An iconic EastEnders character is set to return to the soap very soon for some “unexpected” scenes, it has been confirmed. After his fate was left uncertain in his original exit story back in 2006, he made a shock reappearance last September – and now he’s back for a short stint.

It is, of course, none other than Jake Moon, played by Joel Beckett.

The character – cousin of Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) – is heading to Albert Square in search of answers following the events at Christmas, when Chrissie made her own shock return and was unveiled as Zoe Slater’s mystery tormentor.

“It was really lovely to step back onto the Square after all this time and revisit Jake,” Beckett said.

“Being back working alongside familiar faces, as well as some brilliant new ones, was a real joy and it was good to know that Jake had been out there, alive and well.”

He added: “He returns carrying plenty of unanswered questions and the storyline takes him in some unexpected directions with real twists and turns. I’m excited for people to see what he’s been up to.”

The soap’s executive producer Ben Wadey added: “I’m delighted to welcome Joel Beckett back to the role of Jake Moon and EastEnders for this storyline. Jake’s return will be a shock for many, but the biggest shocks of all will surround Jake and what he discovers about Christmas…”

With none of the current Walford residents seeing Jake when he reappeared in September, it stands to reason that his family won’t even know he’s alive after all this time – so how will they react to his reappearance?

All will presumably be revealed when the scenes air this February.

Speaking of Chrissie, she had teamed up with Zoe’s estranged daughter Jasmine Fisher in a bid to make the iconic Slater’s life hell, and it was Jasmine who ultimately killed Anthony Trueman – her biological father – on Christmas Day.

Jasmine has now disappeared from Albert Square, but Yolande Trueman speculated on-screen this week that her apparent exit may not mark the end of the story.

“We haven’t seen the last of that girl,” she said to Patrick – and with Zoe facing the blame for Anthony’s murder, there is indeed one heck of a loose end still left to tie up…