RUBY Allen is set to make an explosive EastEnders return in upcoming scenes – but ex Martin Fowler won’t be left happy.
The character – played by Louisa Lytton – has appeared across multiple stints since first joining the BBC soap in 2005.
Her most recent tenure ended with divorcing Martin (James Bye), leaving him and his children homeless.
In scenes yet to air, Sharon (Letitia Dean) prepares to tell Martin that Ruby gave birth to his baby, but can’t find the right time.
This follows Sharon’s prison stint earlier this year, where Chrissie Watts (Tracy-Ann Oberman) revealed Ruby had been her cellmate, but left to give birth and has a son.
A stunned Martin confides in Stacey (Lacey Turner), who questions whether it’s true.
When Sharon produces a birth certificate, Martin is left floored.
As Martin tries to get Ruby’s address from Sharon, there’s a knock at the door.
At this point, a returning Ruby storms in and accuses Martin of stealing from her.
She further claims Martin broke into her home, although Sharon soon corrects her.
Martin demands to know if they have a child together, prompting Ruby to admit they have a son.
However, after a tense conversation with Stacey, Ruby drops another bombshell.
Ruby’s return to Walford comes during the soap’s 40th – aka Ruby – anniversary.
Teasing the character’s explosive comeback, Louisa exclusively told The Sun’s TV Mag: “That’s Ruby’s character – she comes in and ruffles feathers, does the wrong thing and says the wrong thing, and she definitely comes back with a lot of drama.”
Ruby told Martin she was pregnant at the end of her last stint, but he didn’t believe her – given past deceit.
The daughter of gangster Johnny Allen (Billy Murray), Ruby was originally a teenage friend of Stacey’s.
LOVE triangles are a fundamental part of soap-land, but which ones have become the most iconic?
EASTENDERS
Bradley/Stacey/Max: Stacey Slater began an affair with boyfriend Bradley Branning’s dad Max in 2007.
Despite their romps, Stacey still married Bradley, but their deceit came out in an iconic Christmas Day episode that year.
Grant/Sharon/Phil: Heading even further back in Walford history, EastEnders fans were gripped in the 90s as Sharon Watts had a one-night stand with her brother-in-law Phil Mitchell.
Sharon confided in best friend Michelle Fowler – not realising it was caught on tape – and her husband Grant eventually found out and played it in front of everyone at the Queen Vic.
Syed/Amira/Christian: Syed Masood was engaged to Amira before realising he had feelings for another man, Christian, which he confessed to him on his wedding day.
A devout Muslim, Syed refused to admit his true sexuality and went ahead and married Amira anyway, but when they returned, the two men started an affair before being caught in the act by Amira.
CORONATION STREET
Shelley/Peter/Lucy: Peter Barlow took the concept of a love triangle and ran with it in Coronation Street – extending it to bigamy.
He was in a relationship with Shelley Unwin but started dating Lucy Richards, and quickly married her after she fell pregnant with his son, Simon.
But it didn’t stop him also marrying Shelley, but he was eventually caught when Lucy turned up in Weatherfield and the two women confronted him.
Ken/Deidre/Mike: Back in 1982, Deirdre Barlow started sleeping with her husband’s nemesis Mike Baldwin in secret, before confessing all a year later.
When Mike turned up at the marital home, Deirdre was being throttled by her husband who then kicked her out, but years later they reconciled.
Maria/Aidan/Eva: In 2017, Aidan Connor started sleeping with girlfriend Eva Price’s best friend, Maria Connor.
Eva eventually found out and she decided to take revenge by faking a pregnancy, spending his money and planned to confront him on their wedding day.
But she had a change of heart when a remorseful Aidan confessed, and decided to marry him anyway, only for Maria to arrive and expose her fake pregnancy.
EMMERDALE
Ross/Debbie/Pete: Debbie Dingle found herself torn between two brothers, Ross and Pete Barton in 2015 in Emmerdale.
She eventually decided to marry Pete but yet again, a soap wedding day was ruined when the groom learned of his bride’s betrayal via a recording played at the wedding.
Chrissie/Robert/Aaron: Robert Sugden was married to Chrissie White and all seemed well – until he began a steamy affair with Aaron Dingle.
Robert’s ex Katie Sugden almost exposed the affair – but fell to her death before she had the chance.
However, a guilty Aaron eventually cracked and told Chrissie about the affair – after which she announced it to the whole pub.
However, she left in Albert Square in November 2006 following her father’s death.
The character returned in 2018 after 12 years away, reuniting with Stacey.
Although Stacey and Martin were previously married, Ruby later tied the knot with him.
EastEnders airs on BBC One and iPlayer.
