EastEnders fans were left stunned this week when it was revealed that Jake Moon, played by Joel Beckett, is still alive after 18 years off the screen. Now, the actor has teased the possibility of a full-time return to the beloved BBC soap.

Jake Moon was last seen in 2005 attempting to flee the country with Chrissie Watts after she was on the run for the murder of Den Watts. While Chrissie was caught at Stansted Airport and imprisoned, Jake’s fate remained a mystery—until now.

Earlier this week, fans were thrilled when Chrissie was released on parole and reunited with Jake, who had waited for her all these years, giving her a tour of Albert Square.

Discussing how his surprise return came about, Beckett explained: “My agent got a phone call asking would I be interested in going back. The second sentence followed, ‘just for a day.’ I assumed it would be something to do with Chrissie, but I didn’t expect to go back on the Square. So I thought, a day going back there after such a long hiatus would be great. It was a lovely day out.”

Reflecting on his time on set, he added: “Although it was a new set, it felt really familiar, like I’d never been away. You never forget Albert Square. Everything wasn’t as wobbly! The Square felt sharper and upgraded, but at the same time, it still felt like home.”

With fans clamouring for more of Jake Moon, could this be the beginning of a longer return to EastEnders for Joel Beckett? Time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: viewers will be watching closely.