Steven Beale to return to Eastenders in explosive new storyline

Albert Square, beware: Eastenders bosses are bringing back Steven Beale as part of an explosive new storyline for the Beale family.

Aaron Sidwell will reprise his role as Ian Beale’s psychotic eldest son for the first time in eight years, and has already filmed his first scenes with the show, DigitalSpy reports.

Steven Beale was first introduced in 1989, and was played by Sidwell between 2007 and 2008, during which time the character took a dark turn in a series of dramatic storylines which saw him terrorise and kidnap his own father and attempt to smother former soap stalwart Pat Butcher (Pam St. Clement).

He also tried to kiss his step-mother Jane’s brother Christian (John Partridge) as he came to terms with his sexuality.

With Christian’s own return to the Square as part of a “shocking storyline” which is “set to change the Beale family forever,” confirmed by bosses last month, there’s plenty of speculation that Steven’s return to Walford may be linked in some way.

The exit of Ben Mitchell’s boyfriend Paul Coker (Jonny Labey) has also recently been confirmed, but details of the characters departure are being kept under wraps – and with Steven’s past penchant for pillows over the face, it’s safe to say we’re fairly concerned about how that particular storyline may pan out also.

Over the weekend Eastenders boss Dominic Treadwell-Collins opened up about the BBC One soap’s LGBT characters and commitment to diversity, admitting that the show receives as much homophobic backlash from some viewers as it did a decade ago.

Meanwhile, the actor who played Steven Beale’s younger brother Peter, X-Men’s Ben Hardy, is Attitude’s Summer Issue cover star – you can download now pick up a copy in shops or click here to go behind the scenes of his hot new shoot.