toward a story where she's a bit obsessed and thinks that he's done nothing wrong. Maybe under his spell, doing what he wants, and maybe seeing him in Jordan. Instead, it seems more like she just wants her grandkid and is going to use him to help her along."
A third shared: "This confused me too. The impression I got is that they were always in contact and maybe she was going to try and convince Chelsea to let Gray see his child. Sheila trying to get Gray to get Chelsea to let her see the kid is strange."
