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

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

Viewers will remember that Martin reconnected with Stacey in his last moments and even had plans to remarry. However, he sadly passed away, leaving the square shaken by the death of the much-loved fruit and veg seller.

Overwhelmed by grief, Stacey disappeared from the square last month, only to return this week for Martin’s funeral. Meanwhile, Martin and Stacey’s daughter Lily (Lillia Turner) is also having a hard time.

Lily has started to spiral out of control, drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis with Avani Nandra-Hart (Aaliyah James), who is also dealing with her own distress after a shocking police search she experienced last month, reports Plymouth Live.

This week in Walford, Martin’s funeral took place, with many residents attending to pay their respects. 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), Stacey, determined to find justice, pledged to identify the perpetrator. Initially, she suspected Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton), leading to a confrontation between the two.

After receiving images of the charred market stall from Walford’s own copper Jack Branning (played by Scott Maslen), Stacey was taken aback to see Lily’s water bottle amidst the debris, seemingly confirming the youngster’s involvement in the fire.

Yet, amidst the current Slater family drama on ‘EastEnders’, viewers are buzzing with speculation that a familiar face might be returning to Albert Square. On an ‘EastEnders’ fan page on Facebook, one fan reacted to Lily’s actions, stating: “It was Lilly as if you would do that to your dead dads stall”.

In the flurry of comments, several fans have been theorising that Sean Slater (portrayed by Robert Kazinsky) could reappear to prevent Lily from spiralling further and to stand by his sister Stacey.

One viewer expressed disappointment in Lily’s behaviour, remarking: “I actually thought her character had turned a corner, horrible little brat. What is it with the writers turning everyone into hateful characters?”.

Another agreed that Sean’s return could be the solution, saying: “I agree, Sean should come back to straighten things out.”

A sentiment shared by another who added: “Oh yes that would be amazing, Stacey needs her big bro as well.”

The possibility of Sean’s heroic return was also suggested by another fan: “Sean can come back and save the day!” This led to another comment hinting at a potential setup for his comeback: “They could be setting up his return with all the stuff happening to his family atm.”

Sean Slater first graced the screens of ‘EastEnders’ in 2006, quickly winning over the audience. His tenure included numerous memorable plots, from romantic entanglements to bitter disputes.

Despite leaving Walford in 2009, Sean briefly reappeared in 2021.