In the soap opera world, a character’s potential return is never off the table until their death is conclusively portrayed on screen. This has been proven in ‘EastEnders‘ with characters such as Den Watts, brought to life by Leslie Grantham, and Kathy Beale, played by Gillian Taylforth.

Although Mick Carter’s death – drowning as he heroically saved Linda – seemed to be final enough, Danny Dyer describes it as a “compliment” that fans have clamoured for his return and said: “Who knows? If there’s no closure there, then maybe I would come back for a dream sequence,” although he added: “I don’t think Mick could just rock up covered in seaweed!.”

Danny had been holding off on joining ‘EastEnders’ initially, but recognises the impact it has had on his career: “It saved my b****y career,” he declared to Closer magazine, “I’d be f***ed without it.”

He assumed the role of Mick Carter in 2013, having rejected an earlier opportunity to join the ‘EastEnders’ cast in 2009. In his 2010 memoir ‘Straight Up’, Dyer even claimed he would only consider landing a part in the series when he was “fat, bald and fifty”.

With three years left before hitting the half-century mark, whether Danny will reappear in Walford remains a tantalising question. One thing for certain, however, is fans can look forward to his return to television screens in the upcoming second season of ‘Rivals’.

Portraying Freddie Jones, a self-made tycoon in the vein of Lord Alan Sugar, Dyer captivated audiences with his surprising 1980s moustache, unexpectedly emerging as a heartthrob.

Author Jilly Cooper, behind the novels that inspired the Disney+ series, shared her elation with Red Magazine about the show’s anticipated 2026 return, expressing she is “orgasmic with excitement” and “utterly sex-static” to learn that Danny and fellow cast members have begun shooting.

However, one of Danny’s most significant career boosts came from an unexpected event.

The surge in his popularity was something Danny attributed to his daughter Dani’s victory on Love Island in 2018: “I was Father of the Year when Dani won.”

This weekend marked a joyous milestone for Danny and Joanne as they relished their daughter’s nuptials. A proud Danny accompanied his daughter Dani, 28, down the aisle, where she wed West Ham footballer Jarrod Bowen.

Danny humorously remarked: “I have met every single boyfriend that has walked through my door – and then she brings home the West Ham captain. I have gone from the lying scum, and I hate them, to a man who I would not mind tonguing myself!”.

In clips of the reception circulating on social media, Danny is captured encouraging the guests to belt out “Bowen’s On Fire – and he’s married Dani Dyer” to the melody of pop sensation Gala’s hit Freed from Desire.