EastEnders is bringing back another gay character

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

Producers have announced the return of troubled character Steven Beale.

EastEnders bosses are bringing back Steven Beale as part of an ‘explosive’ new storyline.

EastEnders is bringing back another gay character

Aaron Sidwell is reprising his role as the character, eight-years after he was forced to leave Albert Square following a series of dramatic storylines.

The actor has already returned to filming at the show, according to Digital Spy.

Steven is the eldest son of Ian Beale’s late ex-wife Cindy and has featured in the show on and off since his birth in 1989.

Sidwell played the troubled character in 2007 and 2008, during which time he stalked and kidnapped Ian and shot step-mother Jane, before coming out as gay after kissing her brother Christian.

Steven’s come back is thought to coincide with that of Christian, played by John Partridge.

The character is also returning briefly as part of an “explosive” new storyline for the Beale family this summer.

The actor will be joined by Lynda Baron, who plays the mother of Christian and Jane.

Although show bosses remain tight-lipped about the character’s return storyline, many viewers believe in may be linked to the long-running Lucy Beale murder plot.

It was revealed last year that the teenager was killed by her young brother Bobby – with Jane and Ian going to great lengths to cover up his crime.

Last month, it was confirmed that popular character Paul Coker will be exiting the long-running soap.

The character, played by Jonny Labey, joined the soap last year as the grandson of Les and Pam Coker – and wasted no time at all in hooking up with the notorious Ben Mitchell.

EastEnders is bringing back another gay character

Earlier this year, the show won praise after it introduced the first transgender character to be played by a trans actor in a British soap.

The character Kyle, is played by 21-year-old Riley-Carter Millington.

EastEnders bosses also recently recast gay character Johnny Carter – with actor Ted Reilly taking over the popular role previously played by Sam Strike.

Strike originally played the character from 2013 to 2014 – winning acclaim for a storyline that saw him come out to his on-screen father Danny Dyer.