EastEnders fans are speculating about the comeback of a soap icon to rescue the beleaguered Slater family.

The renowned Slater family has been through the wringer in recent months. In February, Stacey (played by Lacey Turner) was left heartbroken when her former husband Martin Fowler (James Bye) tragically lost his life following the Queen Vic explosion.

Viewers will remember that Martin and Stacey rekindled their relationship in his last moments and even had plans to remarry. However, his untimely death has since sent shockwaves through the square, leaving everyone mourning the loss of the popular fruit and veg seller.

Struggling to deal with the grief, Stacey disappeared from the square last month, only to return this week for Martin’s funeral. Their daughter Lily (Lillia Turner) is also having a tough time coping with her father’s death.

Lily has started to act out, turning to alcohol and marijuana with Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James), who is dealing with her own issues after a distressing police search last month, reports Plymouth Live.

This week in Walford, residents gathered to bid farewell to Martin at his funeral. However, the solemn event was disrupted when Stacey discovered that Martin’s market stall had been set on fire.

In Wednesday’s episode (April 9), a determined Stacey pledged to find the person responsible for the arson. Initially, she pointed the finger at Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton), leading to a tense confrontation between the two.

After Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) received photos of her burnt-out stall from Jack Branning (played by Scott Maslen), she was unnerved to spot Lily’s water bottle amidst the debris, seemingly confirming the youngster’s involvement in the incident.

But now, the buzz among EastEnders fan circles suggests that a notable former character could be set for a dramatic return amidst the current Slater family tribulations. On an EastEnders Facebook fan page, fans erupted with speculation after pinning the blame on Lily, with one user exclaiming: “It was Lilly as if you would do that to your dead dads stall”.

In a flurry of excitement, commenters began theorising that Sean Slater (portrayed by Robert Kazinsky) might reappear to prevent Lily from spiralling out of control and to lend support to his sibling Stacey.

A second viewer aired their disappointment: “I actually thought her character had turned a corner, horrible little brat. What is it with the writers turning everyone into hateful characters?”.

Another echoed the sentiment, hoping for Sean’s return: “I agree, Sean should come back to straighten things out.” This hope was shared by yet another, who added: “Oh yes that would be amazing, Stacey needs her big bro as well.”

Further speculation came from a fan who said: “Sean can come back and save the day!” and another observed: “They could be setting up his return with all the stuff happening to his family atm.”

Sean Slater originally joined the cast of EastEnders in 2006 and swiftly became popular among viewers, starring in numerous major storylines including romantic entanglements and feuds. Despite departing Walford in 2009, fans last caught a glimpse of Sean on the show in 2021.