EastEnders confirms major Sean Slater return as Rob Kazinsky reprises iconic role

Rob Kazinsky is reprising the role that made him a star, with Sean Slater returning to EastEnders (Picture: BBC)

It’s a returnEastEnders fans have longed for and now, four years on since his latest appearance,Sean Slater (Rob Kazinsky) is set to stage an almighty comeback to Walford.

The fan-favourite character, who made his Albert Square debut two decades ago, has quite the history in Walford and is fondly remembered by fans for his whirlwind romance with Roxy Mitchell (Rita Simons).

What’s more, the dynamic shared between Sean, mum Jean (Gillian Wright) and sister Stacey (Lacey Turner) provided for some of the finest scenes in the BBC One soap’s long-running history.

Sean left the Square in a regular capacity back in 2009 when he discovered that Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) was the biological father of Roxy’s daughter Amy (Ellie Dadd).

He made numerous guest appearances in the year’s since, taking centre stage in a powerful week of episodes back in 2019 when Jean became worried about his mental health.

Sean made unannounced one-off returns in 2021 – when Jean contacted him after discovering Stacey had married Eve Unwin in prison – and in 2022 when he appeared via a video call after Stacey got in touch to tell him her concerns about Jean.

This time around, Sean will be sticking around for longer than just one episode, with his upcoming returning marking the first time he’ll be permanently settled in Walford in 17 years.

Sean was a fan-favourite during his initial stint in the show (Picture: BBC) He left the Square in 2009 (Picture: BBC)

The much-loved show character is back for his family – and for reasons which are still to become clear as he inevitably finds himself embroiled in Square drama.

Discussing his exciting return, star Rob said: ‘I left EastEnders in 2008 as a 23-year-old boy and was lucky to spend the next 19 years of my life working around the world, always championing EastEnders and stating the fact that one day I wanted to walk in Sean’s Shoes again, but this time as a man to see who Sean the man might also be. 

‘I wanted to do it for Sean, I wanted to do it for the fans that have supported me in every role since I left the Square but, mostly, I wanted to do it for me. I’m home, and I can’t wait to bring a new level of heartfelt chaos to Albert Square in the way only Sean Slater can.’

Sean staged numerous returns and was last seen on our screens in 2022 (Picture: BBC / Kieron McCarron / Jack Barnes)

Ben Wadey, EastEnders Executive Producer, added: ‘I’m delighted to welcome Rob Kazinsky back to EastEnders as he reprises the role of Sean Slater later this year. Sean Slater was a big part of the Slater family and as viewers will already know, where Sean goes, drama is not far behind.’

News of Rob’s comeback comes months after he told Metro for its Beyond The Bubble series that he would like to go back to EastEnders

‘‘I would like to go back and do a nice stint on EastEnders at some point,’ he said. ‘Before I’m too old and before everybody forgets who he is, I feel Sean deserves another round, he deserves more. I would like to do that at some point. It’s just can we find a storyline, can we find the time?’

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