EastEnders' Ross Kemp offers update on possible return

He doesn't take anything for granted.

By Joe Anderton

11 Jan 2023

ross kemp on the one show in january 2023, in a black suit

BBC

Ross Kemp has played one of EastEnders' most iconic characters, hard man Grant Mitchell, on and off since the early 1990s and 2016.

Outside of the soap, he's had a series of successful documentaries starting with Ross Kemp on Gangs, and now presents the quiz show Bridge of Lies, which is getting a celebrity version for Saturday nights.

But despite all this success he's seen outside of the soap, does he feel the call to walk around Albert Square and continuously scowl at Phil again?

Appearing on tonight's (January 11) instalment of The One Show, Kemp was asked about a possible return to EastEnders and it sounds like he'd be willing to head back... maybe.

"I don't think you can ever say never, you know," he shared.

"I loved the part, I did it for 10 years. I must have liked it because I stayed there for 10 years. But, you know, look, it was great fun, I loved the cast, it was a great job. [I'm] doing lots of different things right now, but never say never."

Last time he appeared on the Square, Grant was there for his mum Peggy Mitchell's emotional send-off, before departing for Portugal with daughter Courtney.

ross kemp as grant mitchell in eastenders trailer

BBC

Speaking last year about maybe bringing the character back, Kemp said he loved his time on his soap, but admitted that the schedule could be pretty grueling.

"You're paddling quite quickly, it was not working down a coal mine or dealing with really, really heavy stuff, but you're there for long days," he said while appearing on The Big Breakfast, adding: "It was fun honestly, and it was a great time to be in the soap."

EastEnders airs on Mondays - Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer.