The BBC soap has been celebrating its history with a long-list of returns ahead of it 40th anniversary and while that’s only a week away, they haven’t slowed down the surprises.

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EastEnders has revealed two new returnsCredit: BBC

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Garry and Minty’s return has delighted fansCredit: BBC
Instead fans watching today’s episode – which is now available to watch on BBC iPlayer – were treated to surprise appearances by Garry and Minty.

Actors Ricky Groves and Cliff Parisi left fans stunned with their returns after 16 years away.

Garry was last seen in 2009 having left Walford with wife Dawn on their wedding day with daughter Summer.

While Minty left the following year having split from tragic Heather Trott.

The pair’s return was kept totally secret by soap bosses with scenes seeing them surprise Billy on his stag do airing tonight on BBC One.

Updating Alfie Moon on his life since leaving Walford, Garry claimed he was a sports broadcaster living in a penthouse with two cars.

However Minty let the truth slip and revealed he was actually working as a bingo caller and was living in Minty’s loft after splitting from Dawn.

Their brief return delighted fans who took to social media to gush about the episode.

One wrote: “It was so lovely to see them again, they slipped back into their roles effortlessly and you can see they were having a ball being involved in those big community scenes!”

A second said: “Very happy about this. Whilst rarely being main characters in the own right, they were both really good supporting characters, and just added to the overall feel of EE.”

EastEnders sees return of TWO legends from beyond the grave ahead of 40th anniversary

Another added: “It was such a nice surprise to see them, and this is coming from someone who has no affection for either characters.